GSA's $181.9M GITGO Contract with Catapult Technology Faced No Competition, Raising Concerns

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $181,915,939 ($181.9M)

Contractor: Catapult Technology, Ltd.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2008-04-07

End Date: 2012-04-09

Contract Duration: 1,463 days

Daily Burn Rate: $124.3K/day

Competition Type: NON-COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: GSA INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY GLOBAL OPERATIONS (GITGO)

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20417

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $181.9 million to CATAPULT TECHNOLOGY, LTD. for work described as: GSA INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY GLOBAL OPERATIONS (GITGO) Key points: 1. The contract awarded to Catapult Technology, Ltd. for custom computer programming services totaled $181.9 million. 2. This was a non-competitive delivery order, indicating a lack of market research or a specific justification for sole-sourcing. 3. The contract duration was 1463 days, ending in 2012, suggesting a long-term engagement. 4. The primary sector appears to be IT services, specifically custom computer programming. 5. The absence of competition is a significant risk factor for potential overpricing and reduced value.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Without competitive bids, it's difficult to assess if the $181.9 million price was fair and reasonable. The fixed-price nature might have mitigated some risk, but the lack of comparison makes a definitive value assessment challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This was a non-competitive delivery order, meaning it was likely awarded without soliciting bids from other vendors. This significantly limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition on a contract of this size represents a potential loss of taxpayer funds due to the absence of market-driven pricing.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may have overpaid for IT services due to the absence of competitive bidding. The long duration of the contract could have locked the government into potentially outdated technology or services. Lack of transparency in the procurement process erodes public trust in government spending.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Non-competitive award
Large contract value
Long contract duration
Lack of small business participation noted

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type can provide cost certainty

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically custom computer programming services. Benchmarks for similar large-scale custom programming contracts are highly variable and depend on complexity, but non-competitive awards often deviate from market norms.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this contract (ss: false, sb: false). This is a missed opportunity to support small businesses and potentially leverage specialized capabilities.

Oversight & Accountability

The non-competitive nature of this award warrants further investigation into the justification for sole-sourcing and whether adequate oversight was in place to ensure fair pricing and effective service delivery.

Related Government Programs

Custom Computer Programming Services
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for overpricing
Limited transparency
Missed small business opportunities
Long contract duration may lead to obsolescence

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $181.9 million to CATAPULT TECHNOLOGY, LTD.. GSA INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY GLOBAL OPERATIONS (GITGO)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CATAPULT TECHNOLOGY, LTD..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $181.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-04-07. End: 2012-04-09.

What was the specific justification for awarding this contract on a non-competitive basis?

The provided data does not specify the justification for the non-competitive award. Typically, sole-source contracts require a documented justification, such as a critical need, unique capability, or lack of available alternatives. Without this information, it's impossible to assess the validity of the procurement decision.

How did the government ensure the price was reasonable without competition?

Ensuring price reasonableness without competition is challenging. The government might have relied on historical pricing, independent cost estimates, or benchmark data from similar, albeit potentially different, contracts. However, the absence of direct bids from multiple vendors inherently limits the ability to confirm the most cost-effective solution.

What was the actual performance and effectiveness of the custom computer programming services provided?

The provided data focuses on the financial and contractual aspects of the award and does not include information on the contractor's performance or the effectiveness of the services delivered. A full assessment would require reviewing performance reports, user feedback, and any documented issues or successes.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NON-COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 9T8NDWIS002

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7500 OLD GEORGETOWN RD STE 1100, BETHESDA, MD, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $459,164,505

Exercised Options: $290,979,625

Current Obligation: $181,915,939

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS06F0334Z

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline