GSA Awards $8.9M for Paper Vision Licenses and Support to Powertrain, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $8,924 ($8.9K)

Contractor: Powertrain, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2025-04-18

End Date: 2026-04-17

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $25/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: PAPER VISION LICENSES AND SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20415

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $8,924.39 to POWERTRAIN, INC. for work described as: PAPER VISION LICENSES AND SUPPORT Key points: 1. The contract is for software licenses and support, a common IT expenditure. 2. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources, suggesting a deliberate sourcing decision. 3. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs, but the specific value needs context. 4. The contract duration is one year, indicating a need for ongoing services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $8.9 million for one year of software licenses and support appears high without specific feature comparisons. Benchmarking against similar enterprise software agreements is necessary to assess value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This suggests that while competition was sought, specific criteria or prior exclusions may have limited the pool of eligible bidders, potentially impacting price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The $8.9 million expenditure represents taxpayer funds allocated for essential software services. Ensuring competitive pricing and effective service delivery is crucial for maximizing the value of this investment.

Public Impact

Citizens rely on government agencies for efficient service delivery, which is supported by software like Paper Vision. The cost of government IT infrastructure impacts the overall budget available for other public services. Transparency in contract awards helps build public trust in government spending.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for overpayment due to limited competition pool.
Risk of vendor lock-in with specialized software.
Need to verify if the software meets evolving agency needs.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract limits cost overruns.
Awarded by GSA, a reputable contracting agency.
Clear contract end date for re-evaluation.

Sector Analysis

The IT sector, particularly software licensing and support, is a significant area of federal spending. Benchmarks for similar enterprise software contracts vary widely based on functionality, user count, and vendor.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate if small businesses were involved in this procurement, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for overseeing this contract. Standard GSA oversight mechanisms should be in place to ensure performance and accountability, but specific details are not provided.

Related Government Programs

Other Computer Related Services
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

High annual cost for software licenses and support.
Potential lack of robust competition.
Need for detailed justification of 'exclusion of sources'.
Unclear if best value was achieved without market comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $8,924.39 to POWERTRAIN, INC.. PAPER VISION LICENSES AND SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is POWERTRAIN, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $8,924.39.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-04-18. End: 2026-04-17.

What specific functionalities does Paper Vision provide to justify its $8.9 million cost over one year?

The provided data lacks details on Paper Vision's specific functionalities. A thorough review would require examining the contract's statement of work (SOW) and comparing its features against market alternatives. Understanding the number of users, required integrations, and critical business processes supported by the software is essential for a comprehensive value assessment.

What were the reasons for excluding other sources in this 'full and open competition' scenario?

The exclusion of sources typically occurs when specific technical requirements, existing infrastructure compatibility, or unique security mandates can only be met by a limited number of vendors. Understanding these specific criteria is crucial to determine if the exclusion was justified or if it unnecessarily restricted competition, potentially leading to higher costs for taxpayers.

How effectively does this contract support the agency's mission objectives?

The effectiveness of this contract hinges on whether the Paper Vision software directly enables the agency to achieve its core mission objectives more efficiently or effectively. Without insight into the agency's specific goals and how this software contributes, it's difficult to assess its true impact. Performance metrics and user feedback would be key indicators.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 47QTSA25R0018

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8201 CORPORATE DR STE 500, HYATTSVILLE, MD, 20785

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $35,698

Exercised Options: $8,924

Current Obligation: $8,924

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTSA25D0001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline