DOJ's $25.8M Desktop Computer Purchase for Federal Prisons: Firm Fixed Price Contract Awarded

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $25,795,040 ($25.8M)

Contractor: Westwind Computer Products, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2018-09-21

End Date: 2019-01-31

Contract Duration: 132 days

Daily Burn Rate: $195.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: FY 18 ASSET RECOVERY DESKTOP COMPUTERS

Place of Performance

Location: ALBUQUERQUE, BERNALILLO County, NEW MEXICO, 87109

State: New Mexico Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $25.8 million to WESTWIND COMPUTER PRODUCTS, INC. for work described as: FY 18 ASSET RECOVERY DESKTOP COMPUTERS Key points: 1. The Department of Justice awarded a $25.8 million contract for desktop computers to Westwind Computer Products, Inc. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating a competitive process. 3. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the Federal Prison System. 4. The sector appears to be IT hardware procurement, with a specific focus on government needs.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's firm fixed price structure suggests a focus on cost control. Benchmarking against similar government desktop procurements would provide further insight into the pricing's competitiveness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition after exclusion of sources, suggesting a robust bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process is expected to yield fair market prices, ensuring taxpayer funds are used efficiently for essential equipment.

Public Impact

Ensures operational capacity for the Federal Prison System by providing necessary computing resources. Supports the Bureau of Prisons' mission through the acquisition of essential IT infrastructure. The procurement process aimed for competitive pricing, benefiting taxpayers. The contract duration of 132 days indicates a focused delivery timeline for the assets.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific per-unit cost data makes direct value assessment challenging.
The 'exclusion of sources' clause in competition warrants further scrutiny for potential limitations.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Firm fixed price contract type for cost certainty.
Supports critical government operations within the Federal Prison System.

Sector Analysis

This procurement falls within the IT hardware sector, specifically desktop computers for government use. Benchmarks for similar large-scale government IT hardware acquisitions would be relevant for a deeper value analysis.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses had opportunities to participate in the competitive bidding process.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of Justice to the Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons. Standard government procurement oversight processes would apply to ensure compliance and delivery.

Related Government Programs

Other Computer Related Services
Department of Justice Contracting
Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for higher cost if market prices decreased post-award due to FFP.
Lack of transparency on specific excluded sources in the competition.
No indication of small business participation.
Limited visibility into per-unit cost for detailed value analysis.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $25.8 million to WESTWIND COMPUTER PRODUCTS, INC.. FY 18 ASSET RECOVERY DESKTOP COMPUTERS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WESTWIND COMPUTER PRODUCTS, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $25.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-09-21. End: 2019-01-31.

What is the average per-unit cost of these desktop computers compared to similar government procurements?

Without specific per-unit cost data or a detailed breakdown of the $25.8 million total, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting the pricing was deemed competitive at the time of award. Further analysis would require access to the detailed bid data and comparison with GSA schedules or other agency bulk purchase agreements for similar hardware.

What were the specific 'sources' excluded during the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' process?

The 'exclusion of sources' clause typically means that while the competition was open to all eligible bidders, certain specific sources or types of sources were identified and excluded from consideration, often due to specific technical requirements, security protocols, or prior performance issues. The exact rationale and list of excluded sources would be detailed in the contract's solicitation documents and award justification.

How does the firm fixed price impact the government's ability to benefit from potential market price decreases during the contract period?

A firm fixed price (FFP) contract locks in the price regardless of the contractor's actual costs. While this provides cost certainty for the government, it also means the government does not directly benefit if market prices for desktop computers were to decrease significantly during the contract's performance period (September 2018 - January 2019). The contractor assumes the risk of cost fluctuations.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services

Product/Service Code: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT (INCLD FIRMWARE) SOFTWARE,SUPPLIES& SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 15BNAS18Q1942A

Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5655 JEFFERSON STREET NE SUITE B, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 87109

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Hispanic American Owned Business, HUBZone Firm, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $25,795,040

Exercised Options: $25,795,040

Current Obligation: $25,795,040

Actual Outlays: $8,259,306

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: NNG15SD04B

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline