Air Force's $10M contract for technical order distribution library services awarded to Digitized Schematic Solutions LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,082,936 ($10.1M)

Contractor: Digitized Schematic Solutions LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2021-03-07

End Date: 2026-03-06

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: TECHNICAL ORDER DISTRIBUTION OFFICE (TODO) LIBRARY AT HILL AFB

Place of Performance

Location: WARREN, MACOMB County, MICHIGAN, 48092

State: Michigan Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $10.1 million to DIGITIZED SCHEMATIC SOLUTIONS LLC for work described as: TECHNICAL ORDER DISTRIBUTION OFFICE (TODO) LIBRARY AT HILL AFB Key points: 1. The contract value of over $10 million over its period of performance suggests a significant need for these technical documentation services. 2. The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' indicating a specific reason for excluding certain sources, which warrants further investigation into the justification. 3. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs, but the duration of nearly five years could expose the government to price fluctuations if market conditions change significantly. 4. The service falls under the 'Book Publishers' NAICS code, which may indicate a need to assess if this aligns with the core competencies of the awarded contractor. 5. The contract's focus on a technical order distribution library suggests a critical role in maintaining and disseminating essential technical information for Air Force operations.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific details on the scope of services and the volume of technical orders managed. The contract's total value of approximately $10 million over five years averages to about $2 million annually. This figure needs to be compared against similar contracts for technical documentation management within the Department of Defense or other large federal agencies to determine if it represents a fair price for the services rendered. The firm fixed-price nature provides cost certainty, but the absence of detailed performance metrics makes a comprehensive value assessment difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources.' This specific procurement method implies that while the competition was intended to be open, certain sources were excluded based on predefined criteria. The exact reasons for this exclusion are not detailed in the provided data. Understanding the justification for excluding sources is crucial to assessing the breadth of competition and its potential impact on pricing and innovation. Without knowing how many potential bidders were considered or why others were excluded, it's difficult to definitively state the level of competition achieved.

Taxpayer Impact: The exclusion of sources, even within a framework of open competition, may limit the number of potential bidders, potentially leading to less aggressive pricing than a truly unrestricted full and open competition. This could mean taxpayers are not receiving the absolute lowest possible price.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the personnel within the Department of the Air Force who rely on accurate and accessible technical documentation for aircraft maintenance, operations, and training. The services delivered include the management, distribution, and potentially digitization of technical orders, ensuring that critical operational information is available when and where needed. The geographic impact is likely concentrated around Hill Air Force Base, where the Technical Order Distribution Office (TODO) Library is located, but the information disseminated could support Air Force operations globally. Workforce implications may involve specialized roles in technical writing, information management, and logistics to support the TODO library's functions.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' raises questions about the thoroughness of the competitive process and whether all capable vendors had a fair opportunity to bid.
Lack of detailed performance metrics or service level agreements in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the contractor's performance and ensure accountability.
The long contract duration of nearly five years could lead to potential cost inefficiencies if market rates for similar services decrease over time.

Positive Signals

The firm fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government, mitigating the risk of cost overruns.
The contract is awarded to Digitized Schematic Solutions LLC, suggesting a specialized focus that may align with the technical requirements of the Air Force.
The existence of a Technical Order Distribution Office (TODO) Library indicates a structured approach to managing critical technical documentation, which is essential for operational readiness.

Sector Analysis

The defense sector relies heavily on robust technical documentation for the maintenance, repair, and operation of complex military equipment. This contract falls within the broader IT and professional services market, specifically catering to the niche requirement of managing and distributing technical orders. The market for such specialized services is often characterized by a mix of large defense contractors and smaller, niche providers. Benchmarking spending in this area requires comparing the contract's value against similar support services for other military branches or major defense platforms, considering factors like the volume and complexity of documentation managed.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a primary consideration for this specific contract award. There is no indication of a small business set-aside or any explicit subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that the primary focus was on securing the necessary technical expertise, potentially from larger or more specialized firms, rather than promoting small business engagement through this particular contract. The impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless the prime contractor voluntarily engages small businesses for subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of the Air Force's contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures would be defined in the contract's statement of work, including performance standards and delivery schedules. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, which provide public access to contract awards. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected or reported.

