Commerce Department's $17.2M IT contract for desktop deployment and moves awarded to EVOLVER LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,236,804 ($17.2M)

Contractor: Evolver LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2010-01-29

End Date: 2012-08-23

Contract Duration: 937 days

Daily Burn Rate: $18.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 10

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: EVOLVER: TO#01 - DESKTOP DEPLOYMENT & MOVES

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22313

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $17.2 million to EVOLVER LLC for work described as: EVOLVER: TO#01 - DESKTOP DEPLOYMENT & MOVES Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges. 3. Performance period spans over 2.5 years, indicating a medium-term IT support need. 4. The award was a Delivery Order, suggesting it's part of a larger Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. 5. The contractor, EVOLVER LLC, has secured this significant IT services award. 6. The service falls under Computer Facilities Management, a critical IT infrastructure function.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this $17.2 million contract is challenging without knowing the specific scope of services and the base IDIQ contract it falls under. Time and Materials contracts can sometimes lead to higher costs if not managed closely, compared to fixed-price contracts. However, for services with unpredictable scope, T&M can offer flexibility. The number of bids received (10) suggests a reasonable level of competition, which should have helped in price discovery.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' indicating that while it was competed openly, there might have been prior exclusions or specific circumstances leading to this designation. Ten bids were received, which is a healthy number and suggests robust competition. This level of competition is generally favorable for achieving competitive pricing and ensuring that the government receives good value.

Taxpayer Impact: The strong competition indicates that taxpayers benefited from a process designed to solicit multiple offers, likely driving down costs and ensuring a fair market price was achieved.

Public Impact

Federal employees at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) benefit from reliable desktop deployment and IT infrastructure support. Ensures smooth IT operations, including computer setup, moves, and maintenance, for USPTO staff. Supports the USPTO's mission by providing essential IT services. The contract impacts the IT services workforce, potentially creating or sustaining jobs for skilled technicians and managers.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
The 'after exclusion of sources' clause in the competition type warrants further investigation into any prior limitations.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the contractor's efficiency and effectiveness.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive marketplace.
Received 10 bids, suggesting significant interest and a competitive process.
The contract duration of over two years provides stability for IT services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on IT facilities management and support services. The market for these services is large and competitive, with numerous companies offering solutions ranging from hardware deployment to network management. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other government contracts for similar IT support services, considering factors like agency size, user base, and geographic location.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions for this contract. As it was awarded under full and open competition, it's unlikely that small businesses were exclusively targeted. However, EVOLVER LLC, as the prime contractor, may engage small businesses as subcontractors, contributing to the small business ecosystem. Further analysis of subcontracting plans would be needed to determine the direct impact on small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the contract administration team within the Department of Commerce. Performance monitoring, invoice review, and adherence to contract terms are key oversight mechanisms. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

IT Infrastructure Support Services
Desktop Computer Deployment
IT Facilities Management
Computer Operations Services
IT Relocation Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials contract type.
Need for detailed oversight to manage scope and schedule effectively.
Ambiguity in competition type requires further clarification on source exclusions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $17.2 million to EVOLVER LLC. EVOLVER: TO#01 - DESKTOP DEPLOYMENT & MOVES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is EVOLVER 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 $17.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-01-29. End: 2012-08-23.

What is the track record of EVOLVER LLC in performing similar IT services for the federal government?

EVOLVER LLC has a history of performing IT services for the federal government. Analyzing their past performance on similar contracts, particularly those involving desktop deployment, moves, and facilities management, would provide insight into their capabilities and reliability. Reviewing past performance evaluations and any reported issues or successes on prior government contracts would be crucial. This includes examining the types of agencies they've served, the scale of projects, and client satisfaction feedback to gauge their suitability for this specific contract.

How does the pricing structure of this Time and Materials contract compare to industry benchmarks for similar IT services?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like this one, bill for direct labor at specified hourly rates and for the actual cost of materials. Benchmarking T&M pricing requires comparing the contractor's hourly labor rates for various skill sets against prevailing market rates for similar IT support roles in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area, where the USPTO is located. Additionally, the markup on materials and any indirect cost rates should be assessed. Without specific rate details, a precise comparison is difficult, but a high number of bidders (10) suggests the rates were competitive within the market at the time of award.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials contract for desktop deployment and moves?

The primary risk with Time and Materials contracts is the potential for cost overruns, as the final price is not fixed. If the scope of work expands or tasks take longer than anticipated, costs can escalate beyond initial projections. For desktop deployment and moves, risks include unforeseen technical issues during setup, delays in hardware delivery, or unexpected complexities during physical relocation of equipment. Effective oversight, clear task definitions, and diligent progress tracking are essential to mitigate these risks and ensure the project stays within budget and schedule.

How effective has EVOLVER LLC been in meeting performance expectations on previous government contracts?

Assessing the effectiveness of EVOLVER LLC requires a review of their past performance evaluations and any contractor performance assessment reporting (CPAR) data. These reports typically detail how well the contractor met technical requirements, schedule, cost controls, and management objectives. If CPARs are available and indicate consistent high performance, it suggests a lower risk for this contract. Conversely, any documented performance issues or disputes would raise concerns about their ability to deliver successfully on this $17.2 million award.

What has been the historical spending pattern for desktop deployment and IT moves at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office?

To understand the historical spending for desktop deployment and IT moves at the USPTO, one would need to analyze past contract awards for similar services. This involves looking at the total dollar amounts awarded, the duration of those contracts, and the contractors involved over several fiscal years. Comparing the $17.2 million awarded to EVOLVER LLC against this historical data would reveal whether this contract represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of spending for these services. It would also highlight any trends in contractor selection or contract types used.

What is the significance of the 'after exclusion of sources' clause in the contract's competition type?

The designation 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' suggests that while the competition was open, there might have been a prior period where certain sources were excluded, or specific conditions led to the exclusion of some potential bidders from the outset. This could stem from requirements related to specific technologies, past performance, or unique capabilities. Understanding the rationale behind any initial exclusions is important for a complete picture of the competition's fairness and breadth. However, the fact that 10 bids were ultimately received indicates a robust level of interest despite any initial filtering.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Facilities Management Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 10

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1943 ISAAC NEWTON SQ E STE 260, RESTON, VA, 20190

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,236,804

Exercised Options: $17,236,804

Current Obligation: $17,236,804

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DOC50PAPT0901027

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline