Agriculture's FAST DATA MANAGEMENT contract awarded to Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC for over $16.3M

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,306,166 ($16.3M)

Contractor: Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2008-08-22

End Date: 2014-10-23

Contract Duration: 2,253 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.2K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: OTHER (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE NONE OF THE ABOVE APPLY)

Sector: IT

Official Description: FAST DATA MANAGEMENT BASE PERIOD

Place of Performance

Location: KANSAS CITY, JACKSON County, MISSOURI, 64141

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $16.3 million to PERATON ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS LLC for work described as: FAST DATA MANAGEMENT BASE PERIOD Key points: 1. The contract's value of over $16.3 million suggests a significant investment in data management capabilities. 2. As a competitive delivery order, it implies a degree of market engagement, though specific competition details are limited. 3. The contract duration of approximately 6 years (2253 days) indicates a long-term need for these services. 4. The NAICS code 541511 points to custom computer programming services, a critical area for modern data operations. 5. The award was made by the Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency, highlighting its importance to agricultural data processing. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests this was not specifically targeted towards small businesses. 7. The contract type 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER' indicates it was part of a larger, pre-established contract vehicle.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific details on the scope of 'FAST DATA MANAGEMENT'. However, a $16.3 million award over six years for custom programming services suggests a substantial investment. Comparing it to similar data management contracts within the federal government would require a detailed analysis of service scope, deliverables, and performance metrics. The provided data does not offer enough granular detail to definitively assess value-for-money against market rates or comparable contracts.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was issued as a 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER,' indicating it was competed under a broader contract vehicle. The presence of 3 bidders suggests some level of competition, which is generally positive for price discovery. However, the specifics of the competition, such as the number of proposals received and the evaluation criteria, are not detailed here. A competitive delivery order implies that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid, potentially leading to a more favorable price for the government compared to a sole-source award.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award, even as a delivery order, suggests that taxpayers likely benefited from a more efficient allocation of funds due to multiple vendors vying for the contract.

Public Impact

Farmers and agricultural stakeholders who rely on data-driven insights for crop management, resource allocation, and policy decisions. The Farm Service Agency, enabling more efficient data processing and management for its various programs and services. IT professionals and programmers involved in developing and maintaining custom software solutions for federal agencies. The contract supports the operational efficiency of the Department of Agriculture, indirectly benefiting the broader agricultural sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the ongoing effectiveness and value of the services provided.
The broad description of 'FAST DATA MANAGEMENT' could lead to scope creep if not carefully managed.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical data management functions poses a potential risk if the contractor underperforms or faces financial instability.

Positive Signals

The contract was awarded through a competitive process, indicating that multiple vendors were considered.
The duration of the contract suggests a stable, long-term need for these data management services, implying a recognized importance.
The award to Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC, a known entity in the government contracting space, may indicate a level of established capability.

Sector Analysis

The Information Technology sector, specifically custom computer programming services (NAICS 541511), is a critical component of federal operations. This contract falls within a market segment focused on developing and maintaining specialized software solutions. The federal government is a significant consumer of IT services, with spending often benchmarked against large IT service contracts. The $16.3 million value over six years places this contract within the mid-to-large range for IT service delivery orders, reflecting the ongoing need for robust data infrastructure.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (SS: false, SB: false). This suggests that the procurement was open to all eligible offerors, including large businesses. While this may not directly benefit small businesses through a set-aside, it is possible that Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC may engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill parts of the contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be defined within the contract's statement of work and performance standards. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS, which provide basic information on awarded contracts. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected in the contract's execution or award.

Related Government Programs

Federal Data Management Services
Custom Software Development Contracts
Department of Agriculture IT Spending
Farm Service Agency IT Procurement
IT Services Delivery Orders

Risk Flags

Potential for technology obsolescence over the contract's six-year term.
Risk of vendor lock-in due to custom-developed solutions.
Dependence on contractor performance for critical data management functions.
Scope definition challenges for 'FAST DATA MANAGEMENT' services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $16.3 million to PERATON ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS LLC. FAST DATA MANAGEMENT BASE PERIOD

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PERATON ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Farm Service Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $16.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-08-22. End: 2014-10-23.

What specific data management functions does the 'FAST DATA MANAGEMENT' contract encompass?

The provided data identifies the contract under NAICS code 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services) and notes its purpose as 'FAST DATA MANAGEMENT'. However, the specific functions are not detailed. Typically, such contracts could involve database design, development, implementation, maintenance, data migration, data warehousing, data analytics support, and the creation of custom software applications to manage and process large datasets. The 'FAST' designation might imply a focus on high-speed data processing, real-time analytics, or efficient data retrieval, but without a detailed statement of work, the precise scope remains speculative. Further inquiry into the contract's statement of work would be necessary to understand the full range of services.

How does the $16.3 million award compare to other federal data management contracts?

Comparing the $16.3 million award for 'FAST DATA MANAGEMENT' to other federal data management contracts requires context regarding the contract's duration, scope, and the specific services rendered. This contract spans approximately six years (2253 days), making its annual value around $2.7 million. Federal IT contracts can range from a few million to hundreds of millions of dollars. For custom programming and data management services, this value is moderate. Larger contracts often involve enterprise-wide solutions, cloud migrations, or extensive system modernizations. To provide a precise comparison, one would need to analyze contracts with similar NAICS codes, agencies, and service complexities, considering factors like the number of users supported, data volume managed, and criticality of the systems.

What are the potential risks associated with a six-year contract for custom computer programming?

A six-year contract for custom computer programming carries several potential risks. Technology evolves rapidly, and software developed at the beginning of the contract may become outdated or require significant updates by its end. There's also the risk of vendor lock-in, where the government becomes heavily reliant on the contractor's proprietary solutions, making future transitions difficult and costly. Performance risk is another concern; the contractor might fail to deliver on time, within budget, or to the required quality standards. Furthermore, changes in government requirements or priorities over six years could necessitate contract modifications, potentially leading to cost overruns or delays. Ensuring continuous alignment between the evolving needs of the Farm Service Agency and the contractor's capabilities is crucial.

What is the significance of the NAICS code 541511 for this contract?

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541511 signifies 'Custom Computer Programming Services.' This classification indicates that the primary purpose of the contract is the creation of original software code tailored to the specific needs of the Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency, rather than the purchase of off-the-shelf software or general IT support. This implies a focus on developing unique applications, databases, or system integrations designed to manage and process agricultural data. Contracts under this code often involve significant design, development, testing, and implementation efforts, requiring specialized programming expertise.

How many other delivery orders have been issued under the parent contract vehicle for this award?

The provided data indicates that this specific award is a 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER' with 3 bidders. However, it does not specify the total number of delivery orders that may have been issued under the overarching contract vehicle from which this order was placed. Delivery orders are typically issued against indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts or other types of multiple-award vehicles. To determine the total number of previous or concurrent delivery orders, one would need to access the details of the parent contract vehicle itself, which is not provided in this dataset. This information would offer insight into the overall utilization and scope of the foundational contract.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: OTHER (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE NONE OF THE ABOVE APPLY) (3)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Hewlett Packard Enterprise CO (UEI: 079834910)

Address: 13600 EDS DR, HERNDON, VA, 20171

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $16,536,173

Exercised Options: $16,536,173

Current Obligation: $16,306,166

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: AG645SC080013

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline