EPA awards $5.3M task order for IT infrastructure support to Datawiz Corporation

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,326,208 ($5.3M)

Contractor: Datawiz Corporation

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2023-02-23

End Date: 2027-02-22

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: IT

Official Description: OCSPP'S INFRASTRUCTURE (O&M) SUPPORT TASK ORDER

Place of Performance

Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $5.3 million to DATAWIZ CORPORATION for work described as: OCSPP'S INFRASTRUCTURE (O&M) SUPPORT TASK ORDER Key points: 1. Task order awarded under a broader BPA, suggesting potential for future task orders. 2. Contractor has a track record with the agency, indicating familiarity with EPA's needs. 3. Service category is 'Other Computer Related Services', a common area for IT support. 4. Duration of 4 years suggests a need for sustained operational support. 5. Awarded via full and open competition, implying a competitive bidding process. 6. No small business set-aside, meaning large businesses were eligible and likely participated.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The total award amount of $5.3 million over four years for IT infrastructure (O&M) support appears reasonable given the scope and duration. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts within the federal government, particularly for agencies like the EPA, suggests this falls within a typical spending range. The labor hours contract type allows for flexibility in resource allocation, which can be cost-effective if managed efficiently. Without specific details on the labor rates or the exact services provided, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the overall award size does not immediately raise red flags.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This task order was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The specific mechanism used was a BPA Call, suggesting that the underlying Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) itself was established through a competitive process. While the number of bidders for this specific task order is not provided, full and open competition generally fosters a competitive environment, which is expected to lead to better pricing and service offerings for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition ensures that taxpayers benefit from the widest possible range of offers, driving down costs and improving the quality of services received.

Public Impact

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) benefits from this contract through the continued operation and maintenance of its IT infrastructure. Services delivered include essential IT support, ensuring the reliability and functionality of the agency's computer systems. The geographic impact is primarily within the EPA's operational locations, likely supporting agency staff nationwide. Workforce implications involve IT professionals providing specialized support services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the contractor's performance beyond contract award.
The 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code is broad, and the specific nature of the IT support required could have unique cost drivers not immediately apparent.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
Contractor (Datawiz Corporation) has a history of working with the EPA, implying a level of trust and understanding of agency needs.
The task order is part of a larger BPA, which can streamline future procurements and potentially offer volume discounts.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) services sector, specifically focusing on IT infrastructure Operations & Maintenance (O&M). The federal IT services market is substantial, with agencies consistently investing in maintaining and upgrading their systems. This task order represents a small portion of overall federal IT spending. Comparable spending benchmarks for IT O&M support vary widely based on agency size, complexity of infrastructure, and service level agreements, but $5.3 million over four years for a specific task order is a moderate investment.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses indicated in the provided data. This means that large businesses were eligible to compete and potentially win the award. The absence of explicit small business provisions suggests that the primary focus was on securing the best value through open competition, rather than specifically targeting small business participation for this particular task order.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this task order would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program officials within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The contract is a labor hours type, which requires careful monitoring of hours worked and labor categories to ensure compliance with the contract terms and prevent cost overruns. Transparency is facilitated through federal procurement databases like FPDS, where contract awards are recorded. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any investigations into fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract were initiated.

Related Government Programs

EPA IT Operations and Maintenance
Federal IT Services
Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)
Computer Systems Design Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if labor hours are not managed effectively.
Risk of service disruptions if contractor fails to meet O&M requirements.
Dependency on a single contractor for critical IT infrastructure support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $5.3 million to DATAWIZ CORPORATION. OCSPP'S INFRASTRUCTURE (O&M) SUPPORT TASK ORDER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DATAWIZ CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-02-23. End: 2027-02-22.

What is Datawiz Corporation's past performance record with the EPA and other federal agencies?

Datawiz Corporation has a history of contract awards with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), as indicated by this task order. To fully assess their track record, a deeper dive into the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or other contract databases would be necessary to identify the number, value, and nature of previous contracts. This would include examining past performance evaluations, any instances of contract disputes, or awards for similar IT infrastructure support services. A review of their performance on other federal contracts would provide a broader understanding of their capabilities and reliability as a government contractor.

How does the $5.3 million award compare to similar IT O&M support contracts at the EPA or other environmental agencies?

The $5.3 million award for IT infrastructure O&M support over four years represents an average annual value of approximately $1.325 million. Benchmarking this against similar contracts requires access to detailed contract data for other agencies. However, for an agency the size of the EPA, this amount is within a reasonable range for specialized IT support. Contracts for comprehensive IT O&M can range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars annually, depending on the scope, number of users, complexity of systems, and service level agreements. This specific task order's value suggests a focused scope of support rather than agency-wide enterprise IT management.

What are the specific IT infrastructure components and services covered under this task order?

The provided data indicates the task order is for 'OCSPP'S INFRASTRUCTURE (O&M) SUPPORT TASK ORDER' under the NAICS code '541519 - Other Computer Related Services'. While the exact components are not detailed, O&M support typically encompasses the maintenance, repair, and upkeep of IT hardware (servers, networks, workstations), software (operating systems, applications), and related infrastructure. This could include tasks such as system monitoring, patching, troubleshooting, user support, network management, and ensuring the overall operational readiness and security of the EPA's IT environment within the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP).

What is the risk associated with Datawiz Corporation's potential performance on this contract?

The primary risks associated with Datawiz Corporation's performance on this contract are related to the inherent complexities of IT infrastructure O&M and the potential for unforeseen technical challenges. Given the 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code, the specific technical requirements could be demanding. Risks include potential delays in issue resolution, underestimation of resource needs, or difficulties in adapting to evolving EPA IT policies and security mandates. However, the fact that the contract was awarded under full and open competition and that Datawiz has prior experience with the EPA may mitigate some of these risks, suggesting a degree of assessed capability and familiarity.

What has been the historical spending trend for IT O&M support at the EPA?

Historical spending trends for IT O&M support at the EPA are not directly available from the provided data for this single task order. However, federal agencies, including the EPA, consistently allocate significant portions of their budgets to IT operations and maintenance due to the critical role technology plays in their mission delivery. Spending in this area is influenced by factors such as aging infrastructure requiring upgrades, cybersecurity needs, the adoption of new technologies, and overall agency size and scope. A comprehensive analysis would require examining multi-year spending data for IT O&M across the entire EPA.

Are there any specific performance metrics or KPIs tied to this task order that indicate success?

The provided data for this task order does not include specific performance metrics or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Typically, task orders under BPAs will reference performance standards outlined in the base contract or define specific metrics for the services rendered. For IT O&M, common KPIs might include system uptime percentages, response times for issue resolution, patch deployment rates, or user satisfaction scores. Without these details, assessing the contractor's success beyond the award itself is not possible from this dataset alone. Such metrics are crucial for ensuring accountability and value for taxpayer money.

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 - IT MANAGEMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 14200 PARK MEADOW DR STE 250N, CHANTILLY, VA, 20151

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,616,630

Exercised Options: $6,893,578

Current Obligation: $5,326,208

Actual Outlays: $4,821,964

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HERD22A0006

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline