HUD Spends $159M on IT Infrastructure Support Services with ICF Z-TECH, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $15,927,344 ($15.9M)
Contractor: ICF Z-Tech, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development
Start Date: 2003-11-03
End Date: 2011-09-28
Contract Duration: 2,886 days
Daily Burn Rate: $5.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: IT
Official Description: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20410
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Housing and Urban Development obligated $15.9 million to ICF Z-TECH, INC. for work described as: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Total contract value of $159.3 million over nearly 8 years. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting market availability. 3. Services fall under 'Other Computer Related Services' (NAICS 541519). 4. Contract duration of 2886 days indicates a long-term need.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $159.3 million is substantial. Without specific deliverables or performance metrics, it's difficult to benchmark against similar IT support contracts. The 'Time and Materials' pricing structure can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded using full and open competition, which is a positive sign for price discovery. This method allows all eligible vendors to bid, theoretically leading to competitive pricing. However, the long duration and specific nature of IT support could still present challenges in ensuring optimal value.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently by fostering a competitive bidding environment for IT infrastructure support.
Public Impact
Impacts federal IT infrastructure reliability and maintenance. Affects the operational efficiency of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Potential for job creation within the IT services sector. Ensures continuity of essential government IT services.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 55 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials pricing can lead to cost uncertainty.
- Long contract duration may not reflect evolving IT needs.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.
Positive Signals
- Awarded via full and open competition.
- Long-term contract indicates sustained need for services.
- Services provided by a single, established vendor.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the broad IT services sector, specifically focusing on infrastructure support. Spending benchmarks for such services vary widely based on scope, complexity, and agency size. HUD's IT infrastructure needs are critical for its mission delivery.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the scale and complexity of the IT infrastructure support services required by HUD were likely beyond the capacity or scope typically handled by small businesses, or that larger, established firms were more competitive.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would involve monitoring the vendor's performance against contract requirements, managing the Time and Materials aspect to control costs, and ensuring the services provided align with HUD's evolving IT strategy. Regular performance reviews and budget tracking are crucial.
Related Government Programs
- Other Computer Related Services
- Department of Housing and Urban Development Contracting
- Department of Housing and Urban Development Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
- Risk of vendor lock-in over the long contract duration.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes value assessment challenging.
- No indication of small business participation.
Tags
other-computer-related-services, department-of-housing-and-urban-developm, dc, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $15.9 million to ICF Z-TECH, INC.. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ICF Z-TECH, 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 $15.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2003-11-03. End: 2011-09-28.
What specific IT infrastructure support services were included in this contract, and how did their scope align with HUD's needs over the contract period?
The contract details are limited, but 'Other Computer Related Services' suggests a broad range of IT support, potentially including network management, system maintenance, help desk support, and hardware/software troubleshooting. The alignment with HUD's needs over nearly eight years would depend on proactive contract management, including potential modifications or adjustments to ensure the services remained relevant to technological advancements and agency priorities.
How effectively did the 'full and open competition' process ensure competitive pricing for these long-term IT support services, given the potential for vendor lock-in?
While 'full and open competition' is designed to foster competitive pricing, its effectiveness for long-term IT support contracts can be limited. The initial competition may yield good pricing, but the duration of the contract (nearly 8 years) increases the risk of vendor lock-in and reduced price pressure over time. Continuous market research and potential re-competition or contract modifications would be necessary to ensure sustained value.
What was the overall effectiveness of this contract in ensuring the reliability and security of HUD's IT infrastructure, and were there any performance issues reported?
The provided data does not include specific performance metrics or reports. Effectiveness in ensuring reliability and security would be assessed through vendor performance evaluations, uptime statistics, incident response times, and security audit results. Without this information, it's impossible to definitively state the contract's effectiveness. The long duration suggests a perceived level of effectiveness by the agency.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Contractor Details
Parent Company: ICF International, Inc. (UEI: 139001544)
Address: 1803 RESEARCH BLVD. - SUITE 301, ROCKVILLE, MD, 08
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $20,906,045
Exercised Options: $20,906,045
Current Obligation: $15,927,344
Timeline
Start Date: 2003-11-03
Current End Date: 2011-09-28
Potential End Date: 2011-09-28 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2011-10-24
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