Commerce Awards $35M for Text Conversion Services to Reed Technology
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $35,054,848 ($35.1M)
Contractor: Reed Technology and Information Services LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2006-11-01
End Date: 2009-12-31
Contract Duration: 1,156 days
Daily Burn Rate: $30.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: TEXT CONVERSION OF APPLICATIONS--PHASE I
Place of Performance
Location: HORSHAM, MONTGOMERY County, PENNSYLVANIA, 19044
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $35.1 million to REED TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES LLC for work described as: TEXT CONVERSION OF APPLICATIONS--PHASE I Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting market availability. 2. The contract value of $35M over 3 years is substantial for publishing services. 3. No small business participation noted, potentially limiting broader economic impact. 4. Fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the government.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $35M over 1156 days averages approximately $30,300 per day. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale data conversion projects is difficult without more specific service details.
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 were likely considered. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and allows the government to select the best value offering.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is intended to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently by securing competitive pricing for the required services.
Public Impact
Supports the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's operational needs. Involves the conversion of text data, likely for digitization or archival purposes. The duration of the contract suggests a significant, long-term data management project.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of small business participation.
- Limited insight into specific service deliverables and quality metrics.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Fixed-price contract type for cost certainty.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the 'All Other Publishers' NAICS code (511199), which includes establishments primarily engaged in publishing, but not manufacturing, books, newspapers, magazines, or other periodicals. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on digitization efforts and data management needs.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss=false, sb=false). This suggests that large businesses dominated the competitive landscape for this particular service requirement, potentially missing opportunities to engage smaller, specialized firms.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Department of Commerce to support the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Oversight would typically involve contract officers and program managers ensuring adherence to terms and performance standards.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Publishers
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Programs
Risk Flags
- No small business participation.
- Limited detail on service scope and performance metrics.
- Potential for cost overruns if scope expands beyond initial fixed-price agreement.
- Reliance on a single vendor for a critical data function over three years.
Tags
all-other-publishers, department-of-commerce, pa, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $35.1 million to REED TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES LLC. TEXT CONVERSION OF APPLICATIONS--PHASE I
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is REED TECHNOLOGY AND INFORMATION SERVICES LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (U.S. Patent and Trademark Office).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $35.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2006-11-01. End: 2009-12-31.
What was the specific nature of the 'TEXT CONVERSION' and how does its complexity justify the $35M cost?
The specific nature of the 'TEXT CONVERSION' is not detailed in the provided data. However, a $35M award over three years suggests a large-scale, complex project potentially involving millions of documents, intricate formatting, data validation, and advanced digital archiving. The cost could be justified by the volume, the required accuracy, the sensitivity of the data, and the specialized technology or labor needed for such a conversion.
Given the full and open competition, what were the key differentiators that led to selecting Reed Technology, and were there any identified risks in their approach?
The provided data does not specify the key differentiators or any identified risks associated with Reed Technology's bid. Typically, differentiators in such procurements include technical approach, past performance, management capability, and price. Risks might relate to schedule adherence, data integrity, or resource availability, which would have been assessed during the evaluation process.
How does this $35M expenditure align with the USPTO's overall budget and strategic goals for data management and accessibility?
This $35M expenditure represents a significant investment in data management for the USPTO. Its alignment with strategic goals would depend on the USPTO's priorities regarding digitization, modernization of records, and enhancing public access to patent and trademark information. Such a large contract suggests a strategic initiative to overhaul or significantly improve their text data infrastructure.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers › All Other Publishers
Product/Service Code: BOOKS, MAPS, OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Reed Elsevier Group PLC (UEI: 230792756)
Address: 275 GIBRALTAR RD, HORSHAM, PA, 90
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $35,054,848
Exercised Options: $35,054,848
Current Obligation: $35,054,848
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: DOC50PAPT0410001
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2006-11-01
Current End Date: 2009-12-31
Potential End Date: 2009-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2014-07-17
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