HHS awards $11.2M for Software Publishers to STELLAR CORPORATION, with no competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,220,550 ($11.2M)

Contractor: Stellar Corporation, the

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2007-08-09

End Date: 2010-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,147 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.8K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: OTHER (NONE OF THE ABOVE)

Sector: IT

Official Description: AMENDMENT TO FD705554 POC - DOROTHY NICKENS

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20892

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $11.2 million to STELLAR CORPORATION, THE for work described as: AMENDMENT TO FD705554 POC - DOROTHY NICKENS Key points: 1. The contract value is $11.2 million, awarded to STELLAR CORPORATION. 2. This contract was not competed, raising questions about price discovery. 3. The award falls under the Software Publishers NAICS code. 4. The duration of the contract was 1147 days.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract was not competed, making a direct pricing assessment against similar contracts difficult. Without competitive bids, it's hard to determine if the price reflects fair market value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source or limited competition award. This lack of competition may have limited the government's ability to secure the best possible price.

Taxpayer Impact: Without competitive bidding, taxpayers may have paid a premium for the services or products received.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may not have received the best value due to the lack of competition. The award to a single vendor without a competitive process warrants further scrutiny. The duration of the contract (over 3 years) suggests a significant investment without market validation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for overpayment

Positive Signals

Awarded to a specific vendor for a defined period

Sector Analysis

The Software Publishers sector (NAICS 511210) encompasses companies that publish, and/or develop software. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on agency needs for specific applications and licenses.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to confirm.

Oversight & Accountability

The lack of competition suggests potential oversight gaps. It is important to ensure that sole-source awards are justified and that agencies are actively seeking competitive opportunities.

Related Government Programs

Software Publishers
Department of Health and Human Services Contracting
National Institutes of Health Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
No documented competition
Potential for inflated pricing
Lack of transparency in award process

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $11.2 million to STELLAR CORPORATION, THE. AMENDMENT TO FD705554 POC - DOROTHY NICKENS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is STELLAR CORPORATION, THE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (National Institutes of Health).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-08-09. End: 2010-09-29.

What was the justification for not competing this contract?

The provided data does not specify the justification for not competing this contract. Typically, sole-source awards require a documented justification, such as a unique capability or urgent need. Without this information, it's impossible to assess the validity of the non-competitive award.

What specific software or services were procured under this contract?

The data indicates the NAICS code is 511210 (Software Publishers), but does not detail the specific software or services procured. Understanding the nature of the purchase is crucial for evaluating its necessity and value for money, especially in a non-competed scenario.

Was the $11.2 million price benchmarked against industry standards?

Given that the contract was not competed, it is unlikely that the price was benchmarked against multiple industry proposals. A formal benchmarking process against similar market offerings would be necessary to determine if the awarded price was competitive and represented good value.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: OTHER (NONE OF THE ABOVE) (3)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8245 BOONE BLVD STE 708, VIENNA, VA, 11

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $24,369,034

Exercised Options: $13,603,883

Current Obligation: $11,220,550

Timeline