HHS Spends $14.4M on IT DSAT Support from Lockheed Martin, Lacking Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,418,455 ($14.4M)

Contractor: Lockheed Martin Services, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2009-07-01

End Date: 2012-12-31

Contract Duration: 1,279 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Sector: IT

Official Description: COTPER IT DSAT SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: ATLANTA, DEKALB County, GEORGIA, 30329

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $14.4 million to LOCKHEED MARTIN SERVICES, LLC for work described as: COTPER IT DSAT SUPPORT Key points: 1. Significant spending on IT DSAT support highlights reliance on specific vendors. 2. The contract's lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing. 3. Limited competition suggests a potential risk of vendor lock-in and reduced innovation. 4. The 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' category is broad, making direct sector benchmarks difficult.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $14.4 million over approximately 3.5 years is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price reflects fair market value for 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services'.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' and awarded via a BPA Call, indicating a limited competition approach. This method may not have explored the full range of potential vendors, potentially impacting price discovery and value for money.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of robust competition could lead to taxpayers paying more than necessary for these IT DSAT support services.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the absence of competitive bidding. The CDC's reliance on a single vendor for critical IT support could pose a risk if that vendor fails to perform. Limited transparency in the procurement process hinders public understanding of how funds are utilized.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Lack of competition
  • Potential for overpricing
  • Vendor lock-in risk

Positive Signals

  • Contract awarded to a known entity (Lockheed Martin)
  • Services provided to a critical agency (CDC)

Sector Analysis

The $14.4 million spent on 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' for IT DSAT support falls under a broad category. Benchmarking is challenging without more specific service details, but significant IT consulting contracts can range widely in price.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses, suggesting a missed opportunity for small business participation in federal IT support services.

Oversight & Accountability

The 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' and BPA Call award mechanism warrants further scrutiny to ensure proper justification for limited competition and adherence to procurement regulations.

Related Government Programs

  • Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
  • Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Programs

Risk Flags

  • Lack of competitive bidding
  • Potential for inflated pricing
  • Limited transparency in procurement
  • Risk of vendor dependency
  • Broad NAICS code obscuring service specifics

Tags

other-scientific-and-technical-consultin, department-of-health-and-human-services, ga, bpa-call, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $14.4 million to LOCKHEED MARTIN SERVICES, LLC. COTPER IT DSAT SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LOCKHEED MARTIN SERVICES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-07-01. End: 2012-12-31.

What specific IT DSAT support services were provided, and how do they align with the 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' NAICS code?

The NAICS code 541690, 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services,' is very broad. Understanding the precise nature of the IT DSAT support is crucial for assessing its appropriateness under this code and for comparing costs to similar, more specific IT service contracts. Without this detail, the value proposition remains unclear.

What was the justification for not competing this contract under SAP, and were alternative competitive strategies considered?

The justification for not competing under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) is critical. Agencies must demonstrate that limited competition was necessary and in the government's best interest. Exploring if a full and open competition or other competitive methods were feasible would shed light on whether the government secured the best possible value and price.

How does the performance of Lockheed Martin Services, LLC on this contract compare to industry benchmarks for similar IT DSAT support services?

Assessing performance against industry benchmarks is difficult without specific metrics from the contract. However, given the lack of competition, it's important to determine if the services met or exceeded expectations and if the pricing remained competitive relative to what could have been achieved through a more open bidding process.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesManagement, Scientific, and Technical Consulting ServicesOther Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT)PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Lockheed Martin Corp (UEI: 834951691)

Address: 700 N FREDERICK AVE, GAITHERSBURG, MD, 20879

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $67,144,080

Exercised Options: $18,269,764

Current Obligation: $14,418,455

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSD2002007M19541B

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline

Start Date: 2009-07-01

Current End Date: 2012-12-31

Potential End Date: 2012-12-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2018-09-28

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