NSF Awards $2.97M Contract to INALAB for Zoom Video Conferencing Support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,974,364 ($3.0M)

Contractor: Inalab Consulting, Inc.

Awarding Agency: National Science Foundation

Start Date: 2020-02-03

End Date: 2025-02-02

Contract Duration: 1,826 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING TOOL/VIDEO CONFERENCING SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22030

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Science Foundation obligated $3.0 million to INALAB CONSULTING, INC. for work described as: ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING TOOL/VIDEO CONFERENCING SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value of $2.97 million over five years. 2. Sole-source award indicates limited competition. 3. Potential risk in vendor lock-in and pricing. 4. Telecommunications Resellers sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Pricing is not benchmarked against similar contracts due to the sole-source nature. The firm fixed-price structure provides some cost certainty.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, limiting price discovery through competition. This approach may lead to higher costs than a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for this contract. The lack of competition raises concerns about cost-effectiveness.

Public Impact

Ensures continued virtual meeting capabilities for NSF. Supports remote work and collaboration for researchers. Potential for increased costs due to sole-source award.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for overpricing

Positive Signals

Essential service provision
Long-term contract

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Telecommunications Resellers sector, providing essential video conferencing services. Benchmarks for similar sole-source IT service contracts are difficult to establish.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses could have provided these services.

Oversight & Accountability

The National Science Foundation is responsible for oversight. The sole-source nature may reduce competitive pressure for accountability.

Related Government Programs

Telecommunications Resellers
National Science Foundation Contracting
National Science Foundation Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competition.
Potential for inflated pricing.
Lack of transparency in justification.
No small business participation noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Science Foundation awarded $3.0 million to INALAB CONSULTING, INC.. ZOOM VIRTUAL MEETING TOOL/VIDEO CONFERENCING SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INALAB CONSULTING, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: National Science Foundation (National Science Foundation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-02-03. End: 2025-02-02.

What is the justification for the sole-source award?

The justification for the sole-source award is not provided in the data. Typically, sole-source contracts are justified by unique capabilities, urgent needs, or lack of other responsible sources. Further investigation into NSF's procurement records would be required to understand the specific rationale.

What is the risk of vendor lock-in with this sole-source contract?

There is a significant risk of vendor lock-in. By awarding the contract solely to INALAB CONSULTING, INC. without competition, NSF may become dependent on this vendor's services and pricing for the duration of the contract. This limits NSF's ability to switch providers or negotiate better terms in the future.

How does the firm fixed-price contract ensure effectiveness?

The firm fixed-price contract ensures effectiveness by establishing a set price for the defined services, incentivizing the contractor to deliver within budget. While it doesn't guarantee performance quality, it provides cost certainty for NSF and shifts the risk of cost overruns to INALAB CONSULTING, INC., encouraging efficient service delivery.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Other Telecommunications › Telecommunications Resellers

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 49100420R0003

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Inalab Consulting Inc.

Address: 3949 PENDER DR, SUITE 150, FAIRFAX, VA, 22030

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,011,687

Exercised Options: $2,974,364

Current Obligation: $2,974,364

Actual Outlays: $2,479,329

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline