National Archives awards $4.1M contract for OFAS system O&M, update, and development to Acelo Solutions

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,137,549 ($4.1M)

Contractor: Acelo Solutions, LLC

Awarding Agency: National Archives and Records Administration

Start Date: 2019-12-01

End Date: 2025-05-30

Contract Duration: 2,007 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: O&M, UPDATE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR THE OFAS SYSTEM.

Place of Performance

Location: COLLEGE PARK, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20740

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Archives and Records Administration obligated $4.1 million to ACELO SOLUTIONS, LLC for work described as: O&M, UPDATE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR THE OFAS SYSTEM. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential operational, maintenance, and development services for the OFAS system. 2. Acelo Solutions, LLC, a relatively small entity, secured this contract. 3. The contract duration extends over five years, indicating a need for sustained support. 4. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process. 5. The firm fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the government. 6. This award represents a significant investment in maintaining critical federal IT infrastructure.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $4.1 million over approximately five years for IT operations, maintenance, and development services appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar contracts for IT system support within federal agencies suggests that this price point is within expected ranges, especially considering the scope of services. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the National Archives and Records Administration, mitigating the risk of cost overruns.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This process is designed to foster a competitive environment, encouraging vendors to offer their best pricing and technical solutions. The presence of competition generally leads to better value for the government by driving down costs and improving service quality.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive bidding process that aims to secure the most cost-effective solution for essential IT services, preventing potential overspending associated with less competitive or sole-source awards.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which receives crucial support for its OFAS system. Services delivered include operations and maintenance, ensuring the system's continuous availability and functionality. The contract also encompasses updates and development, suggesting improvements and enhancements to the OFAS system over its lifecycle. The geographic impact is primarily within the federal government's operational sphere, supporting NARA's mission. Workforce implications may include the direct employment of IT professionals by Acelo Solutions, LLC, and potentially indirect impacts on NARA's internal IT staff.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if development is highly specialized and difficult to transition.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical system updates could pose risks if the vendor faces financial or operational challenges.
Ensuring continued alignment with evolving NARA requirements throughout the contract term.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.
Long-term contract duration allows for sustained system improvement and stability.
Acelo Solutions, LLC's focus on O&M, update, and development indicates specialized expertise.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on IT services, including facilities management and software development. The federal IT services market is substantial, with agencies consistently investing in maintaining and upgrading their systems. This contract for the OFAS system is a component of NARA's broader IT spending strategy, aimed at ensuring the reliability and efficiency of its information management infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks for IT O&M and development contracts of this duration and scope typically range from several hundred thousand to millions of dollars annually, depending on system complexity and criticality.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded to Acelo Solutions, LLC, and the data does not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions or subcontracting requirements. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem through this specific award is not explicitly detailed. However, the presence of a small business as the prime contractor could indicate opportunities for other small businesses to participate as subcontractors, depending on Acelo Solutions' subcontracting plan.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the National Archives and Records Administration's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are embedded within the firm fixed-price contract terms, requiring delivery of specified services. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award being made under full and open competition, with details typically available through federal procurement databases. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Federal IT Modernization Programs
Agency-Specific IT System Support Contracts
Information Technology Professional Services
Cloud Computing Services (if applicable to OFAS system)
Data Management and Archiving Systems

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep if development requirements are not clearly defined.
Dependency on a single vendor for critical system updates.
Risk of performance issues if system complexity is underestimated.
Ensuring data security and integrity throughout O&M and development.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Archives and Records Administration awarded $4.1 million to ACELO SOLUTIONS, LLC. O&M, UPDATE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES FOR THE OFAS SYSTEM.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ACELO SOLUTIONS, LLC.

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 $4.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-12-01. End: 2025-05-30.

What is the historical spending pattern for the OFAS system prior to this award?

Historical spending data for the OFAS system prior to this contract award is not directly provided in the given data. However, the duration of the previous contract (2007) suggests a long-standing need for support. To fully assess historical spending, one would need to examine prior contracts awarded for the OFAS system's maintenance, updates, and development. Analyzing these past expenditures would allow for a comparison of cost trends, identify any significant increases or decreases in spending, and understand the evolution of the system's support requirements over time. This historical context is crucial for evaluating the value and necessity of the current $4.1 million award.

How does Acelo Solutions, LLC's track record compare to other potential bidders for this type of IT service?

The provided data does not include detailed information on Acelo Solutions, LLC's specific track record or the performance of other potential bidders. To assess this, a review of Acelo Solutions' past performance ratings on federal contracts, client testimonials, and any history of contract modifications or disputes would be necessary. Similarly, understanding the capabilities and experience of other firms that competed would provide a comparative baseline. Given the contract was awarded under full and open competition, it implies that Acelo Solutions was deemed the most advantageous offer based on the evaluation criteria, which likely included factors beyond just price, such as technical approach and past performance.

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 an IT Operations & Maintenance (O&M), Update, and Development services contract, typical KPIs would likely include system uptime percentages, response times for issue resolution, successful deployment rates for updates, adherence to development timelines and budgets, and user satisfaction metrics. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract suggests that meeting defined service levels and delivering agreed-upon functionalities within the budget are paramount. NARA's program managers would be responsible for monitoring these KPIs and ensuring Acelo Solutions meets its contractual obligations.

What is the estimated total cost of ownership for the OFAS system over its lifecycle, including this contract?

The provided data only specifies the award amount for the current contract ($4.1 million) and its duration (ending May 30, 2025). It does not offer information on the total cost of ownership (TCO) for the OFAS system. To estimate the TCO, one would need to consider all costs associated with the system, including previous investments in its development and maintenance, the cost of this current contract, and any anticipated future expenditures for upgrades, support, or eventual replacement. Factors like hardware, software licensing, personnel, and training also contribute to the TCO. Without comprehensive historical and projected cost data, a precise TCO cannot be determined from the given information.

Are there any identified risks associated with the technology stack or architecture of the OFAS system that this contract aims to address?

The provided data does not specify the technology stack or architecture of the OFAS system. Therefore, it is not possible to identify specific risks associated with it from this information alone. However, the inclusion of 'UPDATE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES' in the contract description suggests that the OFAS system may require modernization, integration with newer technologies, or remediation of technical debt. Potential risks could include outdated components, security vulnerabilities, lack of scalability, or difficulties in finding skilled personnel to maintain legacy systems. The contract's focus on development implies an effort to mitigate such risks by enhancing or evolving the system.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 88310319Q00097

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 22375 BRODERICK DR STE 130, STERLING, VA, 20166

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,197,549

Exercised Options: $4,182,549

Current Obligation: $4,137,549

Actual Outlays: $4,116,167

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0275V

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline