VA awards $6.76M for Instructional Systems Design Support to Design Interactive, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,764,660 ($6.8M)

Contractor: Design Interactive, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2024-05-13

End Date: 2025-02-12

Contract Duration: 275 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS DESIGN SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: ORLANDO, ORANGE County, FLORIDA, 32817

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $6.8 million to DESIGN INTERACTIVE, LLC for work described as: INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS DESIGN SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Design Interactive, LLC for $6.76M. 2. The contract is for Instructional Systems Design Support. 3. Awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs. 4. The contract duration is 275 days. 5. This is a firm fixed price contract.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $6.76M for 275 days appears high for IT services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for instructional design support is needed to assess value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a limited competition approach. This may have impacted price discovery and potentially led to a higher price.

Taxpayer Impact: The limited competition approach may result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for these services.

Public Impact

Veterans Affairs training and development programs will be supported. The contract supports the modernization of educational materials. Potential impact on the quality and effectiveness of VA training.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition raises concerns about price reasonableness.
Lack of clear justification for limited competition.
Potential for cost overruns due to undefined scope.

Positive Signals

Supports critical VA training needs.
Firm fixed price contract provides cost certainty.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Computer Systems Design Services. The federal spending benchmark for this sector varies widely based on specific services, but $6.76M for a 9-month period for specialized design support warrants scrutiny.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded to a small business, as indicated by 'sb': false. Further analysis is needed to determine if small business set-aside opportunities were missed.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be crucial to ensure Design Interactive, LLC delivers on the instructional systems design support as per the contract terms and that the VA achieves its training objectives effectively.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

Limited competition may lead to inflated costs.
Potential lack of transparency in the procurement process.
High contract value for a relatively short duration.
No clear indication of small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $6.8 million to DESIGN INTERACTIVE, LLC. INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS DESIGN SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DESIGN INTERACTIVE, LLC.

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 $6.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-05-13. End: 2025-02-12.

What is the specific scope of work for this instructional systems design support, and how does it justify the $6.76M price tag?

The specific scope of work involves the design and development of instructional systems. While the exact deliverables are not detailed here, the contract's value suggests a comprehensive effort potentially including curriculum development, e-learning modules, and training material creation. A detailed breakdown of tasks and estimated labor hours would be necessary to fully justify the price against industry standards for similar complex design projects.

What factors led to the 'limited' competition determination, and were alternative approaches considered to maximize competition?

The determination for limited competition, especially under SAP, typically arises from specific circumstances like urgent needs, unique capabilities, or a lack of available sources. Without further documentation, it's unclear if a thorough market research was conducted to identify all potential sources or if the justification for limiting competition was robust. Exploring options like broader solicitations or phased approaches could have potentially increased competition.

How will the effectiveness of the instructional systems designed under this contract be measured to ensure value for taxpayer money?

Effectiveness will likely be measured through performance metrics outlined in the contract, such as user feedback on training modules, completion rates, and demonstrated learning outcomes. The VA should establish clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) tied to the instructional design's impact on employee performance or mission readiness. Regular progress reviews and post-implementation evaluations are essential to confirm the design's efficacy and value.

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 UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3501 QUADRANGLE BLVD STE 150, ORLANDO, FL, 32817

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,764,660

Exercised Options: $6,764,660

Current Obligation: $6,764,660

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline