HUD's $17.8M Enterprise Architecture Support Contract Awarded to Citizant, Inc. Under Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,775,360 ($17.8M)

Contractor: Citizant, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development

Start Date: 2010-08-18

End Date: 2016-02-17

Contract Duration: 2,009 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE SUPPORT-

Place of Performance

Location: CHANTILLY, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20151

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Housing and Urban Development obligated $17.8 million to CITIZANT, INC. for work described as: ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE SUPPORT- Key points: 1. The contract aimed to provide enterprise architecture practice support, a critical function for modernizing government IT systems. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, this suggests a robust market for such specialized services. 3. The contract duration of approximately 5.5 years indicates a long-term need for these architectural services. 4. The firm-fixed-price contract type generally offers cost certainty for the government. 5. The agency and office of primary performance are both listed as the Department of Housing and Urban Development, indicating an internal service delivery. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541511 points to custom computer programming services, a core IT function.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more specific details on the scope of work and deliverables. However, the total value of approximately $17.8 million over roughly 5.5 years suggests an average annual spend of around $3.2 million. This figure needs to be compared against the complexity and criticality of the enterprise architecture services provided. Given the firm-fixed-price nature, the government sought to establish a predictable cost, but the ultimate value depends on the quality and impact of the architectural guidance delivered.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. This typically leads to a wider pool of potential bidders and can foster a more competitive pricing environment. The presence of multiple bidders, though not explicitly stated in the provided data, is generally expected in such scenarios, allowing the agency to select the offer that best meets its technical and cost requirements.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it promotes a competitive marketplace, potentially driving down costs and improving the quality of services received.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries of this contract are the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and its various programs, which rely on sound enterprise architecture for efficient IT operations and strategic planning. The services delivered likely involved developing and maintaining HUD's enterprise architecture, including blueprints, roadmaps, and governance frameworks. The geographic impact is primarily within HUD's operational footprint, likely concentrated in Washington D.C. and other key agency locations. The contract supports the federal IT workforce by potentially requiring skilled enterprise architects and related IT professionals, either directly employed by the contractor or through subcontracting.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the true value and effectiveness of the enterprise architecture support provided.
The long contract duration could lead to vendor lock-in if not managed carefully, potentially reducing future competition.
Without details on the specific challenges addressed by the enterprise architecture practice, it's hard to gauge the impact on HUD's mission.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process that likely yielded a fair price.
The firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost predictability for the agency.
The focus on enterprise architecture indicates a commitment to strategic IT planning and modernization within HUD.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector, particularly custom computer programming and IT consulting, is a significant area of federal spending. Enterprise architecture support falls under this umbrella, focusing on the strategic planning and design of an organization's IT infrastructure to align with business goals. This contract represents a portion of the broader federal investment in IT modernization and efficiency, aiming to ensure that agency IT systems are integrated, secure, and capable of supporting mission objectives. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other contracts for similar EA support services across various federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a small business set-aside. The primary contractor, Citizant, Inc., is likely a mid-to-large-sized business, and its engagement in this contract does not inherently create opportunities for small business subcontractors unless specified in the contract's subcontracting plan, which is not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract structure, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS-NG, which provide basic information on contract values, dates, and awardees. Specific Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction would depend on whether the contract falls under the IG's audit or investigative purview related to HUD's operations.

Related Government Programs

IT Modernization Initiatives
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) Systems Support
Cloud Computing Services
Cybersecurity Support Services
IT Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep due to the nature of architectural services.
Risk of technology becoming outdated if architectural guidance is not continuously updated.
Dependency on contractor expertise for critical architectural decisions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $17.8 million to CITIZANT, INC.. ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE PRACTICE SUPPORT-

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CITIZANT, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development (Department of Housing and Urban Development).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-08-18. End: 2016-02-17.

What was the specific scope of work for Citizant, Inc. under this Enterprise Architecture Practice Support contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific scope of work. However, 'Enterprise Architecture Practice Support' generally involves activities such as developing and maintaining enterprise architecture (EA) strategies, blueprints, and roadmaps; establishing EA governance frameworks; conducting IT portfolio analysis; defining technology standards; and ensuring alignment between IT investments and agency business objectives. For HUD, this would likely translate to supporting the modernization of its housing and community development IT systems, improving data management, and enhancing service delivery to the public through better-integrated technology solutions.

How does the $17.8 million contract value compare to similar enterprise architecture support contracts awarded by federal agencies?

Benchmarking this $17.8 million contract requires comparing it against similar contracts for enterprise architecture support services across federal agencies, considering factors like contract duration, scope complexity, and the specific agency's IT landscape. Without access to a comprehensive database of comparable contracts with detailed scope information, a precise comparison is difficult. However, for a contract spanning approximately 5.5 years, an average annual value of around $3.2 million is within a reasonable range for specialized IT consulting services supporting a large federal agency like HUD. Larger agencies with more complex IT infrastructures might award higher-value EA contracts, while smaller agencies might have lower amounts.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate Citizant, Inc.'s performance on this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate Citizant, Inc.'s performance. Typically, for enterprise architecture support contracts, KPIs might include the timely delivery of architectural artifacts (e.g., blueprints, roadmaps), adherence to defined technology standards, successful integration of new systems according to architectural guidelines, effectiveness of EA governance processes, and stakeholder satisfaction. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract implies that meeting the defined deliverables and requirements was paramount, but specific metrics for assessing the quality and impact of the architectural practice itself would have been outlined in the contract's statement of work.

What is the historical spending pattern for Enterprise Architecture Practice Support at the Department of Housing and Urban Development?

The provided data only pertains to a single contract awarded to Citizant, Inc. from 2010 to 2016. To understand the historical spending pattern for Enterprise Architecture Practice Support at HUD, one would need to analyze contract data over a longer period, looking for other contracts with similar NAICS codes (e.g., 541511, 541512, 541611) and service descriptions related to enterprise architecture. This would involve querying federal procurement databases for all relevant contracts awarded by HUD, identifying trends in spending, the number and types of contractors utilized, and the evolution of EA support needs over time.

What risks were associated with this contract, and how were they mitigated?

Potential risks associated with this contract could include scope creep, contractor underperformance, technology obsolescence, and challenges in aligning architectural recommendations with evolving agency needs. Given the firm-fixed-price structure, scope creep would be a primary concern, requiring diligent contract management to ensure work remained within the defined boundaries. Contractor underperformance could be mitigated through performance monitoring and defined remedies within the contract. Technology obsolescence is an inherent risk in IT, managed through regular reviews and updates to architectural guidance. Aligning recommendations with agency needs requires strong communication and collaboration between the contractor and HUD stakeholders, facilitated by contract oversight.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 15000 CONFERENCE CENTER DR, CHANTILLY, VA, 20151

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,775,360

Exercised Options: $17,775,360

Current Obligation: $17,775,360

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 28

Total Subaward Amount: $9,306,039

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0747J

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline