DOJ awards $3.3M contract for prison system application maintenance to Goldschmitt and Associates LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,312,903 ($3.3M)

Contractor: Goldschmitt and Associates LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2022-10-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: ROSTER PROGRAM APPLICATION MAINTENANCE BASE + 4 OPTION YEARS

Place of Performance

Location: STERLING, LOUDOUN County, VIRGINIA, 20166

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $3.3 million to GOLDSCHMITT AND ASSOCIATES LLC for work described as: ROSTER PROGRAM APPLICATION MAINTENANCE BASE + 4 OPTION YEARS Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential IT maintenance and support for a critical federal system. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a potentially competitive pricing environment. 3. The contract duration of four years provides stability for ongoing system operations. 4. Fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 5. The award is a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle. 6. The contractor has a track record with federal agencies, indicated by the 'VA' status.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $3.3 million over four years appears reasonable for IT application maintenance services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for system maintenance and support for federal agencies of comparable size and complexity would provide a more definitive assessment. The fixed-price nature of the contract suggests that the government has negotiated a set price for the services, which can be advantageous in controlling costs. However, without specific details on the scope of work and the number of option years exercised, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating that multiple vendors were likely solicited and had the opportunity to bid. The specific details of the bidding process, such as the number of proposals received and the evaluation criteria, are not provided. However, a full and open competition generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service offerings for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining the best value through competitive pricing and innovation from a wider pool of potential contractors.

Public Impact

The Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons benefits from continued maintenance and support of its critical application systems. This contract ensures the operational stability and functionality of IT systems used within federal correctional facilities. The services delivered are essential for the day-to-day operations and administrative functions of the Bureau of Prisons. The primary beneficiaries are the staff and inmates within the federal prison system who rely on these IT systems.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if maintenance requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical system maintenance could pose a risk if performance issues arise.

Positive Signals

Fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.
Contract duration offers stability for essential IT services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Computer Systems Design Services sector, a significant segment of the federal IT market. The federal government consistently spends billions annually on IT services, including software maintenance, development, and support. This contract for application maintenance is a common type of award within this sector, ensuring the continued operation of essential government IT infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar maintenance contracts can vary widely based on system complexity and user base.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, Goldschmitt and Associates LLC, is likely not a small business for the purpose of this specific award. There is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans or requirements, so the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is not discernible from this data alone. Future analysis could explore subcontracting opportunities if detailed in the contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the Bureau of Prisons. Accountability measures are inherent in the fixed-price contract type, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed-upon budget. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award being publicly available. The Inspector General's office for the Department of Justice may conduct audits or investigations if performance issues or concerns arise.

Related Government Programs

Federal Prison System IT Modernization
Bureau of Prisons Software Development
Department of Justice Information Technology Services
Correctional Facility Management Systems

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Risk of performance degradation
Scope creep management

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $3.3 million to GOLDSCHMITT AND ASSOCIATES LLC. ROSTER PROGRAM APPLICATION MAINTENANCE BASE + 4 OPTION YEARS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GOLDSCHMITT AND ASSOCIATES LLC.

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 $3.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the specific scope of 'ROSTER PROGRAM APPLICATION MAINTENANCE BASE + 4 OPTION YEARS' and what are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for Goldschmitt and Associates LLC?

The specific scope of 'ROSTER PROGRAM APPLICATION MAINTENANCE BASE + 4 OPTION YEARS' likely encompasses the ongoing support, updates, bug fixes, and potential minor enhancements for the Bureau of Prisons' roster management application. This could include maintaining database integrity, ensuring system uptime, providing help desk support for users, and applying security patches. Key performance indicators (KPIs) would typically be defined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and might include metrics such as system availability (e.g., 99.9% uptime), response time for critical bug fixes (e.g., within 4 hours), resolution time for user support tickets (e.g., within 24 hours), and successful deployment of updates without introducing new issues. Without access to the PWS, these are educated assumptions based on standard IT maintenance contracts.

How does the awarded price of $3.3 million compare to industry benchmarks for similar IT application maintenance contracts for federal agencies of this size?

A direct comparison of the $3.3 million award to industry benchmarks for similar IT application maintenance contracts is challenging without more specific details about the application's complexity, user base size, and the exact services included. However, for a four-year contract supporting a critical federal system, this figure appears within a reasonable range. Industry benchmarks for IT maintenance can vary significantly, with costs often calculated as a percentage of the original development cost or based on per-user/per-server models. Given the fixed-price nature, the Department of Justice likely conducted a price analysis during the procurement to ensure the proposed cost was fair and reasonable relative to the anticipated effort and market rates. Further analysis would require access to the contract's PWS and potentially data from similar government contracts.

What is Goldschmitt and Associates LLC's track record with the Department of Justice and other federal agencies regarding IT services and contract performance?

Goldschmitt and Associates LLC has a history of performing federal contracts, as indicated by the 'VA' (Virginia) status, which often denotes past performance or existing contracts within the federal system. To assess their track record specifically with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other agencies, a review of their contract history in federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) would be necessary. This would reveal the types of services they have provided, the agencies they have served, contract values, and performance ratings if available. A positive performance history with similar agencies and contract types would suggest a lower risk for this current award. Conversely, any documented performance issues or disputes would raise concerns about their ability to successfully execute this contract.

What are the potential risks associated with this contract, and what mitigation strategies are likely in place?

Potential risks for this contract include vendor lock-in, where the government becomes overly reliant on Goldschmitt and Associates LLC for critical system maintenance, making future transitions difficult or costly. Another risk is performance degradation if the contractor fails to meet service level agreements (SLAs) or if the application's complexity increases beyond initial estimates. Scope creep, where additional requirements are added without corresponding adjustments to cost or schedule, is also a common risk. Mitigation strategies likely include clearly defined SLAs in the PWS, regular performance reviews, robust government oversight, and potentially incorporating clauses for termination for convenience or default. The fixed-price structure itself acts as a risk mitigation tool by capping the government's financial exposure.

How does this contract align with the Bureau of Prisons' broader IT strategy and modernization efforts?

This contract for application maintenance directly supports the Bureau of Prisons' (BOP) need to ensure the continued operational integrity of its existing IT infrastructure. While focused on maintenance, it indirectly aligns with broader IT modernization efforts by providing a stable foundation upon which new systems or upgrades can be built or integrated. Effective maintenance prevents system degradation, which could otherwise hinder modernization initiatives. The BOP has historically faced challenges with IT modernization, and ensuring the reliability of current systems through contracts like this is a crucial, albeit less visible, component of their overall technology roadmap. Future modernization may involve replacing or significantly upgrading the 'ROSTER PROGRAM APPLICATION,' at which point this maintenance contract would likely be superseded.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 15BNAS22Q00000049

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 21515 RIDGETOP CIR STE 390, STERLING, VA, 20166

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, HUBZone Firm, Limited Liability Corporation, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,184,211

Exercised Options: $3,312,903

Current Obligation: $3,312,903

Actual Outlays: $2,212,850

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCB22D0029

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline