GSA Awards $47M R&D Contract to CGI Federal for Joint Acquisition Analysis

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $46,954,021 ($47.0M)

Contractor: CGI Federal Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2023-09-14

End Date: 2027-01-13

Contract Duration: 1,217 days

Daily Burn Rate: $38.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: JOINT ACQUISITION ANALYSIS AND DECISIONMAKING TO 1

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22350

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $47.0 million to CGI FEDERAL INC. for work described as: JOINT ACQUISITION ANALYSIS AND DECISIONMAKING TO 1 Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $46.95 million awarded to a single vendor. 2. Competition was explicitly stated as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. 3. Risk of limited price discovery due to lack of competition. 4. Contract falls under Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which is generally good for cost control. However, without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the price is truly optimal or fair market value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not available for competition, indicating a limited source selection. This significantly impacts price discovery, as there was no market pressure to achieve the lowest possible price.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds may not have been utilized as efficiently as possible due to the absence of a competitive bidding process.

Public Impact

Federal agencies may face higher costs for R&D services if competition is consistently avoided. Lack of transparency in sole-source or limited competition awards can erode public trust. Potential for innovation to be stifled if only one vendor is consistently engaged without market validation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of Competition
Potential for Overpricing
Limited Vendor Innovation

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price Contract Type

Sector Analysis

This contract is in the Research and Development sector, specifically for physical, engineering, and life sciences. Spending in this area is crucial for technological advancement but requires careful oversight to ensure value for money.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were considered or excluded from potential subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

The 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' status raises questions about the justification for not seeking competitive bids. Robust oversight is needed to ensure such decisions are well-documented and in the government's best interest.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competitive bidding may lead to inflated costs.
Potential for vendor lock-in and reduced future competition.
Difficulty in verifying fair market value without competitive benchmarks.
Oversight needed to ensure justification for non-competitive award is sound.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $47.0 million to CGI FEDERAL INC.. JOINT ACQUISITION ANALYSIS AND DECISIONMAKING TO 1

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CGI FEDERAL INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $47.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-14. End: 2027-01-13.

What was the specific justification for deeming this R&D contract unavailable for competition?

The provided data does not include the specific justification for the contract being 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. Typically, such designations require detailed documentation outlining reasons like unique capabilities, urgent needs, or prior investments that preclude competitive sourcing. Without this justification, it's difficult to fully assess the necessity of this procurement approach.

How does the $47 million price point compare to similar R&D contracts awarded competitively?

Benchmarking this $47 million contract against similar R&D efforts awarded competitively is challenging without more specific details on the scope of work and the nature of the R&D. However, given the lack of competition, there's a heightened risk that this price may not reflect the most cost-effective solution available in the market.

What mechanisms are in place to ensure the effectiveness and value delivery of this sole-source R&D award?

With a sole-source award, effectiveness and value rely heavily on strong contract management, clear performance metrics, and regular progress reviews by the GSA. The government must actively monitor CGI Federal's performance against defined objectives to ensure taxpayer funds are yielding the intended R&D outcomes.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › C – National Defense R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 47QFLA23Q0232

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: THE Timken Company

Address: 12601 FAIR LAKES CIR # 100, FAIRFAX, VA, 22033

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Foreign-Owned and U.S.-Incorporated Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $92,210,201

Exercised Options: $51,004,303

Current Obligation: $46,954,021

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $5,762,088

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QFLA23D0012

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline