DHS awards $10.6M non-competitive contract for database support to Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,646,078 ($10.6M)

Contractor: Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2007-04-23

End Date: 2008-07-22

Contract Duration: 456 days

Daily Burn Rate: $23.3K/day

Competition Type: NON-COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TRANSFER OF DATABASES AND ASSOCIATED MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20528

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $10.6 million to SYSTEMS PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, INC. for work described as: TRANSFER OF DATABASES AND ASSOCIATED MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single vendor, raising questions about competition. 2. Focus on administrative management and consulting services, a common area for government spending. 3. Potential risk associated with non-competitive awards and time-and-materials pricing. 4. Spending concentrated in the District of Columbia.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract's value of $10.6M for database support and management is significant. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to assess if this price represents fair market value compared to similar services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This was a non-competitive delivery order, meaning only one vendor was solicited. This limits price discovery and may lead to higher costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition means taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible value for this $10.6M expenditure.

Public Impact

Citizens may question the fairness of awarding large contracts without exploring multiple vendor options. Transparency in government spending is crucial, and non-competitive awards can reduce public trust. The use of time-and-materials pricing can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Non-competitive award
Time and materials pricing
Lack of small business participation

Positive Signals

Specific support for critical database functions
Contract awarded to a known entity

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under administrative management and general management consulting services, a broad category. Benchmarks for similar database support contracts are difficult to ascertain without competitive data.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this award (ss: false, sb: false). This contract did not appear to be set aside for small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The non-competitive nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure the services provided are necessary and the pricing is justified. Accountability for the expenditure rests with the Department of Homeland Security.

Related Government Programs

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Department of Homeland Security Contracting
Office of Procurement Operations Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and potentially increases cost.
Time and materials pricing structure carries inherent risk of cost overruns.
Lack of small business participation noted.
Contract duration of 456 days for a $10.6M award warrants scrutiny.
Specific justification for non-competitive award is not provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $10.6 million to SYSTEMS PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, INC.. TRANSFER OF DATABASES AND ASSOCIATED MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SYSTEMS PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Office of Procurement Operations).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $10.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-04-23. End: 2008-07-22.

What was the justification for awarding this contract on a non-competitive basis?

The justification for a non-competitive award is critical for understanding the necessity and potential urgency of the services. Without this information, it's impossible to determine if alternative, more competitive methods could have been employed, potentially leading to better value for taxpayers. This justification is key to assessing the procurement's overall soundness.

How effectively was the time and materials pricing structure managed to control costs?

Time and materials contracts can be prone to cost overruns if not rigorously managed. Effective oversight would involve detailed tracking of labor hours, rates, and material costs, along with clear deliverables and performance metrics. Without evidence of such controls, the risk of inflated costs for the $10.6M expenditure remains a significant concern for taxpayer value.

What is the long-term strategic value of this database support to the Department of Homeland Security?

Understanding the long-term strategic value helps contextualize the $10.6M investment. If the database support is critical for ongoing national security operations or essential data analysis, the expenditure might be justified despite the non-competitive award. However, the lack of competition still raises questions about efficiency and potential for future cost savings through competitive processes.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NON-COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2000 N BEAUREGARD ST # 40, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,646,078

Exercised Options: $10,646,078

Current Obligation: $10,646,078

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0338N

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline