DOT's $23.6M CDL IT contract awarded to TML Information Services Inc. for software support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,608,860 ($23.6M)

Contractor: TML Information Services Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2006-09-25

End Date: 2012-10-09

Contract Duration: 2,206 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, TEST, DEPLOYMENT, O&M IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE (CDL).

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20590

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $23.6 million to TML INFORMATION SERVICES INC for work described as: SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, TEST, DEPLOYMENT, O&M IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE (CDL). Key points: 1. Contract focused on essential IT services for Commercial Driver's License program. 2. Long-term contract duration suggests a need for sustained support. 3. Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a broad search for qualified vendors. 4. Fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the government. 5. Services included development, testing, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. 6. Contractor has a significant tenure supporting this critical government function.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's total value of $23.6 million over approximately six years represents a significant investment in IT support for the CDL program. Benchmarking this against similar government IT service contracts is challenging without more granular data on the scope of work and specific deliverables. However, the fixed-price nature of the award suggests an effort to establish clear cost expectations. The contract's duration and consistent funding indicate a perceived value and necessity for the services provided by TML Information Services Inc.

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 the government actively sought proposals from all eligible sources. While the specific number of bidders is not provided, this procurement method generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service offerings. The exclusion of sources clause might suggest specific technical requirements or prior performance considerations that narrowed the field slightly, but the core intent was broad competition.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is generally favorable for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining competitive pricing and innovative solutions by engaging a wider pool of potential contractors.

Public Impact

Benefits commercial drivers by ensuring the integrity and functionality of the CDL system. Delivers essential IT services for the management and operation of the CDL program. Geographic impact is national, supporting a federally regulated driver licensing system. Workforce implications include the IT professionals employed by TML Information Services Inc. to fulfill the contract.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in due to long-term support of a critical system.
Reliance on a single contractor for essential IT infrastructure could pose risks if performance degrades.
Limited transparency on specific performance metrics and service level agreements.

Positive Signals

Contractor has a long history of supporting this specific government function.
Fixed-price contract structure provides cost predictability.
Awarded through a competitive process, suggesting a baseline level of value.
Sustained contract indicates consistent delivery of required services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on software development, testing, deployment, and operations and maintenance (O&M). The market for government IT services is substantial, with agencies continually seeking support for legacy systems and the development of new digital platforms. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large, long-term IT support contracts for critical government functions, which often run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars over their lifecycle.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no explicit indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. This suggests that the primary award went to a large business, and the direct impact on the small business ecosystem may be limited unless TML Information Services Inc. actively engages small businesses as subcontractors. Further investigation into subcontracting plans would be needed to fully assess the impact.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) within the Department of Transportation. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract's terms, including performance standards, reporting requirements, and payment schedules tied to deliverables. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS, though detailed operational performance data may not always be publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Commercial Driver's License Program
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration IT Modernization Efforts
Government Software Development Contracts
IT Operations and Maintenance Services

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may indicate potential for vendor lock-in.
Lack of specific performance metrics in summary data limits detailed assessment.
Exclusion of sources clause warrants understanding of specific justifications.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $23.6 million to TML INFORMATION SERVICES INC. SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT, TEST, DEPLOYMENT, O&M IN SUPPORT OF THE COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE (CDL).

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TML INFORMATION SERVICES INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $23.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-09-25. End: 2012-10-09.

What was the specific scope of work for TML Information Services Inc. under this contract?

The contract data indicates that TML Information Services Inc. provided software development, testing, deployment, and operations and maintenance (O&M) in support of the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program. This encompasses the full lifecycle of software, from initial creation and implementation to ongoing support and updates. The goal was to ensure the continued functionality and modernization of the IT systems critical to managing commercial driver licensing across the United States.

How does the $23.6 million contract value compare to similar IT support contracts for federal programs?

The $23.6 million contract value, spread over approximately six years (2006-2012), translates to an average annual spend of roughly $3.9 million. This figure is moderate for a federal IT support contract of this nature. Larger, more complex IT modernization projects or agency-wide IT infrastructure contracts can easily reach tens or hundreds of millions of dollars annually. However, for a specific program like the CDL system, this level of funding suggests a substantial, long-term commitment to maintaining and evolving its IT capabilities.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) for this contract. Typically, such contracts would include metrics related to system uptime, response times for issue resolution, software defect rates, and successful deployment of new features. These would be detailed in the contract's statement of work and performance work statement, allowing the FMCSA to measure TML Information Services Inc.'s performance and ensure the CDL system operated effectively.

What is TML Information Services Inc.'s track record with the Department of Transportation or similar agencies?

TML Information Services Inc. has a demonstrated track record with the Department of Transportation, specifically supporting the Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program for an extended period under this contract (2006-2012). While this specific contract award is a significant data point, a comprehensive assessment would require reviewing their entire contract history with DOT and other federal agencies, including past performance evaluations, any contract disputes, and the types of services they have provided across different programs.

Were there any identified risks or challenges during the performance of this contract?

The provided summary data does not explicitly detail risks or challenges encountered during the contract's performance. However, long-term IT support contracts for critical government systems inherently carry risks such as potential cost overruns if scope changes, technical obsolescence of supported systems, security vulnerabilities, and contractor performance issues. The fixed-price nature of this contract aimed to mitigate cost overrun risks, but challenges related to technical execution or evolving requirements could still have arisen.

How has spending on CDL IT support evolved since this contract concluded?

Information on spending evolution post-2012 is not available in the provided data. However, federal IT spending generally trends towards modernization, cloud adoption, and cybersecurity enhancements. It is likely that subsequent contracts for CDL IT support have incorporated newer technologies and addressed evolving regulatory requirements, potentially leading to shifts in spending patterns, contract types, and vendor landscapes.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › DEFENSE (OTHER) R&D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 116-55 QUEENS BLVD, FOREST HILLS, NY, 11375

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $26,958,461

Exercised Options: $23,608,860

Current Obligation: $23,608,860

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline