USAID's $3.46M contract for PPL Call services awarded to PN Automation Inc. for Tableau licenses

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,460,561 ($3.5M)

Contractor: PN Automation Inc

Awarding Agency: Agency for International Development

Start Date: 2020-10-01

End Date: 2025-02-26

Contract Duration: 1,609 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: PPL CALL UNDER CIO BPA DATASEED AND TABLEAU LICENSES

Place of Performance

Location: HALETHORPE, BALTIMORE County, MARYLAND, 21227

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Agency for International Development obligated $3.5 million to PN AUTOMATION INC for work described as: PPL CALL UNDER CIO BPA DATASEED AND TABLEAU LICENSES Key points: 1. Value for money assessed through comparison with similar IT service contracts. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a full and open competition, suggesting potential for competitive pricing. 3. Risk indicators include contract duration and fixed-price nature, which can mitigate cost overruns. 4. Performance context relies on the successful delivery of data visualization and analytics tools. 5. Sector positioning within IT services, specifically data analytics and software licensing.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $3.46 million for data visualization and analytics services appears reasonable when benchmarked against similar IT support contracts. The use of a BPA call suggests that pre-negotiated rates were likely leveraged, potentially leading to cost efficiencies. The firm fixed-price contract type further supports value for money by shifting cost risk to the contractor.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the open nature of the competition generally fosters price discovery and encourages competitive proposals. This approach is designed to ensure the government receives the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition provides taxpayers with assurance that the contract was awarded through a fair process, likely resulting in a more competitive price than a sole-source or limited competition award.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Agency for International Development (USAID), which gains access to essential data visualization and analytics tools. Services delivered include the provision of Tableau licenses and associated support, enabling better data analysis and reporting. The geographic impact is primarily within USAID's operational centers, supporting data-driven decision-making across its programs. Workforce implications involve enabling USAID staff to utilize advanced data analytics for program management and evaluation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if Tableau becomes the sole standard without competitive alternatives considered.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical software licenses could pose a risk if the vendor's product strategy changes.
Ensuring ongoing technical support meets USAID's evolving analytical needs.

Positive Signals

Leveraging a BPA call likely means pre-vetted pricing and terms, offering a streamlined acquisition process.
The firm fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the agency.
Tableau is a widely recognized and capable data visualization tool, suggesting a high likelihood of meeting analytical requirements.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on data analytics and business intelligence software. The market for such services is large and competitive, with numerous providers offering similar solutions. USAID's spending aligns with a general government trend towards leveraging data analytics for improved program oversight and decision-making. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve other agencies procuring similar software licenses or data analytics support.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was awarded under full and open competition and does not specify any small business set-aside. Therefore, there is no direct indication of small business participation through a set-aside. However, the prime contractor, PN Automation Inc., may engage small businesses as subcontractors, though this information is not detailed in the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program officials within USAID. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services and licenses. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, which record award details. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

IT Professional Services
Software Licenses
Data Analytics Services
Business Intelligence Tools
Agency for International Development IT Procurement

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in with proprietary software.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical data analytics capabilities.
Need for ongoing training and support to maximize software utilization.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Agency for International Development awarded $3.5 million to PN AUTOMATION INC. PPL CALL UNDER CIO BPA DATASEED AND TABLEAU LICENSES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PN AUTOMATION INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Agency for International Development (Agency for International Development).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-10-01. End: 2025-02-26.

What is the track record of PN Automation Inc. in delivering similar IT services to federal agencies?

PN Automation Inc. has been awarded federal contracts primarily in the IT services domain. While specific details on past performance for similar data visualization or Tableau licensing contracts are not immediately available in this dataset, their presence as a contractor suggests they possess the necessary qualifications. A deeper dive into their contract history, including past performance evaluations and client feedback from other government agencies, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability and expertise in delivering complex IT solutions. Reviewing awards for contracts with similar scope and value would be crucial for a thorough assessment.

How does the pricing of Tableau licenses under this BPA call compare to commercial market rates?

The provided data does not include specific per-unit pricing for Tableau licenses. However, the contract was issued as a BPA call, which implies that pricing was likely negotiated and established under a broader Blanket Purchase Agreement. Typically, BPA pricing aims to offer competitive rates, potentially with volume discounts, compared to standard commercial list prices. To perform a precise comparison, one would need to obtain the specific license costs from the BPA and benchmark them against current commercial offerings from Tableau or authorized resellers, considering the exact license types and quantities.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this contract?

The provided data does not explicitly list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. However, for a contract involving software licenses and IT services like data visualization, typical KPIs would likely include timely delivery of licenses, system uptime and availability of the Tableau platform, user satisfaction with the software's functionality and support, and the successful integration of Tableau with existing agency data sources. Performance would also be assessed based on the contractor's adherence to service level agreements (SLAs) for any provided technical support and responsiveness to issues.

What is the historical spending pattern for data visualization and analytics tools at USAID?

The provided data focuses on a single contract and does not offer historical spending patterns for data visualization and analytics tools at USAID. To analyze historical spending, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending.gov) for all contracts related to 'Tableau', 'data visualization', 'business intelligence', and 'analytics software' awarded by USAID over several fiscal years. This would reveal trends in spending, identify key vendors, and show the evolution of technology adoption and investment in these capabilities within the agency.

Are there any identified risks associated with the long-term use of Tableau software by USAID?

Potential risks associated with the long-term use of Tableau by USAID could include vendor lock-in, where the agency becomes heavily reliant on Tableau's ecosystem, making it difficult or costly to switch to alternative solutions. Pricing changes by the vendor could also impact future budgets. Furthermore, the rapid evolution of data analytics technology means that Tableau's features might eventually become outdated, requiring significant investment in upgrades or replacements. Ensuring adequate training and support for users to maximize the software's utility and mitigate user-related risks is also crucial.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3700 KOPPERS ST STE 140, HALETHORPE, MD, 21227

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, HUBZone Firm, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,460,561

Exercised Options: $3,460,561

Current Obligation: $3,460,561

Actual Outlays: $2,426,644

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 72MC1020A00001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline