VA awards $4.3M contract for Sheriff and CLETS access to San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,308 ($4.3K)

Contractor: SAN Bernardino County Sheriffs Department

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2019-10-01

End Date: 2022-10-01

Contract Duration: 1,096 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: SHERIFF AND CLETS ACCESS TO S. B. COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT

Place of Performance

Location: LOS ANGELES, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 90073

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $4,307.9 to SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT for work described as: SHERIFF AND CLETS ACCESS TO S. B. COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single county sheriff's department, raising questions about broader access. 2. The $4.3 million price tag for radio network access warrants scrutiny. 3. Lack of competition suggests potential for higher costs and limited innovation. 4. This contract falls within the 'Radio Networks' sector, impacting public safety communications.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $4.3 million for a 3-year period is difficult to benchmark without specific service details. However, given the nature of the service, it appears to be a significant investment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may not ensure the government receives the best possible value.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the absence of competitive bidding, potentially funding services at a non-negotiated rate.

Public Impact

Veterans may experience improved access to law enforcement data through integrated systems. Local law enforcement in San Bernardino County benefits from enhanced communication capabilities. Potential for increased efficiency in information sharing between VA and law enforcement agencies.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Sole-source award
Potential for overpayment

Positive Signals

Supports law enforcement access
Potential for improved information sharing

Sector Analysis

This contract for radio networks and data access falls under the broader IT and public safety sectors. Benchmarking requires comparison with similar law enforcement data access agreements, which are often localized.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to a government entity (San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department), not a small business. There is no indication of small business subcontracting opportunities within this award.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants oversight to ensure the pricing is fair and reasonable and that the services provided are essential and effectively utilized.

Related Government Programs

Radio Networks
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
Sole-source award
Potential for inflated pricing
Limited transparency in service scope

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $4,307.9 to SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT. SHERIFF AND CLETS ACCESS TO S. B. COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT.

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 $4,307.9.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-10-01. End: 2022-10-01.

What specific services does 'SHERIFF AND CLETS ACCESS' entail, and how does this justify a sole-source award?

The specific services likely involve access to the California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS) and potentially other sheriff department databases. A sole-source award might be justified if the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department is the only entity capable of providing this specific, integrated access to the VA, perhaps due to existing infrastructure or unique data-sharing agreements.

How can the VA ensure fair pricing without a competitive bidding process for this $4.3 million contract?

The VA should conduct thorough price analysis, comparing the proposed costs against historical data for similar services, independent cost estimates, or market research on comparable data access agreements. Negotiation with the Sheriff's Department, supported by this analysis, is crucial to ensure the price is fair and reasonable, even in a sole-source scenario.

What is the tangible benefit to veterans from this contract, and how is its effectiveness measured?

The tangible benefit to veterans is likely indirect, stemming from improved law enforcement capabilities that can enhance public safety and potentially expedite responses to incidents involving veterans. Effectiveness could be measured by metrics such as response times, data accuracy, and the successful resolution of cases where this access played a role, though specific VA-defined metrics are not provided.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Radio and Television Broadcasting › Radio Networks

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 655 E 3RD, SAN BERNARDINO, CA, 92410

Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. Local Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,308

Exercised Options: $4,308

Current Obligation: $4,308

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline