DOT's FAA awards $2M data science pilot to Mosaic ATM, Inc. under a non-competitive BPA call

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,000,538 ($2.0M)

Contractor: Mosaic ATM, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2023-01-30

End Date: 2026-07-31

Contract Duration: 1,278 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: ITAR-23-0795 SLI#: 48136 DATA SCIENCE AND ADVANCE ANALYTIC PILOT PROJECT SUPPORT FOR CHIEF DATA OFFICE

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20591

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $2.0 million to MOSAIC ATM, INC. for work described as: ITAR-23-0795 SLI#: 48136 DATA SCIENCE AND ADVANCE ANALYTIC PILOT PROJECT SUPPORT FOR CHIEF DATA OFFICE Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a sole-source basis, raising questions about potential cost efficiencies and market-driven pricing. 2. The Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed. 3. Performance period extends over three years, suggesting a need for sustained data science support. 4. The contract is for pilot project support, indicating a focus on innovation and exploration rather than established operational needs. 5. The small business status of the contractor is not specified, but the contract was not set aside for small businesses. 6. The geographic location is Washington D.C., a hub for federal agencies and related contracting.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $2,000,538.36 for a 3-year data science pilot project is difficult to benchmark without more specific details on the scope of work and deliverables. As a sole-source award, there's no direct comparison to other bids to assess pricing competitiveness. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while common for exploratory work, carries inherent risks of cost escalation if not meticulously managed and if the scope is not well-defined. Without clear performance metrics or comparable projects, assessing the value-for-money is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded under a sole-source justification, meaning it was not competed openly. The data indicates it was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' and awarded as a 'BPA CALL'. This suggests that either the contractor was pre-selected through a prior agreement (like a Blanket Purchase Agreement) or that specific circumstances warranted a direct award without soliciting other offers. The lack of competition limits the government's ability to explore a wider range of solutions and potentially secure more favorable pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards mean taxpayers do not benefit from the competitive pressure that typically drives down prices and encourages innovation among multiple bidders. This can result in higher costs than if the contract had been openly competed.

Public Impact

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Chief Data Office is the primary beneficiary, receiving support for data science and advanced analytics pilot projects. The services delivered are expected to enhance the FAA's capabilities in data analysis and strategic decision-making. The geographic impact is centered in Washington D.C., where the FAA headquarters is located. The contract supports specialized data science roles, potentially impacting the workforce in advanced analytics and IT.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing and potentially reduces value for taxpayers.
Time and Materials contract type poses a risk of cost overruns if scope is not tightly controlled.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess project success and contractor performance.
Pilot project nature implies potential for undefined requirements and scope creep.

Positive Signals

Supports critical data science and advanced analytics initiatives within the FAA.
Longer performance period allows for sustained effort on pilot projects.
Award to Mosaic ATM, Inc. suggests a potentially established relationship or specific expertise.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the Engineering Services sector (NAICS 541330), specifically focusing on data science and advanced analytics. This area is increasingly critical across government agencies for leveraging vast datasets to improve operations, security, and policy. The market for data science services is robust, with significant government spending allocated to digital transformation and AI initiatives. This contract represents a small portion of the overall federal IT and analytics spending, likely aimed at exploring new methodologies or applications within the FAA.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the contractor's small business status is not indicated. This means opportunities for small business participation, either as prime contractors or subcontractors, were not explicitly prioritized through a set-aside mechanism. The impact on the small business ecosystem is neutral to potentially negative if Mosaic ATM, Inc. is a large business and does not have a robust subcontracting plan that includes small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Federal Aviation Administration's contracting officers and program managers. As a sole-source award, transparency might be limited compared to fully competed contracts. Accountability measures would be defined within the contract's Statement of Work and performance metrics. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

FAA Data Analytics Initiatives
DOT Chief Data Office Programs
Federal Data Science Support Services
IT Pilot Projects
Advanced Analytics Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award may limit competition and potentially increase costs.
Time and Materials contract type carries inherent risk of cost overruns.
Pilot project scope may be subject to change, impacting budget and timeline.
Lack of detailed public information on specific deliverables and performance metrics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $2.0 million to MOSAIC ATM, INC.. ITAR-23-0795 SLI#: 48136 DATA SCIENCE AND ADVANCE ANALYTIC PILOT PROJECT SUPPORT FOR CHIEF DATA OFFICE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MOSAIC ATM, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-01-30. End: 2026-07-31.

What specific data science and advanced analytics capabilities is Mosaic ATM, Inc. expected to provide under this contract?

The contract details are limited, but it specifies 'DATA SCIENCE AND ADVANCE ANALYTIC PILOT PROJECT SUPPORT FOR CHIEF DATA OFFICE'. This suggests Mosaic ATM, Inc. will be engaged in activities such as data exploration, model development, algorithm testing, data visualization, and potentially the implementation of pilot analytical solutions. The focus on 'pilot projects' implies that the work may involve researching new techniques, testing feasibility, and demonstrating potential applications of data science to address specific challenges or opportunities within the FAA's domain, rather than deploying fully operational systems.

How does the $2M contract value compare to similar data science support contracts within the federal government?

Benchmarking this $2M contract value is challenging without a detailed scope of work. However, federal spending on data science and analytics services varies widely. Contracts for pilot projects or specialized support can range from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars, depending on complexity, duration, and required expertise. Larger, enterprise-wide data analytics implementations or AI development contracts can easily reach tens or hundreds of millions. This $2M award appears to be a moderate investment for a pilot phase, suggesting a focused scope rather than a broad agency-wide initiative.

What are the primary risks associated with the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for this pilot project?

The primary risk with a T&M contract, especially for a pilot project with potentially evolving requirements, is cost escalation. Since the contractor is reimbursed for direct labor hours and materials, there's less incentive to control costs or expedite work compared to a fixed-price contract. If the scope of the pilot project is not clearly defined or if requirements change frequently, the total cost can significantly exceed initial estimates. Effective oversight, detailed tracking of hours, and robust change control processes are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure the government receives good value.

Given this is a sole-source award, what due diligence was likely performed by the FAA to ensure fair and reasonable pricing?

Even in sole-source procurements, agencies are required to conduct price analysis to ensure fair and reasonable pricing. For a T&M contract, this typically involves reviewing the contractor's proposed labor rates, indirect cost rates, and material costs against historical data, commercial price lists, or other available cost information. The FAA contracting officer would likely have requested detailed cost breakdowns from Mosaic ATM, Inc. and compared these to established benchmarks or previous contract data for similar services. However, without competition, the government has less leverage to negotiate the lowest possible price.

What is the expected impact of these pilot projects on the FAA's overall data strategy and operational efficiency?

The expected impact hinges on the success of the pilot projects. If successful, these initiatives could validate new analytical approaches, identify valuable data sources, or demonstrate the potential of advanced analytics to improve specific FAA operations, such as air traffic management, safety analysis, or resource allocation. This could lead to the adoption of new tools and methodologies, ultimately enhancing decision-making, improving efficiency, and potentially increasing safety. However, as pilot projects, they may also reveal limitations or prove infeasible, informing future strategy by highlighting what does not work.

How does this contract align with broader federal initiatives related to data modernization and digital transformation?

This contract aligns with broader federal efforts to modernize data infrastructure and embrace digital transformation. Agencies are increasingly tasked with leveraging data as a strategic asset. The FAA's focus on data science and advanced analytics pilot projects directly supports this mandate by exploring innovative ways to extract insights from data. Such initiatives are crucial for agencies aiming to improve services, enhance security, and operate more efficiently in line with directives like the President's Management Agenda and various data-focused executive orders.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 540 FT EVANS RD NE STE 300, LEESBURG, VA, 20176

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,263,788

Exercised Options: $2,000,538

Current Obligation: $2,000,538

Actual Outlays: $1,953,158

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DTFAWA10A00098

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline