Department of Energy awards $5.76M for Emerging and Advanced Technologies Business Architecture and Governance Support
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $5,756,791 ($5.8M)
Contractor: Ernst & Young LLP
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2021-01-19
End Date: 2026-01-18
Contract Duration: 1,825 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: BPA ORDER ISSUED UNDER MASTER BPA NUMBER 89303018ACF000005 FOR THE EMERGING AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES BUSINESS ARCHITECTURE AND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT SERVICES.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20585
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $5.8 million to ERNST & YOUNG LLP for work described as: BPA ORDER ISSUED UNDER MASTER BPA NUMBER 89303018ACF000005 FOR THE EMERGING AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES BUSINESS ARCHITECTURE AND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT SERVICES. Key points: 1. Contract provides critical support for advanced technology initiatives. 2. Ernst & Young LLP, a large professional services firm, is the contractor. 3. The contract is structured as a Time and Materials award. 4. Awarded under a Master BPA, suggesting pre-competed framework. 5. Duration of 5 years indicates a long-term need for these services. 6. Geographic focus on Washington D.C. metro area.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's value of $5.76 million over five years for business architecture and governance support appears reasonable given the specialized nature of emerging technologies. However, without specific deliverables or performance metrics, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. Benchmarking against similar support services for advanced technology programs within the federal government would provide better context. The Time and Materials pricing structure can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This is a positive sign for price discovery and ensuring a competitive market. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a robust competitive process was intended.
Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by promoting competitive pricing and encouraging vendors to offer their best value propositions, potentially leading to cost savings.
Public Impact
The Department of Energy benefits from enhanced business architecture and governance for its advanced technology programs. Services support the strategic direction and operational efficiency of emerging technology initiatives. The primary impact is within the federal government's technological advancement efforts. Workforce implications are likely within the professional services sector, specifically in consulting and IT governance.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost uncertainty if not managed diligently.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess efficiency and effectiveness.
- Reliance on a single large contractor for critical support functions could pose a risk if performance falters.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under a Master BPA, suggesting a pre-vetted and potentially efficient procurement process.
- Full and open competition indicates a commitment to market-based pricing and vendor selection.
- Long contract duration (5 years) suggests a stable and ongoing need for these specialized services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on business architecture and governance. This sector is crucial for supporting government agencies in managing complex, forward-looking initiatives. The market for such specialized consulting services is competitive, with many large firms offering expertise in technology strategy and implementation. The Department of Energy's investment aligns with broader federal efforts to modernize and leverage advanced technologies.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the contractor, Ernst & Young LLP, is a large firm. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. This suggests that the primary focus is on leveraging the capabilities of a large, established service provider rather than specifically promoting small business participation through set-asides or mandated subcontracting goals.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically reside within the Department of Energy's program management offices responsible for emerging and advanced technologies. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance standards outlined in the BPA call and the Master BPA. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, though detailed performance data may not be publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- Department of Energy Advanced Technology Programs
- Federal IT Governance Contracts
- Business Architecture Consulting Services
- Master Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)
Risk Flags
- Time and Materials Pricing Risk
- Scope Creep Potential
- Performance Monitoring Challenges
Tags
professional-services, department-of-energy, washington-dc, bpa-call, large-contract, full-and-open-competition, time-and-materials, business-architecture, governance-support, advanced-technologies
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $5.8 million to ERNST & YOUNG LLP. BPA ORDER ISSUED UNDER MASTER BPA NUMBER 89303018ACF000005 FOR THE EMERGING AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES BUSINESS ARCHITECTURE AND GOVERNANCE SUPPORT SERVICES.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ERNST & YOUNG LLP.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $5.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2021-01-19. End: 2026-01-18.
What specific deliverables are expected under this contract for business architecture and governance support?
The provided data does not specify the exact deliverables. However, contracts for business architecture and governance support typically include the development of strategic roadmaps, organizational structure analysis, process improvement recommendations, IT investment strategies, risk management frameworks, and policy development. For emerging and advanced technologies, this could involve defining governance structures for AI, quantum computing, or advanced materials research. The specific outputs would be detailed in the Statement of Work (SOW) associated with this BPA call, which is not publicly available in this dataset.
How does the $5.76 million cost compare to similar federal contracts for technology governance support?
Benchmarking this $5.76 million contract against similar federal procurements for technology governance support is challenging without more specific details on the scope of work, duration, and deliverables. However, for a five-year engagement supporting advanced technologies, this figure appears within a reasonable range for specialized consulting services provided by large firms. Contracts for enterprise-wide IT strategy, governance, and architecture often run into millions of dollars over several years. Factors influencing cost include the complexity of the technologies supported, the level of expertise required, and the specific agency's needs. A more precise comparison would require access to detailed SOWs and pricing structures of comparable contracts.
What are the key risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for this type of service?
The primary risk with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract, like this one, is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours and costs incurred, plus a fee. If project scope is not tightly managed, or if efficiencies are not realized, the total cost can exceed initial estimates. For business architecture and governance support, this could manifest as extended analysis periods or unforeseen complexities requiring more labor hours. Effective oversight, clear task definitions, and robust monitoring of labor hours and costs are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure the government receives good value.
What is Ernst & Young LLP's track record with the Department of Energy or similar federal agencies?
Ernst & Young LLP (EY) is a major global professional services firm with extensive experience supporting federal agencies, including the Department of Energy (DOE). They have a history of providing a wide range of services, including financial management, IT consulting, cybersecurity, strategic planning, and program management. While specific details of their past performance with DOE on emerging technology governance are not provided here, EY regularly competes for and wins large federal contracts. Their track record generally indicates a capacity to handle complex, high-value engagements. Federal procurement databases often contain past performance information, which would offer more granular insights into their specific successes and challenges on prior contracts.
How does the 'full and open competition' method impact the value received by taxpayers for this contract?
A 'full and open competition' approach is designed to maximize value for taxpayers by ensuring that the government solicits offers from all responsible sources and awards the contract to the responsible offeror whose proposal is most advantageous, price and other factors considered. This process encourages multiple vendors to compete, driving down prices and fostering innovation as companies strive to offer the best solutions. For taxpayers, this means a higher likelihood of obtaining services at a competitive market rate and potentially receiving superior quality or more efficient solutions compared to sole-source or limited competition scenarios. It promotes transparency and accountability in the procurement process.
What is the significance of this contract being issued under a Master BPA?
Issuing this contract under a Master Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) signifies that the foundational terms, conditions, and often pricing structures were previously established through a competitive process for the Master BPA itself (in this case, number 89303018ACF000005). A BPA is a simplified way to fill anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services. When a specific task order, like this one for business architecture support, is issued under the Master BPA, it leverages the pre-competed framework. This typically leads to faster procurement cycles and potentially better pricing, as much of the initial vetting and negotiation has already occurred. It streamlines the process for the Department of Energy while still allowing for competition among BPA holders for specific task orders.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Accounting, Tax Preparation, Bookkeeping, and Payroll Services › Offices of Certified Public Accountants
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: 89303021QIM000013
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1 MANHATTAN WEST, NEW YORK, NY, 10001
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $9,141,974
Exercised Options: $9,141,974
Current Obligation: $5,756,791
Actual Outlays: $5,030,096
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 89303018ACF000005
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2021-01-19
Current End Date: 2026-01-18
Potential End Date: 2026-07-18 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-01
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