HHS awarded $13.8M for IT management and support services to Discovery Logic, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,776,506 ($13.8M)

Contractor: Discovery Logic, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2007-09-25

End Date: 2010-10-14

Contract Duration: 1,115 days

Daily Burn Rate: $12.4K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: OTHER (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE NONE OF THE ABOVE APPLY)

Sector: IT

Official Description: SERVICES (MANAGEMENT/SUPPORT)

Place of Performance

Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20850

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $13.8 million to DISCOVERY LOGIC, INC. for work described as: SERVICES (MANAGEMENT/SUPPORT) Key points: 1. The contract value of $13.8 million for IT management and support services appears reasonable given the duration and scope. 2. Competition dynamics for this delivery order were not fully detailed, but the award was competitive. 3. Risk indicators are low, with a clear statement of work and a single, established contractor. 4. Performance context is provided by the National Institutes of Health's need for ongoing IT support. 5. The contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on management and support functions. 6. The award was a delivery order under a larger contract, suggesting a structured procurement process.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The total award of $13.8 million over approximately three years for IT management and support services suggests a moderate annual spend. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts within the federal government would provide a clearer picture of value for money. However, the nature of the services (management and support) often involves fixed or predictable costs, making the overall price point likely competitive if the scope was well-defined and executed efficiently.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating that it was competed among multiple potential offerors. While the specific number of bidders is not provided, the 'full-and-open' competition designation suggests a robust process designed to solicit a wide range of proposals. This level of competition is generally expected to drive better pricing and service quality.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of securing services at the best possible price and quality through a broad market solicitation.

Public Impact

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) benefits from this contract through the provision of essential IT management and support services. Services delivered include IT management and support, crucial for the operational efficiency of NIH research and administrative functions. The geographic impact is primarily within Maryland, where the NIH is headquartered and where the contractor is based. Workforce implications include the employment of IT professionals by Discovery Logic, Inc. to fulfill the contract requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific details on the number of bidders in the competitive process.
Potential for scope creep if the IT needs evolve significantly beyond the initial delivery order parameters.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process, indicating market validation.
Contractor is Discovery Logic, Inc., suggesting established capabilities.
Services are for the National Institutes of Health, a critical agency requiring reliable IT support.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector is a vast and critical component of federal spending, encompassing a wide range of support, development, and maintenance activities. Contracts for IT management and support, like this one, are essential for agencies to maintain their technological infrastructure and operational capabilities. The market for these services is highly competitive, with numerous firms offering specialized expertise. This contract fits within the broader category of professional IT services, often procured through various mechanisms including competitive delivery orders.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside component, as indicated by 'ss: false'. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this specific award is likely minimal, unless Discovery Logic, Inc. voluntarily engages small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within the National Institutes of Health. Accountability measures are embedded in the contract's statement of work and performance standards. Transparency is facilitated through federal procurement databases where contract awards are reported. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

IT Management Services
IT Support Services
Professional Services
Information Technology
Health IT

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if not managed carefully.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical IT functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $13.8 million to DISCOVERY LOGIC, INC.. SERVICES (MANAGEMENT/SUPPORT)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DISCOVERY LOGIC, INC..

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 $13.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-09-25. End: 2010-10-14.

What was the specific nature of the IT management and support services provided under this contract?

The contract data indicates the services were categorized under 'Other Computer Related Services' (NAICS 541519) and described as 'SERVICES (MANAGEMENT/SUPPORT)'. While specific details are not fully elaborated in the provided data, this typically encompasses a range of activities such as IT strategy development, project management, system administration, network support, help desk services, and potentially cybersecurity management. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) relies on such services to maintain and enhance its complex IT infrastructure, which supports critical biomedical research and public health initiatives.

How does the $13.8 million award compare to other similar IT support contracts at the NIH or HHS?

Without access to a comprehensive database of all NIH and HHS IT support contracts, a direct comparison is challenging. However, $13.8 million over a period of approximately three years (from September 2007 to October 2010) represents an average annual spend of roughly $4.6 million. This figure falls within a moderate range for IT support services for a large federal agency like the NIH. Larger, more complex IT modernization projects or enterprise-wide system implementations could easily exceed this amount, while smaller, more specialized support tasks might be awarded for less. The 'competitive delivery order' nature suggests it was priced against market alternatives at the time of award.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided data does not explicitly list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. However, for IT management and support services, common KPIs and SLAs would likely include metrics related to system uptime, response times for help desk tickets, resolution rates for IT issues, project completion timelines, and adherence to security protocols. The contracting officer and program managers at the NIH would have established these metrics to ensure Discovery Logic, Inc. met the required performance standards throughout the contract duration.

What is the track record of Discovery Logic, Inc. in performing federal IT contracts, particularly with the Department of Health and Human Services?

Discovery Logic, Inc. has a history of performing federal contracts, including those with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The award of this $13.8 million delivery order by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a major component of HHS, indicates a level of trust and past performance deemed satisfactory by the agency. While this specific data point doesn't detail their entire federal contracting history, it suggests they have the capacity and experience to manage and execute significant IT support tasks for federal clients. Further analysis would involve reviewing their complete contract portfolio and performance evaluations.

Were there any significant challenges or issues encountered during the performance of this contract?

The provided data does not contain information regarding specific challenges or issues encountered during the performance of this contract. Federal contract performance data often includes details on contract modifications, disputes, or performance deficiencies if they were significant enough to be formally documented or impact the overall award value or duration. Without access to contract performance reports or agency records, it's impossible to ascertain if any major hurdles were faced by Discovery Logic, Inc. or the NIH during this period.

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: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: OTHER (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE NONE OF THE ABOVE APPLY) (3)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Refinitiv US LLC (UEI: 002208221)

Address: 1375 PICCARD DR STE 325, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20850

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $13,776,506

Exercised Options: $13,776,506

Current Obligation: $13,776,506

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0935N

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline