Boyd Caton Group awarded $12.4M contract for Federal Transit Administration's National Transit Database program support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,426,283 ($12.4M)

Contractor: Boyd Caton Group Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2022-09-27

End Date: 2025-12-31

Contract Duration: 1,191 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: BOYD CATON GROUP, INC. (BCG) CONTRACT FOR THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION'S (FTA) NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE (NTD) PROGRAM SUPPORT.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20523

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $12.4 million to BOYD CATON GROUP INC for work described as: BOYD CATON GROUP, INC. (BCG) CONTRACT FOR THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION'S (FTA) NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE (NTD) PROGRAM SUPPORT. Key points: 1. Contract provides essential administrative and management consulting services for the NTD program. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process. 3. Contract duration of nearly four years indicates a long-term need for these services. 4. The contract is a definitive contract, suggesting a clear scope of work. 5. Services are categorized under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting. 6. The contract is a labor hours type, meaning payment is based on hours worked. 7. The contractor, Boyd Caton Group, Inc., has been awarded this significant federal contract.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $12.4 million over approximately four years appears reasonable for comprehensive support of a national database program. Benchmarking against similar large-scale data management and consulting contracts would provide further insight into value for money. The labor hours contract type allows for flexibility but requires careful monitoring of hours to ensure cost efficiency. Without specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns, a precise value assessment is challenging, but the duration and scope suggest a fair market price.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This typically leads to a more robust selection process and potentially better pricing due to market forces. The presence of 3 bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific requirement. The agency's decision to use full and open competition is a positive indicator for achieving best value.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the most advantageous terms and pricing for essential government services.

Public Impact

Transit agencies nationwide benefit from the accurate and reliable data maintained by the NTD program. The NTD program supports federal oversight, policy development, and funding allocation for public transportation. The contract ensures the continued operation and improvement of a critical national data repository. Workforce implications are primarily within the contractor's organization, providing employment for consultants and analysts. Geographic impact is national, as the NTD program serves all public transit systems in the United States.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Labor hours contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
The specific performance metrics and deliverables are not detailed, making it difficult to assess performance risks.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical database support could pose a risk if performance degrades.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive and fair process.
The contract duration indicates a stable, long-term need for the services provided.
The contractor has been selected to support a vital national program, implying a level of trust and capability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically management consulting. The market for such services is large and competitive, with many firms capable of supporting federal agencies. The National Transit Database program is a unique and critical function within the transportation sector, requiring specialized knowledge of transit operations and data management. Comparable spending might include other large-scale data collection, analysis, and management contracts across various federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the data indicates no explicit subcontracting requirements for small businesses were mandated in this award. This suggests that the primary focus was on securing the best overall proposal through full and open competition, rather than specifically promoting small business participation. The impact on the small business ecosystem is neutral to potentially negative if opportunities for subcontracting were missed.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Federal Transit Administration's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are typically embedded within the contract terms, including performance standards, reporting requirements, and payment schedules tied to deliverables. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance data may not be publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Federal Transit Administration Operations and Support
National Transportation Statistics
Government Management and Consulting Services
Data Management and Analysis Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to labor hours contract type.
Need for strong oversight to ensure efficient use of labor hours.
Dependence on contractor performance for critical national data program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $12.4 million to BOYD CATON GROUP INC. BOYD CATON GROUP, INC. (BCG) CONTRACT FOR THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION'S (FTA) NATIONAL TRANSIT DATABASE (NTD) PROGRAM SUPPORT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BOYD CATON GROUP INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-09-27. End: 2025-12-31.

What is the historical spending pattern for the National Transit Database (NTD) program support?

Analyzing historical spending for the NTD program support is crucial for understanding trends and budget predictability. While specific historical data for this exact contract is not provided, the current award of approximately $12.4 million over nearly four years suggests an average annual expenditure of roughly $3.1 million. To establish a comprehensive pattern, one would need to examine prior contracts for NTD program support, noting any significant increases or decreases in funding, contract duration, and the number of awarded contracts over time. This historical context helps in assessing whether the current award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of investment in the program and aids in future budget forecasting and identifying potential cost efficiencies or inflationary pressures.

How does Boyd Caton Group, Inc.'s track record with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) influence this award?

Boyd Caton Group, Inc.'s track record with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) is a significant factor in understanding this award. While the provided data doesn't detail their past performance specifically with the FTA, federal agencies typically consider a contractor's past performance evaluations when making new awards, especially under full and open competition. A history of successful contract completion, adherence to schedules, quality of work, and positive past performance reviews with the FTA would strengthen BCG's position. Conversely, any documented issues or negative performance could raise concerns. The fact that they were awarded this substantial contract suggests they likely have a satisfactory or strong performance history with the FTA or possess qualifications that outweigh any past concerns.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how are they measured?

The provided data does not explicitly list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. However, for a contract supporting the National Transit Database (NTD) program, typical KPIs would likely revolve around data accuracy, completeness, timeliness of reporting, system uptime and availability, user satisfaction (from transit agencies), and the efficiency of administrative processes. Measurement methods would likely involve regular data quality audits, tracking submission deadlines, monitoring system performance metrics, and potentially conducting surveys or feedback sessions with stakeholders. The 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' NAICS code suggests that performance might also be assessed on the quality of advice, strategic planning support, and the effectiveness of management recommendations provided by Boyd Caton Group, Inc.

Are there any potential risks associated with the 'Labor Hours' contract type for this NTD program support?

Yes, the 'Labor Hours' (LH) contract type for this NTD program support carries potential risks, primarily related to cost control. Unlike fixed-price contracts, LH contracts reimburse the contractor for the direct labor hours expended at specified fixed hourly rates. The primary risk is that the total cost can exceed initial estimates if the work takes longer than anticipated or if labor hours are not efficiently utilized. This necessitates robust oversight from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) to monitor the hours billed, ensure that the work performed is necessary and reasonable, and that the hourly rates are fair. Without diligent management and clear task definitions, there's a risk of cost overruns and reduced value for money for the government.

How does the $12.4 million contract value compare to the overall budget or spending of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA)?

The $12.4 million contract value represents a specific allocation for the National Transit Database (NTD) program support, not the entirety of the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) budget. The FTA's overall budget is significantly larger, encompassing grants, loans, research, and various other programs aimed at improving public transportation. For context, the FTA's annual appropriations typically run into the billions of dollars. Therefore, this $12.4 million contract, while substantial for the specific service it provides, constitutes a relatively small fraction of the FTA's total financial operations. It highlights the importance placed on the NTD program as a critical data infrastructure supporting the FTA's broader mission and funding decisions.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 69319522R000002

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1145 GROVE PARK LN, EARLYSVILLE, VA, 22936

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,426,283

Exercised Options: $12,426,283

Current Obligation: $12,426,283

Actual Outlays: $11,596,457

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline