DoD Awards $10M Contract for Commercial VRL Licenses and Support to Praxis Engineering Technologies LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,045,794 ($10.0M)

Contractor: Praxis Engineering Technologies LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-09-28

End Date: 2025-12-16

Contract Duration: 810 days

Daily Burn Rate: $12.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: COMMERCIAL VRL LICENSES AND SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: HANOVER, ANNE ARUNDEL County, MARYLAND, 21076

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $10.0 million to PRAXIS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES LLC for work described as: COMMERCIAL VRL LICENSES AND SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single vendor, raising questions about competition. 2. The $10M value for software licenses and support warrants scrutiny for cost-effectiveness. 3. Potential risk associated with a sole-source award for critical cyber command needs. 4. Spending falls under 'Other Computer Related Services', a broad category.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $10,045,794 for commercial VRL licenses and support is significant. Without comparable contract data for similar services, it is difficult to assess if this pricing is competitive or represents good value for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs compared to a competitive bidding process. The justification for sole-source is not provided.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition could lead to taxpayers paying a premium for these software licenses and support services.

Public Impact

Cyber Command relies on these licenses, impacting national security operations. The duration of the contract extends into late 2025, indicating ongoing reliance. Transparency in the sole-source justification is crucial for public trust.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole-source award
  • Lack of competition
  • Potential for overpricing

Positive Signals

  • Definitive contract awarded
  • Firm fixed price contract type

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under 'Other Computer Related Services' (NAICS 541519). Spending in this sector can vary widely, but significant sole-source awards for specialized software and support warrant careful review to ensure fair pricing and necessity.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to Praxis Engineering Technologies LLC, and there is no indication that small businesses were involved as subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business set-asides were considered.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award necessitates robust oversight to ensure the government is receiving fair value and that the services are essential. Accountability for the justification of non-competition is key.

Related Government Programs

  • Other Computer Related Services
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • U.S. Cyber Command Programs

Risk Flags

  • Lack of competitive bidding
  • Potential for inflated pricing
  • Limited transparency on justification
  • Dependency on a single vendor

Tags

other-computer-related-services, department-of-defense, md, definitive-contract, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $10.0 million to PRAXIS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES LLC. COMMERCIAL VRL LICENSES AND SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PRAXIS ENGINEERING TECHNOLOGIES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (U.S. Cyber Command).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $10.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-28. End: 2025-12-16.

What is the specific functionality and criticality of the VRL licenses and support that necessitates a sole-source award?

The specific functionality of the VRL licenses and support is not detailed in the provided data. However, given the award to U.S. Cyber Command, it is likely related to critical cybersecurity operations, threat intelligence, or virtual environment management. The necessity for a sole-source award would typically stem from unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or essential integration with existing systems that only Praxis Engineering Technologies LLC can provide.

How does the $10M contract value compare to industry benchmarks for similar commercial VRL licenses and support, especially considering the sole-source nature?

Benchmarking this $10M contract is challenging without specific details on the VRL software and support scope. However, sole-source contracts often carry a price premium due to the lack of competitive pressure. A thorough review would involve comparing pricing models, license counts, support levels, and contract duration against publicly available data for similar enterprise software and support agreements, ideally from multiple vendors, to identify potential overpricing.

What measures are in place to ensure the effectiveness and value for money of this sole-source contract over its duration?

Effectiveness and value for money in sole-source contracts are typically ensured through stringent performance metrics, regular progress reviews, and clear deliverables outlined in the contract. The Department of Defense and U.S. Cyber Command should have established oversight mechanisms to monitor vendor performance against these metrics. Periodic re-evaluations of the necessity and cost-effectiveness of the services are also crucial to prevent long-term overspending.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesComputer Systems Design and Related ServicesOther Computer Related Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Wico Limited

Address: 135 NATIONAL BUSINESS PKWY, ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, MD, 20701

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $19,355,094

Exercised Options: $11,836,044

Current Obligation: $10,045,794

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline

Start Date: 2023-09-28

Current End Date: 2025-12-16

Potential End Date: 2025-12-16 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2026-03-05

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