Air Force Awards $7.28M for Criteria Management System Design and Deployment

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,275,311 ($7.3M)

Contractor: National Institute of Building Sciences

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-12-08

End Date: 2026-12-07

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $20.0K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THIS CONTRACT INCLUDES ALL WORK NECESSARY TO DESIGN, DEVELOP, TEST, SECURE, AND DEPLOY THE CRITERIA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMS). IT ALSO INCLUDES MIGRATION OF DATA FROM THE EXISTING CMS TO THE PROVIDED CMS.

Place of Performance

Location: PANAMA CITY, BAY County, FLORIDA, 32403

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $7.3 million to NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BUILDING SCIENCES for work described as: THIS CONTRACT INCLUDES ALL WORK NECESSARY TO DESIGN, DEVELOP, TEST, SECURE, AND DEPLOY THE CRITERIA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMS). IT ALSO INCLUDES MIGRATION OF DATA FROM THE EXISTING CMS TO THE PROVIDED CMS. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical system development and data migration. 2. Limited competition is noted, potentially impacting price discovery. 3. Risk of scope creep and data integrity during migration. 4. Spending aligns with IT infrastructure development within the defense sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $7.28M for a 364-day duration appears reasonable for a complex system development and migration project. Benchmarking against similar IT system development contracts is difficult without more detailed scope information.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract is listed as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' indicating a limited competition approach. This lack of broad competition may have limited price discovery and potentially led to a higher price than if multiple vendors had bid.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for a critical IT system upgrade. The limited competition raises questions about whether the best possible price was achieved.

Public Impact

Enhances critical infrastructure management capabilities for the Air Force. Potential for improved data accuracy and system efficiency. Ensures continuity of operations through data migration.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition
Potential for cost overruns during migration
Security vulnerabilities in new system

Positive Signals

Addresses a critical operational need
Clear project duration
Firm fixed price contract type

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on system design, development, and deployment. Spending benchmarks for similar large-scale IT system development projects within the Department of Defense can vary widely based on complexity and scope.

Small Business Impact

The data provided does not indicate any specific set-asides for small businesses. The contract was awarded to NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BUILDING SCIENCES, and further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is a delivery order under a larger agreement, suggesting some level of pre-existing oversight. However, the limited competition aspect warrants closer scrutiny to ensure accountability and value for money.

Related Government Programs

Architectural Services
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Air Force Programs

Risk Flags

Limited competition
Potential for scope creep
Data migration complexity
Cybersecurity risks
Vendor lock-in

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $7.3 million to NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BUILDING SCIENCES. THIS CONTRACT INCLUDES ALL WORK NECESSARY TO DESIGN, DEVELOP, TEST, SECURE, AND DEPLOY THE CRITERIA MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (CMS). IT ALSO INCLUDES MIGRATION OF DATA FROM THE EXISTING CMS TO THE PROVIDED CMS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BUILDING SCIENCES.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $7.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-12-08. End: 2026-12-07.

What specific criteria will the new CMS manage, and how does this align with current Air Force operational needs?

The specific criteria managed by the CMS are not detailed in the provided data. However, the contract's focus on design, development, testing, security, and deployment suggests it will handle a comprehensive set of requirements critical to Air Force operations. Further documentation would be needed to understand the precise alignment with operational needs and the scope of data migration.

What are the identified risks associated with data migration from the existing CMS to the new system?

Data migration risks typically include data loss, data corruption, extended downtime, and compatibility issues between the old and new systems. Given the criticality of the CMS, a robust migration plan with thorough testing and validation protocols is essential to mitigate these risks and ensure data integrity and system continuity.

How will the effectiveness of the new Criteria Management System be measured post-deployment?

Effectiveness will likely be measured through key performance indicators (KPIs) related to system performance, user adoption, data accuracy, and the reduction of manual processes. Post-deployment reviews, user feedback surveys, and system audit reports will be crucial for assessing whether the CMS meets its intended objectives and provides the expected operational benefits.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Architectural Services

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1090 VERMONT AVE NW STE 700, WASHINGTON, DC, 20005

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,559,853

Exercised Options: $7,275,311

Current Obligation: $7,275,311

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA800324D0013

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline