Transportation contract for PHMSA database support services awarded to Catapult Technology, Ltd. for over $10.6 million

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,629,991 ($10.6M)

Contractor: Catapult Technology, Ltd.

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2005-09-16

End Date: 2014-09-09

Contract Duration: 3,280 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.2K/day

Sector: IT

Official Description: THE CONTRACTOR IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE FORM OF SYSTEM MAINTENANCE, APPLICATION SUPPORT, DATA ANALYSIS, ENTRY, AND DATA DISSEMINATION TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (PHMSA) IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE CONTRACTOR WILL SUPPORT PHMSA-WIDE DATABASE APPLICATIONS RELATED TO PURCHASING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PRISM, RAMIS AND FUTURE APPLICATIONS.

Place of Performance

Location: District of Columbia, 20590

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $10.6 million to CATAPULT TECHNOLOGY, LTD. for work described as: THE CONTRACTOR IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE FORM OF SYSTEM MAINTENANCE, APPLICATION SUPPORT, DATA ANALYSIS, ENTRY, AND DATA DISSEMINATION TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (PHMSA) IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE CONT… Key points: 1. Contract focused on essential system maintenance and data management for PHMSA's critical applications. 2. Long-term contract duration suggests a need for sustained support in data analysis and dissemination. 3. The award was a definitive contract, indicating a clear scope of work and established terms. 4. Services encompass a range of data-related functions, from entry to dissemination, supporting PHMSA's operational needs. 5. The contract's value of over $10.6 million reflects the ongoing requirement for specialized IT support. 6. Geographic focus on Washington D.C. aligns with the administrative nature of PHMSA's operations.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

This contract, valued at over $10.6 million, provided system maintenance and data support services to PHMSA over a nearly decade-long period. Benchmarking the value is challenging without specific comparable contracts for similar niche support within PHMSA or other DOT agencies. However, the duration suggests a consistent need and potentially stable pricing over time. The absence of detailed performance metrics or cost breakdowns makes a definitive value-for-money assessment difficult, but the sustained nature of the contract implies a level of satisfaction with the services provided.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The provided data does not specify the competition level for this contract. Without information on whether it was competed fully and openly, limited, or a sole-source award, it is impossible to assess the dynamics of price discovery. The number of bidders and the procurement method are crucial for understanding how competitive pressures influenced the final contract price and terms.

Taxpayer Impact: The level of competition directly impacts taxpayer value. A more competitive process typically leads to lower prices and better terms for the government, while limited or sole-source awards may result in higher costs.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the U.S. Department of Transportation's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), which receives crucial support for its database applications. Services delivered include system maintenance, application support, data analysis, data entry, and data dissemination, ensuring the integrity and accessibility of PHMSA's information. The geographic impact is centered in Washington D.C., where PHMSA is located, facilitating direct support to the agency's headquarters. Workforce implications involve the specialized IT personnel required to manage and maintain complex database systems and data flows.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Lack of detailed competition information prevents assessment of potential overpayment or suboptimal pricing.
  • The extended duration of the contract (nearly 10 years) could mask potential inefficiencies if not actively managed and reviewed.
  • Absence of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to gauge the true effectiveness and efficiency of the services rendered.

Positive Signals

  • The sustained nature of the contract over a long period suggests a consistent need and likely a reliable service provider.
  • The contract covers essential functions like system maintenance and data management, critical for PHMSA's regulatory and operational activities.
  • The definitive contract type implies a well-defined scope, reducing ambiguity in service delivery.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) and professional services sector, specifically focusing on database management and support for a government agency. The market for such services is broad, encompassing numerous companies capable of providing system maintenance, data analysis, and application support. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing IT support contracts within other federal agencies, particularly those with similar data management needs. The size of this contract, over $10.6 million, places it in the mid-to-large range for specialized IT support services.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from set-aside requirements for this particular award. Analysis would need to focus on whether the prime contractor engaged small businesses as subcontractors, which is not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Transportation and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). As a definitive contract, it likely includes specific reporting requirements and performance standards. Transparency is assessed through the availability of contract data, such as that provided. Inspector General jurisdiction would typically fall under the DOT's Office of Inspector General, which investigates fraud, waste, and abuse in departmental programs and contracts.

