GSA's $12.76M contract for WITS-3 acquisition support awarded to Noblis, Inc. shows a 6-year duration

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,763,006 ($12.8M)

Contractor: Noblis, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2005-04-07

End Date: 2010-09-30

Contract Duration: 2,002 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.4K/day

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION - ACQUISITION SUPPORT FOR WITS-3.

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX (CITY) County, VIRGINIA, 22030

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $12.8 million to NOBLIS, INC. for work described as: SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION - ACQUISITION SUPPORT FOR WITS-3. Key points: 1. The contract's duration of 6 years suggests a long-term need for acquisition support services. 2. Awarded under the Federal Acquisition Service, this contract highlights GSA's role in providing centralized acquisition support. 3. The 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code indicates a broad scope of services. 4. A Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type can present cost control challenges if not managed diligently. 5. The contract was awarded in 2005, indicating a historical need for these services. 6. The relatively modest award value for a 6-year contract may suggest a focused scope or specific deliverables.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific details on the services provided. However, a $12.76 million award over six years averages to approximately $2.13 million per year. This figure needs to be compared against the complexity and criticality of the acquisition support required for WITS-3. The CPFF structure necessitates close monitoring to ensure costs remain reasonable and do not escalate beyond the fixed fee's intended control.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The competition level for this contract is not specified in the provided data. Without knowing if it was competed openly, through limited sources, or as a sole-source award, it's difficult to assess the effectiveness of the procurement process. A competitive process typically leads to better pricing and innovation, while a sole-source award might indicate unique capabilities or urgent needs.

Taxpayer Impact: The level of competition directly impacts taxpayer value. Higher competition generally drives down costs and improves service quality, leading to more efficient use of public funds.

Public Impact

Federal agencies requiring acquisition support services benefit from this contract, ensuring efficient procurement processes. The National Capitol Region likely benefits from improved acquisition capabilities, supporting critical government functions. The contract supports the WITS-3 program, contributing to the operational effectiveness of its objectives. Professional and technical service providers, like Noblis, Inc., are engaged, contributing to the federal workforce in specialized roles.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts require robust oversight to prevent cost overruns.
The broad NAICS code could imply a wide range of potential services, making scope management critical.
Lack of specific competition details raises questions about potential price discovery limitations.

Positive Signals

Long-term contract duration (6 years) suggests a stable and ongoing need, indicating the service's value.
Award to a single contractor (Noblis, Inc.) may indicate specialized expertise relevant to WITS-3.
The contract falls under GSA's Federal Acquisition Service, leveraging established procurement infrastructure.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, specifically under the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' category (NAICS 541990). This broad category encompasses a wide array of services, including acquisition support, management consulting, and scientific research. The market for such services is large and diverse, with numerous firms capable of providing specialized support to government agencies. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend heavily on the specific nature of the acquisition support provided to WITS-3.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses arising from a set-aside provision. The primary contractor, Noblis, Inc., would determine any subcontracting opportunities based on its own business strategy and the specific needs of the WITS-3 acquisition support.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service. As a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract, GSA would be responsible for monitoring expenditures against the fixed fee, ensuring that the contractor's costs are reasonable and allocable to the contract. Transparency would be facilitated through contract reporting mechanisms and performance reviews. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

GSA Federal Acquisition Service Contracts
Professional and Technical Services Contracts
Acquisition Support Services
WITS Programs

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type requires diligent oversight.
Broad NAICS code may indicate undefined scope.
Competition details are missing, impacting value assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $12.8 million to NOBLIS, INC.. SUPPORT FOR THE NATIONAL CAPITOL REGION - ACQUISITION SUPPORT FOR WITS-3.

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 $12.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-04-07. End: 2010-09-30.

What specific acquisition support services were provided under this contract to the WITS-3 program?

The provided data identifies the contract as 'ACQUISITION SUPPORT FOR WITS-3' under NAICS code 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services). While the exact deliverables are not detailed, acquisition support typically encompasses a range of activities such as strategic sourcing, requirements definition, market research, source selection support, contract administration, and performance management. For WITS-3, this likely involved assisting the program office in procuring necessary technology, services, or equipment, ensuring compliance with federal acquisition regulations, and managing the lifecycle of various contracts supporting the WITS-3 initiative. The duration of the contract (2005-2010) suggests ongoing, comprehensive support rather than a single, discrete task.

How does the $12.76 million award value compare to similar acquisition support contracts over a 6-year period?

Comparing the $12.76 million award value for 6 years (averaging $2.13 million annually) requires context on the scope and complexity of the WITS-3 program and the specific services rendered. Acquisition support can range from basic administrative assistance to highly specialized strategic consulting. If WITS-3 involved complex IT systems or large-scale procurements, this annual value might be considered moderate. However, without detailed service descriptions or benchmarks for comparable federal acquisition support contracts of similar duration and scope, a definitive value assessment is difficult. Contracts for large-scale IT system acquisitions or complex defense programs often involve significantly higher annual expenditures for support services.

What are the primary risks associated with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract structure for acquisition support?

The primary risk with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract is that the government may end up paying more than necessary if the contractor's costs are not diligently managed and controlled. While the fixed fee provides the contractor with an incentive to control costs (as their profit is capped), there is less incentive to reduce costs below the estimated level compared to fixed-price contracts. The government bears the risk of cost overruns above the estimated cost, although the final price is capped by the fee. Effective oversight, detailed cost accounting, and regular audits are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure the government receives good value. For acquisition support, where requirements can evolve, managing the scope within the CPFF structure is also critical.

What was Noblis, Inc.'s track record or experience with GSA or similar acquisition support contracts prior to or during this award?

Noblis, Inc. is a well-established research and development non-profit organization that frequently contracts with government agencies, including GSA. While the specific details of their track record leading up to this particular 2005 award are not provided in the summary data, Noblis has a history of providing a wide range of professional, scientific, and technical services. Their expertise often spans areas like IT modernization, data analytics, cybersecurity, and program management, all of which are relevant to acquisition support. GSA's award suggests that Noblis met the necessary qualifications and demonstrated capability to fulfill the requirements of the WITS-3 acquisition support contract at that time. Further investigation into Noblis's contract history with GSA and other federal entities would provide a more comprehensive view of their experience.

How has federal spending on 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' (NAICS 541990) evolved since this contract was awarded in 2005?

Federal spending on NAICS code 541990, 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' has generally seen a significant increase since 2005. This broad category captures a wide array of services that are often critical for government operations, including management and financial consulting, scientific research and development, environmental consulting, and specialized technical support. Factors contributing to this growth include increasing complexity of government programs, the need for specialized expertise not always available in-house, and the outsourcing of various functions. While this specific contract represents a small fraction of the total spending in this category, the overall trend indicates a growing reliance on external service providers for a diverse range of professional and technical needs across federal agencies.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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

Contractor Details

Address: 3150 FAIRVIEW PARK DR, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,763,006

Exercised Options: $12,763,006

Current Obligation: $12,763,006

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00T05NSD0001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline