NSF awards $10.4M for ServiceNow platform development and maintenance to Directviz Solutions

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,408,347 ($10.4M)

Contractor: Directviz Solutions, LLC

Awarding Agency: National Science Foundation

Start Date: 2024-10-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $14.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: SERVICENOW MANAGEMENT PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: VIENNA, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22182

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Science Foundation obligated $10.4 million to DIRECTVIZ SOLUTIONS, LLC for work described as: SERVICENOW MANAGEMENT PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded via BPA Call, indicating a pre-competed framework. 2. Firm Fixed Price contract type suggests predictable costs for the government. 3. Duration of 729 days provides a medium-term engagement for services. 4. No small business set-aside, potentially limiting opportunities for smaller firms. 5. The contract falls under custom computer programming services. 6. Directviz Solutions is the sole awardee for this specific BPA Call. 7. Services are for the National Science Foundation, supporting its IT infrastructure.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $10.4 million over approximately two years for ServiceNow platform development and maintenance appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar IT service contracts for platform management suggests this is within a typical range. The firm fixed price structure helps control costs, but detailed cost breakdowns are not publicly available to fully assess value for money. Further analysis would require comparison to specific service level agreements and performance metrics.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition via a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call. While the BPA itself was likely competed, the specific call to Directviz Solutions indicates that multiple vendors on the BPA could have bid. The exact number of bidders for this specific call is not detailed, but the 'full and open' designation implies a competitive process was intended.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for taxpayers compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Public Impact

The National Science Foundation (NSF) benefits from enhanced and maintained ServiceNow capabilities. Services support the operational efficiency of NSF's IT systems and workflows. The geographic impact is primarily within the NSF's operational locations, likely concentrated in Virginia. Workforce implications include the need for skilled IT professionals to manage and develop the ServiceNow platform.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics in the award data makes it difficult to assess the quality of services.
The contract duration is fixed, which could lead to renegotiation challenges if needs evolve significantly.
No explicit small business subcontracting goals are mentioned, which might limit opportunities for smaller firms in the ecosystem.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The BPA Call mechanism implies a pre-vetted and potentially efficient procurement process.
Directviz Solutions is a known entity in the federal IT services space.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically custom computer programming and IT management. The market for ServiceNow implementation and support is robust, with numerous vendors offering specialized services. This contract represents a portion of the federal government's ongoing investment in enterprise IT platforms to streamline operations and improve service delivery. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar platform management contracts vary widely based on scope and complexity.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside. While Directviz Solutions, LLC is a small business, the award itself was made under a full and open competition, not specifically targeting small businesses for this particular task order. There is no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within the provided data, which could limit their direct participation in this specific contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the National Science Foundation's contracting officers and program managers. As a BPA Call, the underlying BPA likely has its own oversight mechanisms. Transparency is facilitated by contract award databases, but detailed performance reports and Inspector General reviews are not publicly accessible through this data alone. Accountability rests with Directviz Solutions to meet the terms of the Firm Fixed Price contract.

Related Government Programs

IT Platform Modernization
Custom Software Development
IT Operations and Maintenance
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems
Cloud Services Management

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep despite Firm Fixed Price.
Dependence on vendor performance for critical IT functions.
Limited visibility into specific performance metrics.
No explicit small business subcontracting requirements noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Science Foundation awarded $10.4 million to DIRECTVIZ SOLUTIONS, LLC. SERVICENOW MANAGEMENT PLATFORM DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DIRECTVIZ SOLUTIONS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $10.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the track record of Directviz Solutions, LLC with federal contracts, particularly related to ServiceNow?

Directviz Solutions, LLC has a history of performing federal IT contracts. While specific details on their ServiceNow expertise and past performance on similar platforms require deeper investigation into contract databases and past performance reviews, their presence in the federal contracting space suggests experience. Analyzing their award history, including contract values, agencies served, and performance ratings (if available), would provide a clearer picture of their capabilities and reliability in delivering complex IT services like ServiceNow development and maintenance. It is important to note that while they are a small business, their ability to win contracts under full and open competition indicates competitiveness.

How does the $10.4 million contract value compare to similar ServiceNow implementation and maintenance contracts?

The $10.4 million contract value for approximately two years of ServiceNow platform development and maintenance is within a moderate range for federal IT services. However, a precise comparison is challenging without knowing the specific modules of ServiceNow being utilized, the complexity of customizations, the number of users supported, and the required service levels. Larger, more comprehensive federal ServiceNow implementations can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars over longer periods. This contract appears to be for focused development and ongoing support rather than a full-scale enterprise-wide deployment, making it a reasonable investment for the NSF's specific needs.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract for the National Science Foundation?

Key risks for the National Science Foundation (NSF) include potential performance issues if Directviz Solutions fails to deliver the required development and maintenance services effectively, leading to disruptions in IT operations. There's also a risk of cost overruns if the Firm Fixed Price contract doesn't adequately account for unforeseen technical challenges or scope creep, although the FFP structure aims to mitigate this. Another risk is vendor lock-in, where the NSF becomes heavily reliant on Directviz Solutions for critical platform functions, making future transitions difficult or costly. Ensuring robust contract management and clear communication channels will be crucial to mitigating these risks.

How effective is the ServiceNow platform likely to be in supporting NSF's mission based on this contract?

The effectiveness of the ServiceNow platform in supporting the NSF's mission hinges on the successful execution of this contract. ServiceNow is a powerful tool for IT service management, workflow automation, and asset management, which can significantly enhance operational efficiency for an agency like the NSF. If Directviz Solutions delivers high-quality development and maintenance, the platform can streamline IT support, improve project tracking, and provide better data for decision-making. However, the platform's ultimate effectiveness is also dependent on internal NSF adoption, user training, and how well the implemented solutions align with the agency's specific strategic goals and operational workflows.

What are the historical spending patterns for ServiceNow or similar IT services at the National Science Foundation?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for ServiceNow or similar IT services at the National Science Foundation (NSF) would provide valuable context. Without specific historical data, it's difficult to ascertain if this $10.4 million award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of investment. Agencies often consolidate IT services onto platforms like ServiceNow to achieve economies of scale and improve management. Understanding past investments in IT modernization, custom programming, and IT support services at the NSF would help determine if this contract aligns with long-term IT strategy and budget trends.

What is the significance of the BPA Call award mechanism for this contract?

The Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call award mechanism signifies that the underlying BPA was previously competed and established, likely with multiple vendors capable of providing these services. A BPA Call is essentially a task order issued against that pre-existing BPA. This approach streamlines the procurement process for specific needs, as the foundational contract terms, conditions, and pricing structures are already in place. For the NSF, it means a potentially faster acquisition cycle and assurance that the selected vendor (Directviz Solutions) has already met the criteria to be included on the BPA, implying a degree of pre-qualification and competition.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1595 SPRING HILL RD STE 600, VIENNA, VA, 22182

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,408,347

Exercised Options: $10,408,347

Current Obligation: $10,408,347

Actual Outlays: $6,868,537

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 7

Total Subaward Amount: $2,256,542

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 49100422A0002

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline