Department of Energy's $75M engineering support contract awarded to General Dynamics IT shows long-term engagement
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $75,312,248 ($75.3M)
Contractor: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2007-09-14
End Date: 2014-09-13
Contract Duration: 2,556 days
Daily Burn Rate: $29.5K/day
Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: R&D
Official Description: PROVIDE THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, THE MEANS TO SUPPORT THE EERE RD&D MISSION AND VISION WITH ENGINEERING, TECHNICAL, ANALYTICAL, AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20585
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $75.3 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. for work described as: PROVIDE THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, THE MEANS TO SUPPORT THE EERE RD&D MISSION AND VISION WITH ENGINEERING, TECHNICAL, ANALYTICAL, AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT. Key points: 1. Contract provides critical engineering, technical, analytical, and administrative support for the EERE mission. 2. Long contract duration (2007-2014) suggests a stable, ongoing need for these services. 3. Awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating some level of market vetting. 4. Focus on R&D support highlights the contract's role in advancing energy efficiency and renewable technologies. 5. The contract's value places it within a significant tier for professional services supporting federal R&D.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total award of approximately $75.3 million over a period of nearly seven years represents a substantial investment in engineering and technical support. While specific performance metrics and cost breakdowns are not provided, the duration and consistent funding suggest a perceived value for the services rendered. Benchmarking against similar long-term engineering support contracts within the Department of Energy or other R&D-focused agencies would be necessary for a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the competitive nature of its award offers some assurance of fair pricing.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: unknown
This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, suggesting it was likely sourced from a pre-existing contract vehicle or a competitive bidding process. The presence of two bids indicates a degree of competition, which is generally positive for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers. However, without knowing the total number of solicitations or the specific nature of the competition (e.g., full and open vs. set-aside), it's difficult to definitively assess the breadth of competition.
Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process, even with two bidders, generally leads to better pricing for taxpayers compared to sole-source procurements. It encourages contractors to offer their best value to secure the work.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Business Administration and the EERE mission, receiving essential support. Services delivered include engineering, technical, analytical, management, and administrative support. The contract supports the advancement of research, development, and demonstration (RD&D) in energy efficiency and renewable energy. Geographic impact is centered in Washington D.C., where the Department of Energy is headquartered. Workforce implications include the employment of personnel by General Dynamics Information Technology to fulfill these support roles.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the contractor's effectiveness beyond contract completion.
- The long duration could potentially lead to complacency or reduced innovation if not actively managed.
- Reliance on a single large contractor for critical support functions may pose a risk if the contractor faces financial or operational difficulties.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through a competitive process, suggesting a baseline level of market validation.
- Consistent funding over a long period indicates the services provided were deemed valuable and necessary by the agency.
- The contract supports a critical mission area for the Department of Energy (EERE), aligning with national energy goals.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector (NAICS 541330), a broad category encompassing firms that provide engineering expertise across various disciplines. The Department of Energy's focus on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (EERE) places this contract within a growing and strategically important segment of the energy sector. Spending in this area is driven by federal investments in clean energy technologies and R&D. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other federal agencies that procure similar engineering and technical support for their research and development missions, such as the Department of Defense or NASA.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). General Dynamics Information Technology is a large business. Therefore, this contract did not directly benefit small businesses through a set-aside. However, there may be subcontracting opportunities for small businesses under this prime contract, though such details are not provided. The absence of small business participation goals or reporting in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the impact on the small business ecosystem.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Energy's contracting officers and program managers responsible for the EERE mission. As a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, oversight mechanisms would be tied to the terms of that vehicle and the specific delivery order. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award data itself, but detailed performance reports or Inspector General involvement specifics are not available. The contract's duration and nature suggest ongoing monitoring of performance and adherence to scope.
Related Government Programs
- Department of Energy Research and Development Programs
- Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiatives
- Federal Engineering and Technical Support Services
- Professional Services Contracts
Risk Flags
- Long contract duration may indicate a lack of flexibility or potential for vendor lock-in if not managed carefully.
- Limited competition (2 bidders) could suggest potential market concentration or barriers to entry for other firms.
