GSA awarded Noblis $21.4M for IT hosting, a significant investment in cloud infrastructure

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $21,397,713 ($21.4M)

Contractor: Noblis, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2011-01-01

End Date: 2015-12-31

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: GSA NETWORX HOSTING CENTER SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22030

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $21.4 million to NOBLIS, INC. for work described as: GSA NETWORX HOSTING CENTER SUPPORT Key points: 1. The contract value represents a substantial commitment to IT infrastructure services. 2. Competition dynamics for this contract are crucial for understanding price efficiency. 3. Performance metrics and delivery timelines will indicate the effectiveness of this award. 4. This award positions Noblis as a key provider within the federal IT hosting sector. 5. The duration of the contract suggests a long-term need for these services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking this contract's value against similar GSA NETWORX awards is challenging without more granular data on the specific services provided. The total award of $21.4 million over five years averages to approximately $4.28 million annually. This figure needs to be compared to the market rates for comparable hosting and IT support services to assess value for money. The absence of detailed performance data makes a definitive value assessment difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The fact that it was a delivery order under a larger contract (GSA NETWORX) suggests a structured procurement process. The number of bidders is not specified, but full and open competition generally promotes a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service offerings.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it encourages a wider range of offers, potentially driving down costs and improving service quality through market forces.

Public Impact

Federal agencies requiring secure and reliable IT hosting services benefit from this contract. The contract supports the delivery of essential IT infrastructure, enabling government operations. The primary geographic impact is within Virginia, where the contract is managed. The contract likely supports a workforce of IT professionals and support staff.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it hard to assess contractor efficiency.
The 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code is broad, potentially obscuring specific service costs.
The contract type (Time and Materials) can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
The contract is a delivery order under the GSA NETWORX program, a reputable framework.
The contractor, Noblis, Inc., is a well-established entity in the government contracting space.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on IT hosting and related computer services. The federal IT market is vast, with significant spending on cloud services, data center operations, and network infrastructure. GSA NETWORX was a major indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle designed to provide a wide range of telecommunications and IT services to federal agencies. This award represents a portion of that broader federal investment in IT infrastructure.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside (ss=false, sb=false). Therefore, its direct impact on small business participation is likely minimal unless Noblis, Inc. engages in subcontracting with small businesses. Further analysis of subcontracting plans would be needed to determine the extent of small business involvement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service. As a delivery order under the GSA NETWORX program, it is subject to GSA's established procurement regulations and oversight mechanisms. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, but detailed operational oversight and performance monitoring are internal GSA responsibilities. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

GSA NETWORX
Federal Cloud Computing Strategy
IT Infrastructure Modernization Programs

Risk Flags

Contract type (T&M) requires diligent oversight to manage costs.
Broad NAICS code may obscure specific service costs and performance.
Lack of detailed performance data hinders value assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $21.4 million to NOBLIS, INC.. GSA NETWORX HOSTING CENTER SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NOBLIS, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $21.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2011-01-01. End: 2015-12-31.

What specific IT hosting services were included under this $21.4 million award, and how do they align with current federal IT modernization goals?

The provided data indicates the NAICS code is 541519 (Other Computer Related Services) and the contract falls under GSA NETWORX. While specific service details are not in the abbreviated data, this code typically encompasses a range of IT services including IT infrastructure management, cloud hosting, data center support, and potentially cybersecurity services. Given the award period (2011-2015), it likely supported agencies' needs for reliable IT infrastructure, potentially including early cloud adoption or enhanced data center operations. Alignment with modernization goals would depend on whether these services facilitated transitions to more efficient, secure, and scalable IT environments, such as private or hybrid cloud solutions, rather than maintaining legacy systems.

How does the average annual cost of this contract compare to similar federal IT hosting contracts awarded during the same period?

The contract's total value of $21.4 million over 1825 days (5 years) equates to an average annual expenditure of approximately $4.28 million. To benchmark this, one would need to compare it against other federal IT hosting contracts awarded between 2011 and 2015, ideally those with similar scopes of work (e.g., data center hosting, managed IT services) and under comparable contract vehicles or agencies. Without access to a detailed database of comparable contracts and their specific service inclusions, a precise comparison is difficult. However, this annual figure would be assessed against market rates and other government-wide contracts to determine if it represents competitive pricing for the services rendered.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for Noblis, Inc. under this contract, and how did the company perform against them?

The provided data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or performance evaluation details for this contract. Typically, federal IT hosting contracts include metrics related to uptime/availability, response times for incidents, security compliance, data integrity, and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs). Noblis, Inc.'s performance would have been assessed by the GSA against these pre-defined metrics. A review of contract performance reports or CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) data, if available, would be necessary to evaluate their track record on this specific award. The absence of this information in the summary data limits a thorough assessment of their performance.

What is the historical spending trend for IT hosting services by the General Services Administration (GSA) over the last decade?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award from 2011-2015. To analyze GSA's historical spending trend for IT hosting, a broader dataset encompassing multiple contracts over a longer period (e.g., the last 10-15 years) would be required. This would involve aggregating spending across various GSA programs and contract vehicles related to IT infrastructure, cloud services, and data center operations. Trends would likely show an evolution from traditional data center support towards increased investment in cloud-based solutions (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and managed services, reflecting broader federal IT modernization initiatives and the push for greater efficiency and scalability.

Given the contract type is Time and Materials (T&M), what measures were in place to control costs and prevent scope creep?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like the one awarded to Noblis, Inc., carry inherent risks of cost overruns and scope creep because they reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours and costs incurred, plus a fixed fee or percentage. To mitigate these risks, federal agencies typically implement strict oversight. This includes establishing labor hour limitations, defining clear work requirements, requiring detailed timesheets and cost documentation, and conducting regular reviews of progress and expenditures. For this specific contract, the GSA would have been responsible for monitoring Noblis's hours, rates, and material costs against the contract ceiling and scope. The 'no' field indicating 1 delivery order suggests this was managed within a larger framework, potentially with established controls.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: QTA010AWB0013

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3150 FAIRVIEW PARK DR, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 22042

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: $34,444,832

Exercised Options: $21,397,713

Current Obligation: $21,397,713

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 2

Total Subaward Amount: $87,135

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0590W

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline