Interior's $5.4M Panther Software Contract with Prolifics Inc. Lacks Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $5,432,761 ($5.4M)
Contractor: Prolifics Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2022-04-01
End Date: 2025-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,278 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.3K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: IT
Official Description: SOFTWARE LICENSES AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PANTHER APPLICATION IN SUPPORT OF THE QUICKTIME TIME AND ATTENDANCE SYSTEM
Place of Performance
Location: ORLANDO, ORANGE County, FLORIDA, 32801
State: Florida Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $5.4 million to PROLIFICS INC for work described as: SOFTWARE LICENSES AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PANTHER APPLICATION IN SUPPORT OF THE QUICKTIME TIME AND ATTENDANCE SYSTEM Key points: 1. The contract for Panther application software licenses and support is valued at $5.4 million. 2. Prolifics Inc. is the sole provider, raising concerns about competition and pricing. 3. The 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' status indicates a lack of competitive bidding. 4. The sector is IT, specifically custom computer programming services.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's pricing cannot be assessed against similar contracts due to the lack of competitive data. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while flexible, can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
This contract was not competed under SAP, suggesting a limited competition approach. The lack of a competitive bidding process may have resulted in a higher price than could have been achieved through open competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the absence of competitive pressure to drive down costs.
Public Impact
Lack of transparency in pricing due to sole-source nature. Potential for inflated costs impacting taxpayer funds. Limited opportunity for innovative solutions from other vendors.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of Competition
- Sole-Source Award
- Time and Materials Contract Type
Positive Signals
- Supports critical Time and Attendance System
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically custom computer programming services. IT services often represent a significant portion of government spending, and competitive procurement is crucial for cost-effectiveness.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this procurement, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. The sole-source nature of the award limits opportunities for small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation warrants further oversight to ensure the justification for limited competition was sound and that appropriate controls are in place to manage the T&M contract effectively.
Related Government Programs
- Custom Computer Programming Services
- Department of the Interior Contracting
- Departmental Offices Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for cost overruns (T&M)
- Sole-source award limits market research
- No indication of small business participation
Tags
custom-computer-programming-services, department-of-the-interior, fl, definitive-contract, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $5.4 million to PROLIFICS INC. SOFTWARE LICENSES AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR PANTHER APPLICATION IN SUPPORT OF THE QUICKTIME TIME AND ATTENDANCE SYSTEM
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is PROLIFICS INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $5.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-04-01. End: 2025-09-30.
What is the justification for not competing this contract under SAP?
The provided data states the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP'. A thorough review would be needed to understand the specific justification, such as unique capabilities of Prolifics Inc., urgency, or if it was a follow-on to a previously competed effort where competition is now limited. Without this justification, the lack of competition raises concerns about value for money.
What measures are in place to control costs on this Time and Materials contract?
Given the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type, robust oversight is critical to manage costs effectively. This includes detailed tracking of labor hours and rates, regular reviews of invoices, and clear performance metrics. The agency should have established not-to-exceed (NTE) ceilings and mechanisms to ensure the contractor is performing efficiently and not incurring unnecessary expenses.
How does the agency ensure the value received for the $5.4M spent on Panther application licenses and support?
Ensuring value on a sole-source T&M contract is challenging. The agency should be actively monitoring the performance of the Panther application and support services against defined requirements and service level agreements (SLAs). Regular performance reviews with Prolifics Inc. are essential to gauge effectiveness and identify any areas for improvement or potential cost savings.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 111 N MAGNOLIA AVE #1550, ORLANDO, FL, 32801
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $5,432,761
Exercised Options: $5,432,761
Current Obligation: $5,432,761
Actual Outlays: $5,432,761
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2022-04-01
Current End Date: 2025-09-30
Potential End Date: 2025-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-28
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