Tags
department-of-energy, engineering-services, energy-efficiency, renewable-energy, research-and-development, competitive-delivery-order, general-dynamics-information-technology, washington-dc, professional-services, long-term-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $75.3 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.. PROVIDE THE DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, THE MEANS TO SUPPORT THE EERE RD&D MISSION AND VISION WITH ENGINEERING, TECHNICAL, ANALYTICAL, AND MANAGEMENT SUPPORT AS WELL AS ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $75.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-09-14. End: 2014-09-13.
What was the specific scope of engineering and technical support provided under this contract?
The contract provided the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Business Administration, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) with the means to support the EERE RD&D mission and vision. This support encompassed engineering, technical, analytical, and management functions, as well as administrative support. While the exact nature of the engineering tasks isn't detailed, it likely involved supporting the planning, execution, and oversight of research, development, and demonstration projects related to energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. This could include technical assessments, feasibility studies, data analysis, project management assistance, and administrative tasks necessary to keep the EERE mission operational and progressing.
How does the $75.3 million total award compare to other engineering support contracts within the Department of Energy?
The $75.3 million total award over approximately seven years places this contract as a significant, but not exceptionally large, procurement for engineering and technical support within the Department of Energy. DOE procures a wide range of services, and while this amount is substantial, larger contracts often exist for major infrastructure projects, IT systems, or extensive scientific research programs. To provide a precise comparison, one would need to analyze the average and median award values for similar engineering support contracts (NAICS 541330) awarded by DOE over comparable timeframes. However, it indicates a sustained commitment to external expertise for the EERE mission.
What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate General Dynamics Information Technology's performance?
The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate General Dynamics Information Technology's performance under this contract. Typically, for engineering and technical support contracts, KPIs might include timeliness of deliverables, quality of analysis and reports, adherence to budget (if applicable to specific tasks), responsiveness to requests, and overall client satisfaction. Without access to the contract's statement of work or performance management plan, these remain speculative. The long duration suggests satisfactory performance, but the specific metrics are not publicly detailed.
What is the historical spending trend for engineering support services within the EERE office?
The provided data focuses on a single contract award from 2007-2014. To understand historical spending trends for engineering support services within the EERE office, a broader analysis of multiple contracts over a longer period would be necessary. This would involve examining annual spending on NAICS code 541330 (Engineering Services) and potentially related codes awarded by the EERE office. Factors influencing trends could include shifts in federal energy policy, budget appropriations for renewable energy and efficiency research, and changes in the agency's reliance on external contractors versus in-house expertise. This single data point does not provide sufficient information to establish a trend.
Were there any identified risks or challenges associated with this contract during its performance period?
The provided data does not explicitly list any risks or challenges encountered during the performance of this contract. However, common risks associated with long-term, large-value professional services contracts include scope creep, contractor performance issues, budget overruns (though this contract has a fixed total award), and changes in agency priorities or funding. Given the contract's duration (2007-2014), it's plausible that the agency managed various operational or technical challenges. Without specific reports or audits, it's impossible to detail any realized risks.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: DE-RQ01-07EE11182
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Csra LLC (UEI: 080011988)
Address: 7475 WISCONSIN AVE STE 900, BETHESDA, MD, 20814
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $105,551,194
Exercised Options: $89,563,129
Current Obligation: $75,312,248
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS23F0102R
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-09-14
Current End Date: 2014-09-13
Potential End Date: 2016-08-17 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-08-22
More Contracts from General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.
- Global Security Engineering&supply Chain Services — $1.5B (Department of State)
- THE Purpose of This Action IS to Establish a NEW Contract With General Dynamics Information Technology for Global Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Technology Development Services to Support the Department of State. the Initial Funding Associated With This Contract IS $22,304,578.00. the Overall Contract Value IS $2,200,000,000.00 — $1.2B (Department of State)
- Cloud Products&tools (CPT) — $902.0M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Beneficiary Contact Center Operations — $879.1M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Award of Task Order 47qfca210051-Nawcad Wolf Ship and AIR C5isr Systems Support — $832.3M (General Services Administration)
View all General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. federal contracts →
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)