Treasury's IRS Awards $3.24M for FARS Applications O&M Support to Creative Systems and Consulting
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,242,186 ($3.2M)
Contractor: Creative Systems and Consulting L.L.C.
Awarding Agency: Department of the Treasury
Start Date: 2024-01-14
End Date: 2027-01-13
Contract Duration: 1,095 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: THIS ORDER IS UNDER ADSS BPA 2032H5-21-A-00024. THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING FARS APPLICATIONS O&M SUPPORT SERVICES.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20001
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Treasury obligated $3.2 million to CREATIVE SYSTEMS AND CONSULTING L.L.C. for work described as: THIS ORDER IS UNDER ADSS BPA 2032H5-21-A-00024. THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING FARS APPLICATIONS O&M SUPPORT SERVICES. Key points: 1. Contract awarded under an existing BPA, indicating potential for streamlined procurement. 2. Focus on custom computer programming services (NAICS 541511) suggests specialized IT support. 3. The contract value of $3.24M over 3 years warrants scrutiny for value for money. 4. No small business participation noted, which could be a missed opportunity for economic inclusion.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $3.24M for 3 years of O&M support for FARS applications appears reasonable given the specialized nature of custom computer programming services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for IT O&M would provide a clearer picture of cost-effectiveness.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under a BPA call, which implies that the initial BPA was competed full and open. This method can lead to competitive pricing if the BPA itself was well-competed and the call-off process maintains competitive pressure.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential IT operational support. The value for money achieved through the competitive BPA process will determine the ultimate taxpayer impact.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operation of critical FARS applications, supporting tax administration. Supports a specific IT service provider, Creative Systems and Consulting, L.L.C. The contract's duration of 3 years provides stability for service delivery.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of explicit small business participation.
- Reliance on a BPA call-off may obscure true competition at the task order level.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under a Full and Open competition BPA.
- Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty.
Sector Analysis
The contract falls within the IT sector, specifically custom computer programming services. Spending benchmarks for IT O&M support vary widely based on system complexity and criticality, but $3.24M over three years for specialized applications is within a typical range.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business (sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business set-asides were considered or if opportunities were missed.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by the IRS, a component of the Department of the Treasury. Oversight would involve monitoring performance, ensuring adherence to contract terms, and verifying that the services provided meet the agency's needs.
Related Government Programs
- Custom Computer Programming Services
- Department of the Treasury Contracting
- Internal Revenue Service Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in due to specialized nature of support.
- Lack of explicit small business participation.
- Performance risks associated with critical application support.
- Reliance on BPA call-off may limit transparency of initial competition.
Tags
custom-computer-programming-services, department-of-the-treasury, dc, bpa-call, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Treasury awarded $3.2 million to CREATIVE SYSTEMS AND CONSULTING L.L.C.. THIS ORDER IS UNDER ADSS BPA 2032H5-21-A-00024. THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROVIDING FARS APPLICATIONS O&M SUPPORT SERVICES.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CREATIVE SYSTEMS AND CONSULTING L.L.C..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Treasury (Internal Revenue Service).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $3.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-01-14. End: 2027-01-13.
How does the pricing for these FARS Applications O&M support services compare to industry benchmarks for similar custom computer programming contracts?
A comprehensive comparison requires detailed service level agreements and specific technical requirements. However, the $3.24M value over three years for specialized O&M suggests a significant investment. Benchmarking against contracts with similar scope, complexity, and service level agreements within the federal government and private sector would be crucial to assess cost-effectiveness and identify potential areas for savings or optimization.
What specific risks are associated with relying on Creative Systems and Consulting, L.L.C. for critical FARS application support, and how are these risks being mitigated?
Potential risks include vendor lock-in, key personnel dependency, and performance issues. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust contract management, performance monitoring, clearly defined service level agreements (SLAs), and contingency planning. The IRS should ensure clear exit strategies and knowledge transfer protocols are in place to minimize disruption should the relationship change.
To what extent does this contract contribute to the IRS's overall mission effectiveness and technological modernization efforts?
The FARS applications are integral to tax administration, making their reliable operation crucial for IRS mission effectiveness. Continued O&M support ensures system stability and availability, preventing disruptions to taxpayer services and internal processes. The effectiveness of this contract hinges on the vendor's ability to maintain and potentially enhance these systems, aligning with the IRS's broader goals for technological advancement.
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 - END USER
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2550 S CLARK ST FL 12, ARLINGTON, VA, 22202
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $6,582,878
Exercised Options: $4,089,179
Current Obligation: $3,242,186
Actual Outlays: $2,759,385
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 2032H521A00024
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-01-14
Current End Date: 2027-01-13
Potential End Date: 2029-01-13 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-13
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