Related Government Programs

Technical Order Management
Logistics Support Services
Defense Information Systems
Aerospace Maintenance Support
Federal Document Management

Risk Flags

Competition Level Concerns
Long-Term Contract Risk
Lack of Detailed Performance Metrics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $10.1 million to DIGITIZED SCHEMATIC SOLUTIONS LLC. TECHNICAL ORDER DISTRIBUTION OFFICE (TODO) LIBRARY AT HILL AFB

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DIGITIZED SCHEMATIC SOLUTIONS LLC.

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 $10.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-03-07. End: 2026-03-06.

What specific services are included under the 'Technical Order Distribution Office (TODO) Library' and what is the expected volume of technical orders managed?

The 'Technical Order Distribution Office (TODO) Library' typically encompasses the management, storage, distribution, and updating of technical orders (TOs) for military aircraft and equipment. These TOs are critical documents containing instructions for maintenance, repair, inspection, and operation. The expected volume of technical orders managed under this contract is not explicitly stated in the provided data. However, given the contract's value of over $10 million, it suggests a substantial library supporting a significant number of aircraft types or complex systems. This would likely involve thousands of individual TOs, including manuals, checklists, and procedural documents, requiring robust cataloging, version control, and dissemination capabilities to ensure Air Force personnel have access to the most current information.

What is the justification for the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' procurement method, and how did it impact the number of bidders?

The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' (FOUCAES) method is typically used when a specific requirement can only be met by a limited number of sources, or when certain sources are excluded for reasons such as national security, proprietary data, or unique capabilities. The exact justification for excluding sources in this contract is not provided in the data. This method implies that while the competition was intended to be open to all responsible sources, specific vendors were deliberately excluded based on predefined criteria. The impact on the number of bidders is that it would likely be fewer than a standard full and open competition, as potential bidders who did not meet the exclusion criteria or were not identified as capable would not participate. This could potentially limit price competition.

How does the annual cost of this contract compare to industry benchmarks for similar technical documentation management services?

The contract's total value is approximately $10.08 million over 1825 days (roughly 5 years), equating to an average annual cost of about $2.016 million. Benchmarking this against industry standards for technical documentation management is challenging without granular details on the scope of services, the number of documents managed, and the specific technologies employed. However, for large-scale federal contracts involving extensive technical libraries, this annual figure might be considered within a reasonable range, assuming comprehensive services are provided. Industry benchmarks often vary widely based on factors like the complexity of the subject matter, the required level of detail, security requirements, and the contractor's overhead. A more precise comparison would require analyzing contracts with similar service level agreements and deliverables within the defense sector.

What are the potential risks associated with a firm fixed-price contract of this duration (nearly 5 years) for technical order distribution services?

A firm fixed-price (FFP) contract provides cost certainty for the government, as the price is set and generally not subject to adjustment based on the contractor's cost experience. However, for a contract spanning nearly five years, there are potential risks. If the market rates for technical documentation services, labor, or related technologies increase significantly during the contract period, the contractor may experience reduced profit margins or seek to renegotiate terms, potentially leading to disputes. Conversely, if the contractor becomes highly efficient or market rates decrease, the government might be paying above market value by the end of the term. The long duration also means that if the contractor's performance falters, it may take a considerable amount of time to transition to a new vendor, potentially disrupting critical operations.

What is the track record of Digitized Schematic Solutions LLC in managing large federal contracts, particularly within the Department of Defense?

Information regarding the specific track record of Digitized Schematic Solutions LLC in managing large federal contracts, especially within the Department of Defense, is not detailed in the provided data. To assess their capabilities and reliability, one would need to examine their past performance on similar contracts, including contract values, duration, client feedback, and any history of performance issues or awards. A thorough review of their contract history, potentially through resources like the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) or other federal procurement databases, would be necessary to understand their experience in delivering technical order distribution or related information management services at a scale comparable to this $10 million award.

How does the spending on this contract compare to historical spending patterns for technical order distribution services within the Air Force or DoD?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for technical order distribution services within the Air Force or DoD would require access to historical contract data over several fiscal years. Without that data, it's impossible to definitively compare the current $10.08 million contract to past expenditures. However, one could investigate trends in outsourcing technical documentation management, the average cost per TO managed, or the total budget allocated to such services across different Air Force commands or the DoD. If historical spending has been significantly lower, this contract might represent an increase in investment or a shift in how these services are procured. Conversely, if similar contracts have consistently been in this value range, it suggests a stable level of expenditure for these critical support functions.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers › Book Publishers

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

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5501 ENTERPRISE CT STE 400, WARREN, MI, 48092

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,083,390

Exercised Options: $10,082,936

Current Obligation: $10,082,936

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA853020D0002

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline