IBM's $19.16M contract for ERA O&M Base Support Services awarded by NARA under full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,163,228 ($19.2M)

Contractor: International Business Machines Corporation

Awarding Agency: National Archives and Records Administration

Start Date: 2019-09-27

End Date: 2023-12-26

Contract Duration: 1,551 days

Daily Burn Rate: $12.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: ELECTRONIC RECORDS ARCHIVES (ERA) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) BASE SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: KEYSER, MINERAL County, WEST VIRGINIA, 26726

State: West Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Archives and Records Administration obligated $19.2 million to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION for work described as: ELECTRONIC RECORDS ARCHIVES (ERA) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) BASE SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. IBM secured a significant contract for essential electronic records operations. 2. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The firm fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the government. 4. This spending supports critical government data management and archival functions.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $19.16M over approximately 4 years appears reasonable for comprehensive IT operations and maintenance support. Benchmarking against similar large-scale IT service contracts would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded using full and open competition, indicating multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the government receives best value.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process likely resulted in a fair price, maximizing taxpayer value for essential electronic records management services.

Public Impact

Ensures continuity of critical government electronic records management. Supports the long-term preservation and accessibility of vital national archives. Facilitates efficient operations for the National Archives and Records Administration.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if follow-on contracts are not competitively bid.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical infrastructure could pose risks.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition.
Firm fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty.
Supports a vital government function.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically custom computer programming and related services. Spending benchmarks for large-scale IT operations and maintenance contracts can vary widely based on scope and complexity.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was sought or achieved through subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

The National Archives and Records Administration is responsible for overseeing this contract. Standard procurement regulations and contract management practices are expected to be in place to ensure accountability.

Related Government Programs

Custom Computer Programming Services
National Archives and Records Administration Contracting
National Archives and Records Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Sole incumbent vendor risk for future contracts.
Potential for scope creep if not managed tightly.
Dependence on a single large contractor for critical infrastructure.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities inherent in large IT systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Archives and Records Administration awarded $19.2 million to INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION. ELECTRONIC RECORDS ARCHIVES (ERA) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) BASE SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: National Archives and Records Administration (National Archives and Records Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $19.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-09-27. End: 2023-12-26.

What is the specific scope of 'Base Support Services' within the ERA O&M contract?

Base Support Services likely encompass a range of activities essential for the day-to-day operation and maintenance of the Electronic Records Archives (ERA) system. This could include infrastructure management, system monitoring, help desk support, routine maintenance, patching, and potentially some level of user support and training, ensuring the system remains functional, secure, and accessible for NARA personnel and authorized users.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure IBM's performance under this contract?

Key performance indicators would typically focus on system availability, uptime, response times for support requests, data integrity, security compliance, and adherence to project timelines for any system updates or maintenance. NARA would likely have established specific metrics and service level agreements (SLAs) within the contract to ensure IBM meets operational requirements effectively.

How does the cost of this contract compare to similar government IT O&M contracts of comparable size and complexity?

Without specific benchmark data for comparable contracts, a direct cost comparison is difficult. However, the $19.16M value over roughly four years suggests an average annual cost of approximately $4.79M. This figure needs to be evaluated against the specific services provided, the criticality of the ERA system, and prevailing market rates for similar large-scale IT support contracts.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming 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: 1 NEW ORCHARD RD, ARMONK, NY, 10504

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,693,804

Exercised Options: $19,163,228

Current Obligation: $19,163,228

Actual Outlays: $19,163,228

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 88310319A00029

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline