DoD awards $5.7M contract to Ditto Live for custom programming, with a 3-year duration
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $5,708,712 ($5.7M)
Contractor: Dittolive Incorporated
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2025-07-14
End Date: 2028-07-13
Contract Duration: 1,095 days
Daily Burn Rate: $5.2K/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: SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) STRATEGIC FUNDING INCREASE (STRATFI) SEQUENTIAL SBIR PHASE II FOR DITTO LIVE, BESPIN
Place of Performance
Location: MONTGOMERY, MONTGOMERY County, ALABAMA, 36114
State: Alabama Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $5.7 million to DITTOLIVE INCORPORATED for work described as: SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) STRATEGIC FUNDING INCREASE (STRATFI) SEQUENTIAL SBIR PHASE II FOR DITTO LIVE, BESPIN Key points: 1. Contract awarded for custom computer programming services, indicating a need for specialized software development. 2. The contract's fixed-price nature suggests a defined scope of work and predictable costs. 3. A 3-year performance period allows for sustained development and integration of services. 4. The awardee, Ditto Live Inc., will provide services to the Department of the Air Force. 5. This contract falls under the broader category of IT services within the federal procurement landscape. 6. The contract value of $5.7M is moderate for a multi-year IT development project.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $5.7M for a 3-year custom programming effort appears reasonable when benchmarked against similar IT development contracts. The firm fixed-price structure helps control costs. Without specific details on deliverables, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the duration suggests a substantial project.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This competitive process is expected to yield fair market pricing and encourage innovation. The specific exclusion of sources clause suggests a prior relationship or unique capability that was considered.
Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process generally benefits taxpayers by ensuring the government receives the best possible value and price for the services rendered.
Public Impact
The Department of the Air Force will benefit from enhanced custom computer programming services. This contract supports the development and delivery of specialized software solutions. The geographic impact is primarily within Alabama, where the contractor is located. The contract may have implications for the IT workforce, potentially creating or sustaining jobs.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined upfront.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical custom programming services.
- Risk of vendor lock-in if proprietary technologies are used.
Positive Signals
- Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
- Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.
- Longer contract duration allows for deeper integration and development.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically custom computer programming services. The federal IT market is vast, with significant spending on software development, cloud services, and cybersecurity. Comparable contracts in this space often range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars, depending on complexity and duration. This $5.7M award is a moderate-sized contract for a multi-year development effort.
Small Business Impact
This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the awardee, Ditto Live Inc., is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data. There is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within this award. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem appears limited for this specific contract.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is subject to standard federal procurement oversight mechanisms. The Department of the Air Force will monitor performance and adherence to contract terms. Inspector General reviews may be initiated if any irregularities or performance issues arise. Transparency is maintained through contract databases like SAM.gov.
Related Government Programs
- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR)
- Strategic Funding Increase (STRATFI)
- SBIR Phase II
- Custom Computer Programming Services
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in
- Dependence on specific technology stack
- Scope creep risk
Tags
it, defense, department-of-the-air-force, definitive-contract, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, custom-computer-programming-services, alabama, sbir-stratfi
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $5.7 million to DITTOLIVE INCORPORATED. SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) STRATEGIC FUNDING INCREASE (STRATFI) SEQUENTIAL SBIR PHASE II FOR DITTO LIVE, BESPIN
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is DITTOLIVE INCORPORATED.
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 $5.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-07-14. End: 2028-07-13.
What is the specific nature of the custom computer programming services being procured?
The provided data indicates the contract is for 'Custom Computer Programming Services' (NAICS code 541511) and is related to the 'SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) STRATEGIC FUNDING INCREASE (STRATFI) SEQUENTIAL SBIR PHASE II FOR DITTO LIVE, BESPIN'. This suggests the services are likely related to further development, enhancement, or adaptation of a technology or software solution that originated from an SBIR Phase II project. The 'Bespin' reference might indicate a specific project codename or system being worked on. Further details would be found in the contract's statement of work.
How does the $5.7M contract value compare to similar SBIR STRATFI Phase II follow-on contracts?
The $5.7 million value for this SBIR STRATFI Phase II sequential contract is substantial, reflecting the progression from earlier research and development phases to a more mature development or prototype stage. STRATFI awards are designed to provide significant follow-on funding to promising SBIR-funded technologies. While exact comparisons are difficult without access to proprietary databases or specific program data, this amount aligns with the upper end of funding typically seen for advanced development phases under STRATFI, indicating a high level of perceived potential for the technology being developed by Ditto Live.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract?
The provided data does not explicitly list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. However, for custom computer programming services, typical KPIs would likely include adherence to project timelines, successful completion of development milestones, quality of code produced (e.g., bug rates, performance metrics), user acceptance testing results, and successful integration with existing systems. The specific KPIs would be detailed in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and performance standards.
What is Ditto Live Inc.'s track record with federal contracts, particularly with the Department of Defense?
The provided data identifies Ditto Live Inc. as the contractor. To assess their track record, one would typically search federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) for past awards to this entity. Given this is a Department of the Air Force contract, it would be important to see if they have prior experience with DoD or other federal agencies, the types of services previously rendered, contract values, and performance history. Without this external data, a specific assessment of their track record cannot be made from the given information.
What is the significance of 'SEQUENTIAL SBIR PHASE II' in the contract description?
The term 'SEQUENTIAL SBIR PHASE II' indicates that this contract is a follow-on to a previous SBIR Phase II award received by Ditto Live Inc. The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program funds early-stage research and development at small businesses. Phase II is typically for the R&D of the proposed innovation. A 'sequential' Phase II suggests that the initial Phase II project was successful and required further, extended, or a distinct but related development effort, often enabled by programs like STRATFI, which provides larger, follow-on funding to accelerate commercialization.
What does 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' imply about the procurement process?
This contract clause signifies a nuanced competitive process. 'Full and open competition' means the solicitation was made available to all responsible sources. However, 'after exclusion of sources' implies that certain potential offerors were initially excluded from consideration, perhaps due to specific requirements, prior performance issues, or other pre-defined criteria. The remaining eligible sources then competed. This approach aims to balance broad competition with ensuring that only qualified and appropriate vendors participate, potentially streamlining the process while still seeking competitive pricing.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming Services
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › C – National Defense R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: FA877125R0038
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 112 KROG ST NE # D130, ATLANTA, GA, 30307
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $21,531,684
Exercised Options: $6,102,837
Current Obligation: $5,708,712
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-07-14
Current End Date: 2028-07-13
Potential End Date: 2028-07-13 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-12-19
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