Interior Department's $30.6M IT Consulting Contract Awarded to SRA International in 2004

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $30,578,712 ($30.6M)

Contractor: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2004-05-27

End Date: 2009-07-30

Contract Duration: 1,890 days

Daily Burn Rate: $16.2K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: 34425-SRA INERNATIONAL

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20301

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $30.6 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. for work described as: 34425-SRA INERNATIONAL Key points: 1. Contract focused on administrative management and general management consulting services. 2. Awarded via a competitive delivery order, indicating multiple bids were considered. 3. The contract duration was 1890 days, spanning over five years. 4. The primary contractor, SRA International, has a significant presence in the federal IT sector. 5. The contract type was Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges. 6. The contract was not set aside for small businesses. 7. The geographic location of performance was Washington D.C.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's value of approximately $30.6 million over five years for IT consulting services appears moderate for a federal contract of this scope. Benchmarking against similar administrative management and general management consulting services contracts awarded by the Department of the Interior or other agencies during that period would provide a clearer picture of value for money. The Time and Materials pricing structure, while flexible, can sometimes lead to higher costs compared to fixed-price contracts if not managed diligently. Without specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns, a definitive value assessment is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, suggesting that multiple vendors were invited to bid and SRA International was selected based on merit. The presence of 3 bids indicates a degree of competition, which is generally positive for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers. However, the specific details of the competition, such as the number of initial solicitations or the evaluation criteria, are not fully detailed here. A competitive award is a good sign for efficient use of taxpayer funds.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process helps ensure that taxpayer money is not overspent by fostering a bidding environment where contractors strive to offer the best value. This process allows for price discovery and can lead to more cost-effective solutions for the government.

Public Impact

Federal agencies requiring administrative and management consulting services benefit from the expertise provided. The contract supports the operational efficiency and strategic planning of the Department of the Interior. Workforce implications include the employment of consultants and subject matter experts. The primary geographic impact is within the District of Columbia, where the services were performed.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
Limited information on specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess effectiveness.
The contract's duration of over five years requires ongoing oversight to ensure continued relevance and value.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process, indicating potential for good value.
Contractor SRA International (now part of GDIT) has extensive experience in federal IT services.
The contract addressed critical administrative and management consulting needs for the Department of the Interior.

Sector Analysis

The federal IT consulting market is a significant segment of the broader professional services industry. Contracts like this, focused on administrative management and general management consulting, are crucial for government agencies to modernize operations, improve efficiency, and implement strategic initiatives. The market is characterized by a mix of large prime contractors and specialized small businesses. Spending benchmarks for IT consulting services vary widely based on the specific services, duration, and agency, but this contract's value falls within a common range for multi-year, comprehensive support.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor is there an indication of specific subcontracting goals for small businesses within the provided data. This means that the primary contract value did not directly flow to small businesses through a set-aside mechanism. While large prime contractors often utilize small business subcontractors, the absence of explicit set-aside requirements or reported subcontracting plans means the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this specific award is not detailed.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would have been primarily managed by the contracting officers and program managers within the Department of the Interior. As a Time and Materials contract, diligent oversight of labor hours, rates, and direct costs would be critical to ensure cost control and prevent overruns. Transparency would be facilitated through regular reporting requirements and contract performance reviews. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arose during the contract's performance.

Related Government Programs

IT Management Consulting Services
Administrative Support Services
Professional Services Contracts
Department of the Interior IT Modernization Efforts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Need for robust oversight to ensure contractor efficiency and necessity of hours billed.
Effectiveness dependent on quality of consulting and agency implementation.
Limited transparency on specific performance metrics and outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $30.6 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.. 34425-SRA INERNATIONAL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $30.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-05-27. End: 2009-07-30.

What was SRA International's track record with the federal government prior to this contract award?

Prior to this contract awarded in 2004, SRA International (which later merged with GDIT) had a substantial track record serving federal agencies. The company was well-established in providing IT solutions and professional services across various departments, including defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies. Their experience typically encompassed areas like systems engineering, software development, cybersecurity, and IT management consulting. This history likely contributed to their ability to secure larger, more complex contracts like the one with the Department of the Interior, as agencies often favor contractors with proven past performance and a deep understanding of government operations and procurement processes.

How does the $30.6 million value compare to similar IT consulting contracts awarded around 2004?

The $30.6 million value for a five-year IT consulting contract awarded in 2004 is considered a moderate to significant award. During that period, federal agencies were increasingly investing in IT modernization and management consulting to improve efficiency and address evolving technological landscapes. Contracts of this size were common for comprehensive support services, especially for large departments like the Interior. Comparable contracts could range from a few million for specialized services to tens or hundreds of millions for large-scale enterprise-wide solutions. Without specific details on the scope of work and deliverables, a precise comparison is difficult, but it reflects a substantial commitment to external expertise.

What were the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials contract of this nature?

The primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract, like this one, is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements reimburse the contractor for the actual cost of labor (at specified hourly rates) and materials. This structure can incentivize longer project durations or less efficient work if not rigorously monitored. For the government, risks include a lack of definitive cost ceiling, making budget forecasting challenging, and the need for robust oversight to ensure that hours billed are reasonable and necessary for the work performed. Effective management and clear task definitions are crucial to mitigate these risks.

How effective was this contract in achieving its stated goals of administrative management and general management consulting?

Assessing the effectiveness of this specific contract in achieving its stated goals is challenging without access to performance reports, user feedback, or program outcome data from the Department of the Interior. The contract's purpose was to provide consulting services, implying support for strategic planning, process improvement, and operational efficiency. Its success would be measured by the tangible improvements realized by the Department in these areas. Factors contributing to effectiveness would include the quality of the consultants, the clarity of the SOW, and the agency's engagement and implementation of recommendations. The five-year duration suggests an ongoing need and potentially sustained impact.

What were the historical spending patterns for IT consulting services within the Department of the Interior around the time of this award?

Historical spending patterns for IT consulting within the Department of the Interior around 2004 would likely show a consistent and significant investment in external expertise. Agencies of the Interior's size and scope typically rely on contractors for specialized IT skills, project management, and strategic guidance that may not be available in-house or require surge capacity. Spending would have been influenced by modernization initiatives, cybersecurity needs, and the management of vast data resources. This $30.6 million contract represents a notable portion of that spending, indicating a strategic focus on leveraging external IT consulting to support departmental operations and objectives during that era.

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) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Contractor Details

Parent Company: SRA International, Inc. (UEI: 606261683)

Address: 4300 FAIR LAKES CT, FAIRFAX, VA, 22033

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $30,578,712

Exercised Options: $30,578,712

Current Obligation: $30,578,712

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS23F9806H

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline