Railroad Retirement Board Renews Passport Advantage Contract for $77.8M, Awarded to Enterprise Technology Solutions
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $77,835 ($77.8K)
Contractor: Enterprise Technology Solutions, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Railroad Retirement Board
Start Date: 2025-12-01
End Date: 2026-11-30
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $214/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: FY26 RENEWAL OF PASSPORT ADVANTAGE (SEWP COMPONENTS)
Place of Performance
Location: CHICAGO, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60611
State: Illinois Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Railroad Retirement Board obligated $77,834.75 to ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC. for work described as: FY26 RENEWAL OF PASSPORT ADVANTAGE (SEWP COMPONENTS) Key points: 1. Contract value of $77.8M for FY26 renewal. 2. Awarded to Enterprise Technology Solutions, Inc. 3. Competition method is 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources'. 4. The contract falls under the 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code. 5. This is a renewal, suggesting ongoing need and potential for established pricing.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $77.8M for a 1-year term appears reasonable given the nature of enterprise software renewals. Benchmarking against similar large-scale software licensing and support contracts would provide a more definitive assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract specifies 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' indicating a competitive process was used, though specific details on source exclusion are not provided. This method aims to ensure fair pricing through competition.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process is designed to secure favorable pricing, maximizing taxpayer value for the software and services procured.
Public Impact
Ensures continued access to essential IT infrastructure for the Railroad Retirement Board. Supports the operational continuity of critical government functions. Potential for cost savings through competitive bidding on enterprise software. Impacts users relying on the services provided by the Railroad Retirement Board.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific details on 'Exclusion of Sources' in competition.
- Potential for vendor lock-in with enterprise software renewals.
- No explicit mention of small business participation.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition ensures a competitive pricing environment.
- Renewal indicates satisfaction with current vendor performance.
- Fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Sector Analysis
This contract for SEWP components falls under IT services, specifically 'Other Computer Related Services'. The value of $77.8M for a single agency renewal is significant, reflecting the cost of enterprise software licensing and support.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates the contract was not awarded to small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses had opportunities to participate in the subcontracting or if the primary contract was structured to exclude them.
Oversight & Accountability
The Railroad Retirement Board is the contracting agency, responsible for oversight. The use of a competitive process suggests adherence to procurement regulations, but detailed oversight reports are not provided.
Related Government Programs
- Other Computer Related Services
- Railroad Retirement Board Contracting
- Railroad Retirement Board Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in.
- Lack of transparency in source exclusion.
- No explicit small business participation noted.
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical software components.
Tags
other-computer-related-services, railroad-retirement-board, il, delivery-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Railroad Retirement Board awarded $77,834.75 to ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.. FY26 RENEWAL OF PASSPORT ADVANTAGE (SEWP COMPONENTS)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Railroad Retirement Board (Railroad Retirement Board).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $77,834.75.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-12-01. End: 2026-11-30.
What specific software components are covered under the Passport Advantage renewal, and how critical are they to the Railroad Retirement Board's operations?
The Passport Advantage program typically covers a broad suite of software licenses and support from vendors like IBM. For the Railroad Retirement Board, these components likely underpin essential IT infrastructure, including operating systems, databases, middleware, and potentially end-user productivity tools. Their criticality stems from enabling the agency's core functions, such as processing retirement benefits, managing data, and maintaining communication systems, ensuring uninterrupted service delivery to beneficiaries.
What are the risks associated with renewing enterprise software contracts, particularly regarding vendor lock-in and potential cost escalations over time?
Renewing enterprise software contracts carries inherent risks of vendor lock-in, where switching to a different provider becomes prohibitively expensive or complex due to proprietary technologies and data integration. This can limit negotiating power and lead to escalating costs over time, as vendors may increase prices knowing the customer has limited alternatives. Continuous market analysis and exploring open-source or alternative solutions are crucial mitigation strategies.
How effectively does the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' method ensure optimal value and prevent potential price gouging for government IT procurements?
This competition method aims to achieve value by allowing all responsible sources to submit offers, fostering price discovery through multiple bids. However, 'exclusion of sources' introduces a caveat; if legitimate reasons for exclusion are not clearly defined and justified, it could limit competition and potentially lead to higher prices than a truly unrestricted open competition. Transparency in the exclusion rationale is key to ensuring taxpayer value.
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
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 9658 BALTIMORE AVE STE 300, COLLEGE PARK, MD, 20740
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, HUBZone Firm, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $77,835
Exercised Options: $77,835
Current Obligation: $77,835
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNG15SD76B
IDV Type: GWAC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-12-01
Current End Date: 2026-11-30
Potential End Date: 2026-11-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-02
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