EPA's $24.35M IT Operations Contract Awarded to General Dynamics Information Technology

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $24,350,933 ($24.4M)

Contractor: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2006-09-30

End Date: 2008-06-20

Contract Duration: 629 days

Daily Burn Rate: $38.7K/day

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: IT

Official Description: ORD IT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20004

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $24.4 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC for work described as: ORD IT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE Key points: 1. Contract awarded for IT operations and maintenance services. 2. General Dynamics Information Technology secured this contract. 3. The contract duration was 629 days. 4. Awarded as a Cost Plus Award Fee type. 5. The contract was not set aside for small businesses. 6. The place of performance was Washington D.C.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $24.35 million over approximately two years for IT operations and maintenance is within a typical range for federal agencies of the EPA's size. However, without specific details on the scope of services and performance metrics, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure allows for contractor incentives based on performance, which can be beneficial if well-defined. Benchmarking against similar IT O&M contracts would require detailed service level agreements and performance data.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The provided data does not specify the competition level for this contract. It is unclear if it was competed fully and openly, through limited sources, or awarded sole-source. The number of bidders and the method of solicitation are critical for understanding the competitive landscape and its impact on pricing. Without this information, it's impossible to assess if the EPA received the best possible pricing and terms.

Taxpayer Impact: The level of competition directly impacts taxpayer value. Higher competition generally leads to lower prices and better service offerings, ensuring taxpayer dollars are used more efficiently. If this contract faced limited competition, taxpayers may have paid a premium.

Public Impact

Benefits the Environmental Protection Agency by ensuring the continuity of critical IT operations. Services delivered include IT operations and maintenance, crucial for agency functionality. Geographic impact is centered in Washington D.C., the location of the EPA headquarters. Workforce implications include the personnel required by General Dynamics Information Technology to fulfill the contract.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition data prevents assessment of optimal pricing.
Cost Plus Award Fee contracts require careful oversight to ensure performance incentives align with taxpayer interests.
The specific IT services covered are not detailed, making it hard to gauge the full scope and value.

Positive Signals

Contract awarded to a known entity, General Dynamics Information Technology, suggesting a potentially established relationship and understanding of agency needs.
The contract aims to ensure the operational stability of EPA's IT infrastructure.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically IT operations and maintenance. The federal IT market is substantial, with agencies consistently investing in maintaining and upgrading their systems. Contracts like this are essential for ensuring the smooth functioning of government operations. Benchmarking would involve comparing the contract's value and duration against other IT O&M contracts awarded to similar-sized agencies or for comparable service levels.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the procurement was likely open to larger contractors or that no small business prime contractors met the requirements. There is no information on subcontracting plans, so the impact on the small business ecosystem is unknown, but it implies no direct set-aside benefit for small businesses as prime contractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Environmental Protection Agency's contracting officers and program managers. As a Cost Plus Award Fee contract, performance metrics and award criteria would be subject to review to ensure the contractor meets objectives. Transparency would depend on the EPA's public disclosure policies regarding contract performance and financials. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Federal IT Operations and Maintenance Contracts
Environmental Protection Agency IT Services
General Dynamics Information Technology Contracts

Risk Flags

Lack of competition details
CPAF structure requires diligent oversight
Scope of services not fully detailed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $24.4 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. ORD IT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $24.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-09-30. End: 2008-06-20.

What specific IT operations and maintenance services were included under this contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific IT operations and maintenance services covered by this contract. Typically, such services can encompass network management, server administration, help desk support, software maintenance, cybersecurity operations, data center management, and system upgrades. A comprehensive understanding of the service scope is crucial for evaluating the contract's value and performance against industry benchmarks. Without this granular detail, it's difficult to ascertain if the $24.35 million represented a fair price for the services rendered.

How does the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure influence contractor performance and cost control for this EPA contract?

The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure incentivizes the contractor, General Dynamics Information Technology, to exceed baseline performance requirements by offering award fees tied to specific, measurable objectives. This can lead to higher quality services. However, it also requires robust oversight from the EPA to ensure that the award fee criteria are objective, well-defined, and aligned with mission needs. From a cost control perspective, CPAF allows for the recovery of allowable costs plus a base fee, with the potential for additional award fees. This structure can sometimes lead to higher overall costs compared to fixed-price contracts if not managed diligently, as the government bears more cost risk and aims to motivate superior performance.

What was the competitive landscape for this IT O&M contract, and how did it affect pricing?

The provided data does not specify the competition level for this contract (e.g., full and open, sole source, limited competition). The number of bidders is also unknown. A highly competitive bidding process typically drives down prices and encourages innovation, leading to better value for taxpayers. Conversely, limited competition or a sole-source award may result in higher costs and less favorable terms. Without details on the solicitation process and the number of proposals received, it is impossible to definitively assess the impact of competition on the final negotiated price for this $24.35 million contract.

What is the track record of General Dynamics Information Technology with similar IT operations and maintenance contracts for federal agencies?

General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT) is a major federal contractor with extensive experience in IT operations and maintenance across various government agencies. They have a long history of supporting complex IT infrastructures, including network management, cybersecurity, cloud services, and end-user support. Their track record generally includes large-scale contracts with agencies like the Department of Defense, NASA, and other civilian departments. Evaluating GDIT's performance on this specific EPA contract would require examining past performance reviews, any contract disputes, and their success in meeting performance metrics on similar, concurrent contracts.

How does the $24.35 million contract value compare to historical EPA spending on IT operations and maintenance?

To compare this $24.35 million contract value to historical EPA spending on IT operations and maintenance, one would need access to the EPA's historical IT budget data and contract awards over several fiscal years. This specific contract, awarded in 2006 and ending in 2008, represents a portion of the EPA's IT expenditure during that period. Analyzing trends would involve looking at whether IT O&M spending increased or decreased around that time, the average value of similar contracts, and the total IT budget. Without that broader context, it's difficult to determine if this contract was unusually large, small, or typical for the EPA's needs at that time.

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Computer Sciences Corporation (UEI: 009581091)

Address: 15245 SHADY GROVE RD STE 200, ROCKVILLE, MD, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $24,640,736

Exercised Options: $24,640,736

Current Obligation: $24,350,933

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68W01032

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline