EPA's PRISM software support contract valued at $11M over 4 years, awarded to Unison Software Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,016,790 ($11.0M)

Contractor: Unison Software Inc

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2022-02-01

End Date: 2026-12-31

Contract Duration: 1,794 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PRISM SOFTWARE LICENSE & OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SUPPORT FOR THE OFFICE OF ACQUISITION SOLUTIONS (OAS) EPA ACQUISITION SYSTEM (EAS).

Place of Performance

Location: STERLING, LOUDOUN County, VIRGINIA, 20166

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $11.0 million to UNISON SOFTWARE INC for work described as: PRISM SOFTWARE LICENSE & OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SUPPORT FOR THE OFFICE OF ACQUISITION SOLUTIONS (OAS) EPA ACQUISITION SYSTEM (EAS). Key points: 1. The contract provides essential software license and maintenance for the EPA's acquisition system, ensuring operational continuity. 2. Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The fixed-price contract type helps mitigate cost overrun risks for the agency. 4. The duration of nearly five years indicates a long-term need for this software support. 5. The contract is managed by the EPA's Office of Acquisition Solutions, aligning with internal procurement needs.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $11 million over nearly five years for software licensing and O&M appears reasonable for a specialized government system. Benchmarking against similar enterprise software support contracts for federal agencies would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm fixed-price structure is a positive indicator for cost control. Without specific details on the software's criticality and user base, a definitive value assessment is challenging, but the pricing seems within expected ranges for government IT support.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The number of bidders is not specified, but this procurement method generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and terms for the government. The agency's decision to use full and open competition suggests confidence in the market's ability to provide suitable solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the potential for competitive pricing and encourages a wider range of innovative solutions, ultimately leading to better value for public funds.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the EPA's acquisition personnel who rely on the PRISM software for managing procurement processes. The contract ensures the continued operation and maintenance of the EPA Acquisition System (EAS), a critical tool for the agency's functions. The geographic impact is primarily national, supporting EPA operations across its various offices and facilities. The contract supports the IT workforce within the EPA and potentially the contractor's staff involved in software maintenance and support.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if the software is highly specialized and difficult to replace.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical software maintenance could pose continuity risks.
The long-term nature of the contract may require periodic re-evaluation of market alternatives.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
Firm fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty.
The contract supports a critical system for the EPA's acquisition functions.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Software Publishers industry (NAICS 511210), which encompasses companies that publish, and/or develop and market software. The federal government is a significant consumer of software licenses and maintenance services. Spending in this sector is driven by the need for modern IT infrastructure, cybersecurity, and specialized operational software across various agencies. The EPA's reliance on the PRISM system for its acquisition processes is a common example of how agencies leverage commercial software to streamline operations.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from set-aside provisions. However, the prime contractor, Unison Software Inc., may engage small businesses as subcontractors, though this is not explicitly detailed in the award information.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract is likely managed by the EPA's Office of Acquisition Solutions (OAS), which is responsible for the PRISM software and the EAS. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm fixed-price contract terms, requiring the delivery of specified software licenses and maintenance services. Transparency is generally maintained through federal contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

EPA IT Modernization Programs
Federal Software Licensing Agreements
Government Acquisition Systems Support
Cloud Computing Services for Government

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Long-term reliance on a single software provider
Need for ongoing assessment of software relevance and updates

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $11.0 million to UNISON SOFTWARE INC. PRISM SOFTWARE LICENSE & OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SUPPORT FOR THE OFFICE OF ACQUISITION SOLUTIONS (OAS) EPA ACQUISITION SYSTEM (EAS).

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UNISON SOFTWARE INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-02-01. End: 2026-12-31.

What is the track record of Unison Software Inc. in supporting similar federal government contracts, particularly for enterprise software solutions?

Unison Software Inc. has a history of providing software solutions and support to the federal government. Their experience often includes developing and maintaining systems for various agencies, focusing on areas like procurement, financial management, and logistics. For contracts similar to the EPA's PRISM support, Unison typically emphasizes their ability to ensure software uptime, provide timely updates and patches, and offer responsive technical support. Assessing their past performance on contracts of comparable size and duration, including any past performance evaluations or awards, would provide further insight into their reliability and capability in fulfilling the EPA's requirements. Specific details on their track record can often be found in contract award histories and performance review databases.

How does the annual cost of this contract compare to the value and functionality provided by the PRISM software?

The annual cost for this contract averages approximately $2.2 million ($11,016,790.35 / 4.9 years). To assess value, one must consider the criticality of the PRISM software to the EPA's acquisition processes. If PRISM is a core system enabling efficient procurement, contract management, and compliance, then this cost may represent good value, especially given the firm fixed-price nature which caps the government's financial exposure. Benchmarking against the cost of developing a similar system in-house or the cost of alternative commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) solutions with comparable features would be necessary for a definitive value-for-money analysis. The absence of specific performance metrics or user satisfaction data makes a precise value judgment difficult without further context.

What are the key risks associated with this contract, and what mitigation strategies are in place?

Key risks include potential vendor lock-in due to the specialized nature of the software, reliance on a single vendor for critical maintenance which could lead to service disruptions if the vendor faces financial or operational issues, and the possibility of the software becoming outdated if not adequately updated. Mitigation strategies likely include the firm fixed-price contract structure, which incentivizes the contractor to perform efficiently. The contract's full and open competition award suggests the EPA has options should Unison Software Inc. fail to meet its obligations. Furthermore, the EPA likely has internal IT governance and contingency plans to manage software obsolescence and ensure data integrity, although these are not detailed in the award notice.

What is the historical spending pattern for PRISM software support at the EPA, and how does this contract align with it?

Historical spending data for PRISM software support at the EPA is not directly available in the provided award details. However, this contract, valued at approximately $11 million over nearly five years, represents a significant investment in maintaining a critical acquisition system. To understand the pattern, one would need to examine previous contracts for PRISM support, noting their values, durations, and award mechanisms. If previous support costs were similar or higher, this contract might represent stable or improved pricing. Conversely, if this contract is a substantial increase, it could indicate evolving needs, increased scope, or market shifts. Analyzing trends in federal IT spending and software maintenance costs would provide broader context for this specific contract's alignment.

How does the competition level (full and open) for this contract potentially impact pricing and innovation compared to sole-source or limited competition awards?

Full and open competition generally leads to more competitive pricing because it allows a wider pool of potential bidders to vie for the contract, driving down costs through market forces. This environment also encourages innovation as companies strive to offer the best value and most effective solutions to win the bid. In contrast, sole-source or limited competition awards often result in higher prices and potentially less innovation, as the government has fewer options and less leverage. For this EPA contract, the full and open competition suggests that taxpayers are likely benefiting from a more cost-effective solution and potentially more robust service delivery than might have been achieved through a less competitive procurement.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 68HERH22Q0024

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Mantech International Corporation

Address: 8444 WESTPARK DR STE 920, MCLEAN, VA, 22102

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,507,934

Exercised Options: $11,507,934

Current Obligation: $11,016,790

Actual Outlays: $9,226,039

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCA19D00EP

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline