State Department awards $19.7M for Computer Systems Design Services to Copper River Enterprise Services, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $19,716,209 ($19.7M)
Contractor: Copper River Enterprise Services, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of State
Start Date: 2022-06-28
End Date: 2024-07-31
Contract Duration: 764 days
Daily Burn Rate: $25.8K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: IT
Official Description: CONFERENCE SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: ANCHORAGE, ANCHORAGE County, ALASKA, 99501
State: Alaska Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of State obligated $19.7 million to COPPER RIVER ENTERPRISE SERVICES, LLC for work described as: CONFERENCE SUPPORT Key points: 1. Significant contract value of nearly $20 million. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about competition. 3. Potential for higher costs due to lack of competition. 4. IT services sector, specifically computer systems design.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's value of $19.7 million for computer systems design services is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price represents fair market value compared to similar contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning only one vendor was considered. This significantly limits price discovery and competition, potentially leading to inflated costs for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for these computer systems design services.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the sole-source nature of the award. Limited transparency into the justification for not competing the contract. Potential impact on the availability of IT services from other qualified vendors.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- Potential for cost overruns
Positive Signals
- Contract awarded to a single vendor
- Services to be delivered by 2024
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically computer systems design services. Benchmarks for similar contracts are difficult to establish without competitive data, but large sole-source awards warrant scrutiny.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were excluded from a potentially competitive opportunity.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award necessitates robust oversight to ensure the services are necessary, performed effectively, and priced reasonably, despite the absence of competitive pressure.
Related Government Programs
- Computer Systems Design Services
- Department of State Contracting
- Department of State Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competitive justification.
- Potential for inflated pricing due to no competition.
- Limited transparency on vendor selection rationale.
- No small business participation indicated.
Tags
computer-systems-design-services, department-of-state, ak, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of State awarded $19.7 million to COPPER RIVER ENTERPRISE SERVICES, LLC. CONFERENCE SUPPORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is COPPER RIVER ENTERPRISE SERVICES, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $19.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-06-28. End: 2024-07-31.
What was the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive strategies considered?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, urgent needs, or lack of market availability. Without detailed documentation from the Department of State, it's impossible to confirm the specific reasons or if alternatives were explored. This lack of transparency is a concern for ensuring efficient use of taxpayer funds.
How does the awarded price compare to industry benchmarks for similar computer systems design services, considering the sole-source nature?
Direct comparison to industry benchmarks is challenging for sole-source contracts due to the absence of competitive pricing. While the contract value is substantial, the lack of competing bids means there's no market validation of its fairness. The government should have internal cost-estimation processes to ensure reasonableness, but external validation is limited.
What mechanisms are in place to ensure the effectiveness and value for money of these computer systems design services, given the non-competitive award?
Effectiveness and value are typically ensured through performance metrics, service level agreements, and rigorous contract management. For sole-source contracts, proactive oversight is even more critical. The Department of State must actively monitor performance, manage scope creep, and ensure deliverables meet requirements to justify the expenditure.
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: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1577 C ST STE 201, ANCHORAGE, AK, 99501
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $19,716,209
Exercised Options: $19,716,209
Current Obligation: $19,716,209
Actual Outlays: $15,553,496
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 19AQMM18D0106
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2022-06-28
Current End Date: 2024-07-31
Potential End Date: 2024-07-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-10-02
More Contracts from Copper River Enterprise Services, LLC
- - Implementation of Three Cybersecurity Technology Solutions (information Protection Logging and Event Management Identity Management Derived Credentials) — $21.9M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Ca-Broadcom Software Maintenance — $20.0M (Department of Agriculture)
- This Contract Provides Engineering Support Services — $12.5M (Department of State)
- Professional Support to Overseas School — $2.0M (Department of State)
View all Copper River Enterprise Services, LLC federal contracts →
Other Department of State Contracts
- Care Logistical Support Services - Clss — $2.3B (Xator LLC)
- Task Order to Provide Project Management Support, Transition Support, Engineering and Design Support, Securing the Infrastructure Support and O&M Support for the Department's IT Consolidation Program — $2.1B (Science Applications International Corporation)
- Global Security Engineering&supply Chain Services — $1.5B (General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.)
- Slmaqm04c0030 — $1.2B (Dyncorp International LLC)
- THE Purpose of This Action IS to Establish a NEW Contract With General Dynamics Information Technology for Global Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Technology Development Services to Support the Department of State. the Initial Funding Associated With This Contract IS $22,304,578.00. the Overall Contract Value IS $2,200,000,000.00 — $1.2B (General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.)