DOJ Renews STARLIMS Maintenance for $2.6M, Extending to 2028 with No Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $2,637,491 ($2.6M)
Contractor: Starlims Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Justice
Start Date: 2023-06-14
End Date: 2028-06-13
Contract Duration: 1,826 days
Daily Burn Rate: $1.4K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: RENEWAL OF STARLIMS ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PLAN BASE YEAR PLUS 4 OPTION YEARS PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE JUNE 14, 2023 - JUNE 13, 2028
Place of Performance
Location: HOLLYWOOD, BROWARD County, FLORIDA, 33021
State: Florida Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Justice obligated $2.6 million to STARLIMS CORPORATION for work described as: RENEWAL OF STARLIMS ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PLAN BASE YEAR PLUS 4 OPTION YEARS PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE JUNE 14, 2023 - JUNE 13, 2028 Key points: 1. Contract awarded to STARLIMS CORPORATION for annual maintenance. 2. Significant spending of $2.6M over five years. 3. No competition was utilized for this renewal. 4. Services fall under Computer Systems Design.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's value of $2.6M over five years for maintenance is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price represents fair market value compared to similar software maintenance agreements.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a sole-source award. This lack of competition limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition may result in the government paying a premium for STARLIMS maintenance, impacting taxpayer funds negatively.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be overpaying for software maintenance due to the lack of competitive bidding. The DEA relies on STARLIMS for critical operations, making this renewal essential but potentially costly. Future renewals could continue this non-competitive trend if not addressed.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpayment
- Sole-source award
Positive Signals
- Essential software maintenance secured
- Long-term planning (5 years)
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT sector, specifically computer systems design services. Benchmarks for annual maintenance contracts of this nature vary widely based on software complexity and vendor, but a lack of competition is a common concern.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was awarded to STARLIMS CORPORATION, a specific vendor. There is no information provided to suggest any portion of this contract was set aside for or awarded to small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
The award was a Purchase Order, suggesting internal agency oversight. However, the lack of competition raises questions about the thoroughness of the justification for a sole-source award and whether alternative solutions were adequately explored.
Related Government Programs
- Computer Systems Design Services
- Department of Justice Contracting
- Drug Enforcement Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for overpayment
- Vendor lock-in risk
Tags
computer-systems-design-services, department-of-justice, fl, purchase-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Justice awarded $2.6 million to STARLIMS CORPORATION. RENEWAL OF STARLIMS ANNUAL MAINTENANCE PLAN BASE YEAR PLUS 4 OPTION YEARS PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE JUNE 14, 2023 - JUNE 13, 2028
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is STARLIMS CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Drug Enforcement Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $2.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-06-14. End: 2028-06-13.
What is the justification for not competing this contract, and what steps are being taken to ensure future competition?
The provided data states the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP.' This implies a sole-source justification was likely made, possibly due to proprietary software or unique support needs. To ensure future competition, the agency should actively research alternative solutions, explore open-source options, or engage in market research to identify potential competitors for upcoming contract actions.
How does the $2.6M cost compare to industry benchmarks for similar software maintenance agreements, especially considering the sole-source nature of the award?
Without specific details on the STARLIMS software's complexity and the exact services covered, a precise benchmark is difficult. However, sole-source contracts often carry a price premium compared to competitively bid ones. The agency should have conducted a price analysis to validate the reasonableness of the $2.6M against internal estimates or historical data for similar maintenance services.
What is the risk of vendor lock-in and potential future cost escalations given this sole-source renewal?
The risk of vendor lock-in is high with sole-source awards for specialized software maintenance. This renewal extends the dependency on STARLIMS CORPORATION for five years. Future cost escalations are a significant concern, as the lack of competition removes the primary incentive for the vendor to offer competitive pricing in subsequent years.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Solicitation ID: D-23-TC-0137
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Abbott Laboratories Inc.
Address: 4000 HOLLYWOOD BLVD SUITE 333, HOLLYWOOD, FL, 33021
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Foreign-Owned and U.S.-Incorporated Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $4,379,152
Exercised Options: $4,379,152
Current Obligation: $2,637,491
Actual Outlays: $2,627,491
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-06-14
Current End Date: 2028-06-13
Potential End Date: 2028-06-13 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-12
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