Related Government Programs

  • Department of Transportation IT Support Contracts
  • PHMSA Database Management Services
  • Federal Data Analysis and Dissemination Contracts
  • System Maintenance Contracts
  • Application Support Services

Risk Flags

  • Lack of competition details
  • Absence of performance metrics
  • Extended contract duration without clear performance review data

Tags

it-support, database-management, transportation, phmsa, definitive-contract, mid-size-contract, washington-dc, system-maintenance, data-analysis, catapult-technology-ltd

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $10.6 million to CATAPULT TECHNOLOGY, LTD.. THE CONTRACTOR IS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES IN THE FORM OF SYSTEM MAINTENANCE, APPLICATION SUPPORT, DATA ANALYSIS, ENTRY, AND DATA DISSEMINATION TO THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, PIPELINE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS SAFETY ADMINISTRATION (PHMSA) IN WASHINGTON, DC. THE CONTRACTOR WILL SUPPORT PHMSA-WIDE DATABASE APPLICATIONS RELATED TO PURCHASING AND OTHER ACTIVITIES SUCH AS PRISM, RAMIS AND FUTURE APPLICATIONS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CATAPULT TECHNOLOGY, LTD..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $10.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-09-16. End: 2014-09-09.

What was the specific nature of the 'system maintenance' and 'application support' provided under this contract?

The contract data indicates that the support services included system maintenance and application support for PHMSA-wide database applications such as PRISM, RAMIS, and future applications. This likely encompassed tasks such as software updates, bug fixes, performance tuning, user support, and ensuring the operational readiness of these critical systems. The goal was to maintain the functionality and reliability of the databases essential for PHMSA's operations, including data related to purchasing and other administrative activities. The long duration suggests these were ongoing, essential support functions rather than project-specific tasks.

How does the $10.6 million contract value compare to similar IT support contracts within the Department of Transportation?

Direct comparison of the $10.6 million value is difficult without access to a comprehensive database of all DOT IT support contracts over the period 2005-2014, including their specific scopes of work and durations. However, for a nearly decade-long definitive contract providing specialized database maintenance and support, this value appears reasonable, suggesting a consistent but not exceptionally high annual expenditure. Contracts for enterprise-wide system maintenance and support often span multiple years and represent significant investments. To provide a more precise benchmark, one would need to identify contracts with similar service levels (e.g., 24/7 support, specific application expertise) and agency sizes within the DOT.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the contractor's performance?

The provided contract abstract does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate Catapult Technology, Ltd.'s performance. Typically, for IT support contracts of this nature, KPIs might include system uptime percentages, response times for issue resolution, data accuracy rates, successful completion of maintenance tasks, and user satisfaction surveys. The absence of this information in the summary makes it challenging to quantitatively assess the contractor's effectiveness and the overall success of the contract beyond the fact that it was sustained for its full term.

What is the historical spending pattern for database support services at PHMSA or similar agencies?

Historical spending patterns for database support services at PHMSA or similar agencies are not detailed in the provided data. However, the sustained award of this contract for nearly ten years suggests a consistent and ongoing need for such services, implying a stable or potentially increasing budget allocation for IT infrastructure and data management within PHMSA during that period. Federal agencies generally face increasing demands for data processing, storage, and analysis, which often translates to sustained or growing expenditures on related support services. A deeper analysis would require examining PHMSA's budget history and other IT contracts over a longer timeframe.

Were there any identified risks associated with this contract, and how were they mitigated?

The provided summary does not explicitly list identified risks or mitigation strategies for this contract. However, common risks for long-term IT support contracts include vendor lock-in, potential for cost overruns if scope changes or performance issues arise, and the risk of outdated technology if the contractor does not keep pace with advancements. Mitigation strategies often involve clearly defined service level agreements (SLAs), regular performance reviews, competitive re-procurement processes, and clauses for scope adjustments. The sustained duration suggests that any initial risks were either deemed manageable or effectively mitigated throughout the contract's life.

More Contracts from Catapult Technology, Ltd.

View all Catapult Technology, Ltd. federal contracts →

Other Department of Transportation Contracts

View all Department of Transportation contracts →

Explore Related Government Spending