GSA awards $1.9M for Blackberry Athoc software and support to Carahsoft

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,913,461 ($1.9M)

Contractor: Carahsoft Technology Corp

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2021-09-30

End Date: 2025-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: BLACKBERRY ATHOC SUITE SOFTWARE AND SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: SHAW AFB, SUMTER County, SOUTH CAROLINA, 29152

State: South Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $1.9 million to CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP for work described as: BLACKBERRY ATHOC SUITE SOFTWARE AND SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded for Blackberry Athoc software and support. 2. Carahsoft Technology Corp is the awardee. 3. The contract has a duration of 1460 days. 4. This is a firm-fixed-price contract. 5. The NAICS code is 511210 (Software Publishers).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The award amount of $1.9M over approximately 4 years suggests a moderate annual spend. Benchmarking against similar software licensing and support contracts would be necessary to fully assess value, as specific features and user counts are not detailed.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and allows the government to secure favorable terms.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is expected to result in a fair market price for the software and support, benefiting taxpayers.

Public Impact

Ensures continued access to critical Blackberry Athoc software for a federal agency. Supports agency operations through ongoing software maintenance and technical assistance. The award contributes to the software publisher's market presence within the federal sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics.
Potential for vendor lock-in with specialized software.
Limited visibility into specific support levels provided.

Positive Signals

Awarded via full and open competition.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Long-term duration suggests sustained need and potential for volume discounts.

Sector Analysis

The federal IT software market is highly competitive, with agencies procuring a wide range of solutions. Spending benchmarks for enterprise software licenses and support vary significantly based on the specific product, vendor, and scale of deployment.

Small Business Impact

While Carahsoft Technology Corp is a large business, the contract's full and open competition structure allows for potential subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within the software and support ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) oversees this contract, utilizing its Federal Acquisition Service. Standard GSA oversight mechanisms should ensure compliance and accountability throughout the contract period.

Related Government Programs

Software Publishers
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in.
Limited transparency on specific support levels.
Reliance on a single software provider.
Need for detailed performance metrics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $1.9 million to CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP. BLACKBERRY ATHOC SUITE SOFTWARE AND SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CARAHSOFT TECHNOLOGY CORP.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $1.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-30. End: 2025-09-29.

What is the specific functionality and user base of the Blackberry Athoc Suite being procured, and how does this justify the $1.9M expenditure?

The specific functionality and user base of the Blackberry Athoc Suite are crucial for evaluating the $1.9M expenditure. Without this information, it's difficult to determine if the cost aligns with the value derived. Understanding the suite's role in secure communications, device management, or other critical functions, and the number of users it supports, is essential for a comprehensive value assessment and comparison against alternative solutions or industry standards.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the software support, and how will their achievement be measured to ensure effectiveness?

Key performance indicators for software support are vital for ensuring effectiveness and accountability. These might include response times for critical issues, resolution rates, availability of support personnel, and uptime guarantees for the Athoc Suite. Measuring these KPIs through regular reporting, service level agreement (SLA) adherence checks, and user feedback mechanisms will provide objective data on the vendor's performance and the overall value delivered to the agency.

Are there any potential risks associated with relying on a single vendor for this critical software and its ongoing support over a four-year period?

Relying on a single vendor for critical software and support over four years presents several potential risks. These include vendor lock-in, where switching to another provider becomes difficult and costly; potential price increases upon contract renewal or for additional services; and the risk of the vendor discontinuing the product or support. Proactive risk mitigation strategies, such as negotiating favorable terms, exploring alternative solutions periodically, and ensuring robust contract clauses, are important.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - COMPUTE

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 47QFSA21Q0166

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 11493 SUNSET HILLS RD, RESTON, VA, 20190

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,472,108

Exercised Options: $1,919,523

Current Obligation: $1,913,461

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0119Y

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline