Smithsonian Institution awards $2.37M for custom computer programming, raising value-for-money questions

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,374,864 ($2.4M)

Contractor: CP Marine, LLC

Awarding Agency: Smithsonian Institution

Start Date: 2025-01-28

End Date: 2029-01-31

Contract Duration: 1,464 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THIS IS TASK ORDER NO. 33330225FF0010103, AGAINST IDIQ NO. 33330223DF0010037, W.O. NO. 014, TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AT NMNH.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20560

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Smithsonian Institution obligated $2.4 million to CP MARINE, LLC for work described as: THIS IS TASK ORDER NO. 33330225FF0010103, AGAINST IDIQ NO. 33330223DF0010037, W.O. NO. 014, TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AT NMNH. Key points: 1. The contract's value appears high for custom programming services, necessitating a benchmark comparison. 2. Limited competition raises concerns about potential overpricing and reduced value. 3. The long performance period (over 4 years) requires careful monitoring for scope creep and cost overruns. 4. The specific services provided under this task order are not detailed, impacting performance assessment. 5. The contractor, CP Marine, LLC, has a limited public track record for this specific service type. 6. The contract is a firm-fixed-price type, which shifts some risk to the contractor but requires clear scope definition.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $2.37 million for custom computer programming services over approximately four years warrants scrutiny. Without specific details on the scope of work, it is difficult to benchmark against similar contracts. However, the average annual value of roughly $593,000 for IT services can be considered substantial. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests a defined scope, but the lack of detailed service descriptions makes a precise value-for-money assessment challenging. Further analysis would require understanding the complexity and deliverables of the custom programming.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning there was no open competition. This significantly limits the government's ability to solicit bids from multiple vendors and ensure the most competitive pricing. While sole-source awards can be justified under specific circumstances (e.g., unique capabilities, urgent needs), they inherently reduce price discovery and may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards mean taxpayers may not be getting the best possible price, as competition is a key driver for cost savings.

Public Impact

The Smithsonian Institution benefits from the provision of custom computer programming services. The services are intended to support operations at the National Museum of Natural History (NMNH). The contract is geographically focused on the District of Columbia. The specific workforce implications are not detailed but likely involve skilled IT professionals.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to inflated costs.
Vague service description hinders performance evaluation.
Long contract duration increases risk of cost overruns or scope creep.
Limited public information on contractor's specific expertise in this domain.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract structure can provide cost certainty if scope is well-defined.
Awarded to a single contractor, potentially allowing for focused expertise and streamlined communication.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically custom computer programming services (NAICS code 541511). This is a broad category encompassing software development, system integration, and IT consulting. The market for such services is highly competitive, with numerous vendors offering a wide range of capabilities. The Smithsonian Institution, as a large federal agency, frequently procures IT services to support its vast operations and digital initiatives. Benchmarking this contract's value would typically involve comparing it to other federal or commercial contracts for similar custom software development projects, considering factors like complexity, team size, and duration.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it indicate any specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses. The contractor, CP Marine, LLC, is not identified as a small business in the provided data. This means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific contract, either as the prime contractor or as subcontractors, are not explicitly facilitated by the contract's structure.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Smithsonian Institution's contracting and program management offices. As a federal agency, the Smithsonian is subject to oversight from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and its own Office of Inspector General (OIG). Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, but detailed performance metrics and specific oversight activities are not publicly disclosed in this summary. The firm-fixed-price nature implies that the contractor is responsible for delivering the agreed-upon scope within the set price, with oversight focused on adherence to that scope and quality.

Related Government Programs

Smithsonian Institution IT Services
Custom Software Development Contracts
Federal IT Procurement
National Museum of Natural History Support Services

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
Lack of detailed service description hinders value assessment.
Contract duration exceeds four years, increasing risk exposure.
Contractor's specific expertise for this service type not detailed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Smithsonian Institution awarded $2.4 million to CP MARINE, LLC. THIS IS TASK ORDER NO. 33330225FF0010103, AGAINST IDIQ NO. 33330223DF0010037, W.O. NO. 014, TO PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, AT NMNH.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CP MARINE, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian Institution).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-01-28. End: 2029-01-31.

What specific custom computer programming services are being provided under this task order?

The provided data identifies the contract as being for 'Custom Computer Programming Services' (NAICS 541511) under Task Order No. 33330225FF0010103. However, the specific details of these services, such as the type of software to be developed, the systems to be integrated, or the programming languages to be used, are not elaborated upon in the available information. This lack of specificity makes it challenging to fully assess the scope, complexity, and appropriateness of the $2.37 million award. Further details would likely be found in the task order's statement of work (SOW), which is not publicly provided here.

What is the track record of CP Marine, LLC in providing custom computer programming services to the federal government?

Information regarding CP Marine, LLC's specific track record in providing custom computer programming services to the federal government is limited based on the provided data. While the company is listed as the awardee, the data does not include details on past performance, previous contracts of a similar nature, or client feedback. A comprehensive assessment of their capabilities and reliability would require accessing more detailed contract history databases or performance reports. The fact that this is a sole-source award might suggest a pre-existing relationship or a specific, perhaps unique, capability that the agency identified.

How does the $2.37 million contract value compare to similar custom programming services procured by the Smithsonian Institution or other federal agencies?

Benchmarking the $2.37 million contract value for custom computer programming services is difficult without a detailed Statement of Work (SOW). However, for a duration of over four years, this represents an average annual expenditure of approximately $593,000. Federal IT service contracts can vary widely in cost based on complexity, labor categories, and deliverables. Larger, more complex custom software development projects can easily reach millions of dollars. To provide a precise comparison, one would need to identify contracts with similar scope, duration, and technical requirements within the Smithsonian or across comparable agencies like the National Science Foundation or the National Archives and Records Administration.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for custom computer programming?

Sole-source awards for custom computer programming present several potential risks. Primarily, the lack of competition means the government may not achieve the most favorable pricing, potentially leading to higher costs for taxpayers. It also limits the opportunity to leverage the diverse capabilities and innovative solutions offered by a wider range of vendors in the market. Furthermore, without competitive proposals to evaluate, the agency might have less assurance regarding the contractor's specific expertise and approach to the project. This can increase the risk of project delays, cost overruns, or suboptimal technical outcomes if the chosen contractor's capabilities do not perfectly align with the project's needs.

What is the historical spending pattern of the Smithsonian Institution on custom computer programming services?

Analyzing the historical spending patterns of the Smithsonian Institution on custom computer programming services would require a review of past contract awards over several fiscal years. This specific task order represents a single award of $2.37 million. To understand broader trends, one would need to aggregate data on all contracts awarded for NAICS code 541511 (and potentially related IT service codes) by the Smithsonian Institution. This would reveal the typical contract values, the number of competitive versus sole-source awards, and the primary contractors utilized. Without this broader dataset, it's impossible to determine if this award is an anomaly or part of a consistent spending pattern.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Goldbelt, Incorporated

Address: 76 EGAN DRIVE, JUNEAU, AK, 99801

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, HUBZone Firm, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,374,864

Exercised Options: $2,374,864

Current Obligation: $2,374,864

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: PRODUCTS OR SERVICES PURSUANT TO FAR 12.102(F)

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 33330223DF0010037

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline