DOJ's $38M Enterprise Applications Development BPA Call Task Order Awarded to General Dynamics IT

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $38,271,124 ($38.3M)

Contractor: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2021-04-15

End Date: 2022-03-31

Contract Duration: 350 days

Daily Burn Rate: $109.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: IT

Official Description: ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT BPA CALL-TASK 2

Place of Performance

Location: FALLS CHURCH, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22042

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $38.3 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. for work described as: ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT BPA CALL-TASK 2 Key points: 1. Task order awarded under a broader BPA, suggesting potential for follow-on work and established pricing. 2. Contract type is labor hours, which can be flexible but requires careful monitoring of hours expended. 3. The award represents a significant investment in custom computer programming services for the Department of Justice. 4. Competition was full and open, indicating a broad market search and potential for competitive pricing. 5. The duration of the task order is approximately one year, suggesting a defined project scope. 6. The contractor, General Dynamics Information Technology, is a large, established player in the federal IT space.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's value of $38.3 million for approximately one year of custom computer programming services appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar large-scale IT development contracts within federal agencies suggests this is within expected ranges. The labor hour pricing model allows for flexibility, but requires diligent oversight to ensure value for money is achieved throughout the performance period. Without specific deliverables or unit costs, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the competitive award process provides some assurance.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This task order was awarded under a full and open competition Best Practices Acquisition (BPA) Call. This indicates that the Department of Justice sought proposals from all responsible sources capable of meeting the requirements. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation implies a robust competitive process was intended, which generally leads to better price discovery and a wider range of technical solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process for a contract of this magnitude is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the potential for competitive pricing and ensures that the government receives the best value by considering a broad spectrum of qualified vendors.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the various components within the Department of Justice that require custom application development to support their missions. Services delivered include custom computer programming, likely encompassing design, development, testing, and potentially maintenance of enterprise applications. The geographic impact is primarily within the operational areas of the Department of Justice, with potential for remote work supporting the contract. Workforce implications include the creation of jobs for software developers, project managers, and other IT professionals employed by General Dynamics Information Technology.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Labor hour contracts can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed and monitored for efficiency.
The broad nature of 'enterprise applications development' could lead to scope creep if not clearly defined and controlled.
Reliance on a single large contractor for critical application development may pose long-term risks if not managed with contingency planning.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a BPA Call, suggesting a pre-vetted contractor pool and potentially streamlined acquisition process.
Full and open competition indicates a commitment to market research and achieving competitive pricing.
General Dynamics Information Technology is an experienced federal contractor with a significant presence in the IT services sector.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on custom computer programming. The federal IT services market is substantial, with agencies consistently investing in modernizing and developing enterprise applications to improve operational efficiency and data management. This contract aligns with the government's ongoing efforts to leverage technology for mission support, competing with other large IT service providers for similar opportunities.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). As a large contract awarded to a major IT services provider, the primary impact on small businesses would likely be through subcontracting opportunities. General Dynamics Information Technology may engage small businesses for specialized services or to meet subcontracting goals, contributing to the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of Justice's contracting officers and program managers. The labor hour contract type necessitates close monitoring of hours expended against the established ceiling to ensure cost control. Transparency is facilitated through contract reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice IT Modernization Initiatives
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems Development
Custom Software Development Services
IT Services Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep in labor hour contracts.
Need for robust oversight to ensure value for money.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $38.3 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.. ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT BPA CALL-TASK 2

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Office of Justice Programs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $38.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-04-15. End: 2022-03-31.

What is the specific nature and scope of the 'enterprise applications' being developed under this task order?

The provided data identifies the contract as 'ENTERPRISE APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT BPA CALL-TASK 2' and classifies the service as 'Custom Computer Programming Services' (NAICS 541511). However, it does not detail the specific applications. Typically, 'enterprise applications' refer to large-scale software systems designed to support core business processes across an organization, such as financial management, human resources, case management, or data analytics. For the Department of Justice, these could range from systems supporting law enforcement investigations, judicial processes, administrative functions, or grant management. Further details would likely be found in the Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS) associated with this task order, which are not included in the provided summary data.

How does the awarded amount of $38.3 million compare to similar custom application development contracts within the Department of Justice or other federal agencies?

Benchmarking the $38.3 million award requires comparing it to contracts with similar scope, duration, and complexity. For a roughly one-year task order focused on enterprise application development, this value is substantial but not unusual for large federal IT projects. Agencies like the Department of Defense, Health and Human Services, or Treasury often award contracts in the tens to hundreds of millions for developing or significantly modernizing enterprise systems. Factors influencing cost include the number of users, data complexity, integration requirements, security mandates, and the specific technologies employed. Given that this is a task order under a BPA Call, it suggests that pricing was likely negotiated and potentially benchmarked during the initial BPA competition, providing a degree of pre-validation for the rates.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the success of this task order?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this task order. However, for custom computer programming services, typical KPIs often revolve around adherence to project timelines, budget management, software quality (e.g., defect density, performance benchmarks), user satisfaction, and successful deployment of functionalities as defined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS). For enterprise applications, successful integration with existing systems and achievement of intended business process improvements are also critical measures. The contracting officer's representative (COR) and program managers would be responsible for monitoring these metrics throughout the contract's performance period.

What is General Dynamics Information Technology's track record with similar large-scale enterprise application development contracts for the federal government?

General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) has a long and extensive track record of performing large-scale IT services, including enterprise application development, for various federal agencies. They have been involved in significant projects related to case management systems, data analytics platforms, cloud migrations, and modernization of legacy systems for departments such as Defense, Homeland Security, and Health and Human Services. Their experience often includes managing complex projects, integrating diverse technologies, and adhering to stringent government security and compliance requirements. While specific performance details for every contract are not publicly available, GDIT's sustained presence and numerous awards in this space indicate a generally positive capability in delivering such services.

What is the historical spending pattern for enterprise applications development within the Department of Justice, and how does this award fit into that trend?

The Department of Justice (DOJ) consistently invests significant resources in IT, including the development and maintenance of enterprise applications critical for its diverse missions. Historical spending patterns show a continuous need for modernizing systems related to law enforcement, judicial administration, grants management, and internal operations. This $38.3 million award for enterprise applications development fits within this trend, representing a specific project or set of projects aimed at enhancing or replacing existing capabilities. The use of a BPA Call suggests a strategic approach to managing this type of procurement, potentially consolidating requirements and leveraging established agreements to achieve better value and efficiency compared to numerous individual contract actions.

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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: General Dynamics Corporation

Address: 3150 FAIRVIEW PARK DR STE 100, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 22042

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $38,749,295

Exercised Options: $38,749,295

Current Obligation: $38,271,124

Actual Outlays: $22,781,755

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15PTDD20A00000001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline