DOE awards $4.6M to DH Technologies for RStudio services, a sole-source purchase order
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $464,756 ($464.8K)
Contractor: DH Technologies, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2026-04-01
End Date: 2027-03-31
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $1.3K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: RSTUDIO
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20426
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $464,756 to DH TECHNOLOGIES, INC. for work described as: RSTUDIO Key points: 1. DH Technologies secured a $4.6M contract for RStudio services. 2. The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, limiting competition. 3. Potential risks include lack of competitive pricing and limited vendor options. 4. The IT sector, specifically computer-related services, is the focus.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $4.6M for 364 days of service is high. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price is reasonable compared to market rates for similar RStudio support and development services.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This method bypasses competitive price discovery, potentially leading to higher costs for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the absence of competitive bidding, as the government did not explore alternative vendors or pricing.
Public Impact
Federal employees will receive specialized RStudio support, potentially improving data analysis capabilities. The sole-source nature of the award raises questions about government procurement efficiency. Taxpayer funds are being allocated to a single vendor without a competitive process.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpricing
Positive Signals
- Specific RStudio expertise
- Defined service period
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Other Computer Related Services sector, specifically focusing on RStudio, a popular data science platform. Benchmarks for similar specialized IT services can vary widely, but sole-source awards often deviate from competitive norms.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to DH Technologies, Inc., and there is no indication that small businesses were involved in the subcontracting process or benefited from this sole-source award.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny. Further oversight is needed to understand why competitive bidding was bypassed and to ensure the pricing is justified.
Related Government Programs
- Other Computer Related Services
- Department of Energy Contracting
- Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits price competition.
- Potential for inflated costs due to lack of bidding.
- Limited transparency on vendor selection justification.
- No clear benefit to small businesses.
- Contract duration is significant without competitive review.
Tags
other-computer-related-services, department-of-energy, dc, purchase-order, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $464,756 to DH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. RSTUDIO
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is DH TECHNOLOGIES, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $464,756.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.
What is the justification for the sole-source award of this RStudio services contract?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves circumstances where only one vendor can provide the required service, such as unique expertise, proprietary technology, or an urgent need that precludes competition. Without specific documentation from the Department of Energy, the exact reason remains unclear, but it necessitates a review to ensure it aligns with federal procurement regulations.
How can the government ensure fair pricing without competition for RStudio services?
Even in sole-source situations, the government can employ several strategies to ensure fair pricing. This includes conducting thorough market research to establish independent government cost estimates, negotiating aggressively based on available benchmarks, and potentially seeking third-party validation of costs. Robust internal review processes are crucial to challenge vendor proposals.
What is the potential impact on future IT service procurement if sole-source awards become common for specialized software?
If sole-source awards become common for specialized software like RStudio, it could stifle innovation and competition within the IT services market. Vendors might have less incentive to develop competitive offerings, and agencies could face consistently higher prices. This could also limit opportunities for emerging businesses to enter the federal contracting space.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 161 FORT EVANS RD NE STE 255, LEESBURG, VA, 20176
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, HUBZone Firm, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $2,857,267
Exercised Options: $464,756
Current Obligation: $464,756
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-04-01
Current End Date: 2027-03-31
Potential End Date: 2031-03-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
More Contracts from DH Technologies, Inc.
- F5-Vpr-Ltm-B4450n — $31.3M (Department of Defense)
- Veritas — $18.9M (Department of Defense)
- Base Telecommunication System. Please SEE PWS. Please Note PWS Paragraph 1.0.2.1 Requiring a 7 DAY Work Overlap With the Current Contractor — $15.6M (Department of Defense)
- Entrust Certificates Maintenance and Support — $5.7M (Department of the Treasury)
- Microsoft EA Renewal — $2.2M (Department of the Treasury)
Other Department of Energy Contracts
- Federal Contract — $48.1B (Lockheed Martin Corp)
- ,Ct::igf Contract Award De-Na0003525 to the National Technology&engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC (ntess) for the Management and Operation of the Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration's Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) — $41.7B (National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC)
- Management and Operation of the OAK Ridge National Laboratory — $40.8B (Ut-Battelle LLC)
- TAS::89 0240::TAS This Performance-Based Management Contract (pbmc) IS for the Management and Operation of the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (llnl). the Contractor Shall, in Accordance With the Provisions of This Contract, Accomplish the Missions and Programs Assigned by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Manage and Operate the Laboratory. the Laboratory IS ONE of Does Office of Defense Program Multi-Program Laboratories. the Laboratory IS a Federally Funded Research and Development Institution (established in Accordance With the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Part 35 and Operated Under This Management and Operating (M&O) Contract, AS Defined in FAR 17.6 and Dear 917.6 — $40.8B (Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC)
- M&O of Lanl BR of U of CA — $35.3B (Regents of the University of California, the)