VA Awards $2.68M for PTSD Mobile App Support to Vertical Design Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,676,582 ($2.7M)

Contractor: Vertical Design Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2023-09-29

End Date: 2026-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,096 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: NATIONAL CENTER FOR POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER MOBILE APPLICATIONS SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20010

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $2.7 million to VERTICAL DESIGN INC. for work described as: NATIONAL CENTER FOR POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER MOBILE APPLICATIONS SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded for essential support services for PTSD mobile applications. 2. Vertical Design Inc. secured the contract, indicating a specific vendor relationship. 3. The contract is a definitive contract with a firm fixed price. 4. The award falls under Computer Systems Design Services, a common IT sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.68 million over three years for specialized IT support appears reasonable given the niche nature of the services. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for mobile application support is difficult without more specific service details.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, suggesting a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs compared to a competitive process. The justification for sole-source is not provided.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for this contract. The lack of competition may result in a less optimal use of these funds.

Public Impact

Supports critical mental health services for veterans through mobile applications. Ensures continued functionality and development of PTSD support tools. Potential for improved veteran access to mental health resources. Lack of competition raises questions about cost-effectiveness for taxpayers.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
Potential for overpayment due to lack of competitive bidding.
Contract duration of three years may be long for evolving mobile tech.

Positive Signals

Supports a vital program for veteran mental health.
Firm fixed price contract provides cost certainty.
Specific vendor expertise may be required for specialized support.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT sector, specifically computer systems design services. Government spending in this area is substantial, and contracts often involve specialized support for complex systems and applications, such as those related to healthcare and mental health.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. The award went to a single entity without mention of small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of Veterans Affairs is responsible for oversight. The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure fair pricing and effective service delivery, as competitive processes are absent.

Related Government Programs

Computer Systems Design Services
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of documented justification for sole-source
No indication of small business participation
Potential for inflated costs due to lack of competition

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $2.7 million to VERTICAL DESIGN INC.. NATIONAL CENTER FOR POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER MOBILE APPLICATIONS SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VERTICAL DESIGN INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-29. End: 2026-09-29.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were any attempts made to explore competitive options?

The provided data does not include the justification for the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source contracts are awarded when only one vendor possesses the unique capabilities or proprietary knowledge required for the service. Agencies must document these justifications thoroughly. Without this documentation, it's impossible to assess if competitive options were adequately explored or if this was the only viable path.

How does the per-unit cost or overall value of this contract compare to similar mobile application support contracts within the federal government or private sector?

Benchmarking this contract's value is challenging without specific details on the services provided (e.g., number of apps, complexity, support levels). However, $2.68 million over three years for specialized IT support is not inherently excessive. A comparative analysis would require access to detailed service level agreements and pricing structures of comparable contracts to determine if Vertical Design Inc.'s pricing is competitive.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will the VA measure the effectiveness of Vertical Design Inc.'s support for the PTSD mobile applications?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or the metrics the VA will use to measure effectiveness. Effective oversight would involve tracking metrics such as application uptime, user satisfaction, bug resolution times, and successful implementation of updates. Clear KPIs are crucial for ensuring the vendor meets expectations and taxpayer funds are used efficiently.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 36C10B23Q0374

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Vertical Design LLC

Address: 1219 DERBY ST, BERKELEY, CA, 94702

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,999,336

Exercised Options: $2,676,582

Current Obligation: $2,676,582

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline