Interior Department's $16.9M technical assistance contract awarded to Leidos, Inc. shows competitive pricing
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $16,944,801 ($16.9M)
Contractor: Leidos, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2008-05-01
End Date: 2009-04-30
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $46.6K/day
Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: Other
Official Description: SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22030
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $16.9 million to LEIDOS, INC. for work described as: SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded through a competitive process, suggesting potential for good value. 2. Leidos, Inc. is a large, established contractor with a significant federal presence. 3. The contract duration of one year is relatively short, allowing for reassessment of needs. 4. Services provided fall under 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services,' a broad category. 5. The contract was a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle. 6. No small business set-aside was utilized for this specific order.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract's total value of $16.9 million over one year appears reasonable for systems engineering and technical assistance. Benchmarking against similar large-scale technical support contracts within the Department of the Interior or other agencies would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the competitive award mechanism suggests that pricing was scrutinized against market rates.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating that multiple vendors likely had the opportunity to bid. The 'full-and-open' competition suggests a robust bidding environment, which typically drives down prices and encourages innovation. The presence of multiple bidders allows the government to select the offer that provides the best overall value, considering both technical merit and cost.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive award process through potentially lower prices and a wider selection of qualified contractors, ensuring that government funds are used efficiently.
Public Impact
The Department of the Interior benefits from specialized technical expertise to support its operations. Services delivered likely include strategic planning, program management, and technical analysis. The geographic impact is primarily within Virginia, where the contractor is located. The contract supports a workforce skilled in engineering and technical consulting.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
- Reliance on a single large contractor could limit future flexibility or introduce vendor lock-in.
- The broad nature of 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' may obscure specific performance metrics.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a fair and transparent process.
- Leidos, Inc. has a strong track record with federal agencies, suggesting reliability.
- The contract is a delivery order, implying it's part of a pre-vetted contract vehicle, potentially streamlining execution.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, a significant area of federal spending. This sector encompasses a wide range of consulting, research, and engineering services. The market is characterized by a mix of large, established firms like Leidos and smaller, specialized companies. Federal spending in this area is driven by the need for specialized expertise across various agencies for program support, policy development, and technical implementation.
Small Business Impact
This contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses, nor does it indicate any subcontracting requirements for small businesses. The award to a large prime contractor like Leidos, Inc. suggests that the focus was on securing broad technical capabilities. This may limit direct opportunities for small businesses on this specific contract, though they might participate as subcontractors if Leidos chooses to engage them.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within the Department of the Interior. Accountability measures would be defined in the contract's statement of work and performance standards. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements, though specific performance details may be internal.
Related Government Programs
- Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA)
- Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Department of the Interior IT Support Contracts
- Federal Consulting Services
Risk Flags
- Potential for scope creep
- Performance measurement challenges
- Reliance on large prime contractor
Tags
sector-other, agency-department-of-the-interior, geography-virginia, contract-type-delivery-order, competition-level-full-and-open, size-category-large, service-type-consulting, service-type-technical-assistance, contractor-leidos
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $16.9 million to LEIDOS, INC.. SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE SUPPORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is LEIDOS, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $16.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2008-05-01. End: 2009-04-30.
What is Leidos, Inc.'s overall track record with the federal government, particularly within the Department of the Interior?
Leidos, Inc. is a major federal contractor with a substantial history of performing services across numerous government agencies, including the Department of the Interior. Their portfolio typically includes IT services, systems engineering, logistics, and scientific research. While specific performance metrics for individual contracts are often not public, their consistent receipt of large federal awards suggests a generally satisfactory performance record. However, a deeper dive into past performance reviews, any contract disputes, or awards/penalties associated with Leidos contracts would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment of their track record.
How does the $16.9 million value compare to similar technical assistance contracts within the Department of the Interior?
The $16.9 million value for a one-year systems engineering and technical assistance contract is within the typical range for large-scale support services required by federal agencies. The Department of the Interior, like other large departments, procures significant amounts of technical support. Without access to a detailed database of comparable contracts, it's difficult to provide an exact benchmark. However, considering the duration and the nature of SETA services, this amount suggests a substantial scope of work, likely involving multiple personnel and complex technical challenges.
What are the primary risks associated with this type of technical assistance contract?
Primary risks include scope creep, where the project's requirements expand beyond the initial agreement, leading to cost overruns and schedule delays. There's also a risk of contractor underperformance if the quality of services does not meet expectations, potentially impacting the agency's mission. Vendor lock-in can be a concern if the agency becomes overly reliant on a single provider's expertise. Furthermore, ensuring data security and confidentiality is critical, especially when dealing with sensitive government information. Finally, the broad nature of 'technical assistance' can sometimes make performance measurement challenging.
What is the historical spending pattern for 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' by the Department of the Interior?
Historical spending by the Department of the Interior on 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' (NAICS code 541690) has been substantial, reflecting the agency's diverse operational needs. While specific year-over-year figures fluctuate based on agency priorities and budget allocations, this category consistently represents a significant portion of the department's service contracts. Trends may show an increase in demand for specialized technical expertise driven by evolving technological landscapes and complex environmental or resource management challenges. Analyzing spending trends over several fiscal years would reveal patterns in contract values, durations, and the types of services procured within this category.
What does the 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER' award type signify for cost efficiency?
The 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER' award type signifies a positive indicator for cost efficiency. It means that this specific order, placed under a pre-existing contract vehicle (often an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity or IDIQ contract), was competed among multiple eligible vendors. This competitive process allows the government to solicit proposals and select the best offer based on price and other factors, driving down costs compared to a sole-source or non-competitively awarded contract. The competition ensures that taxpayers receive better value for the money spent on these services.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Leidos Holdings, Inc. (UEI: 611641312)
Address: 13921 PARK CENTER ROAD, HERNDON, VA, 20171
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $16,944,801
Exercised Options: $16,944,801
Current Obligation: $16,944,801
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: INN06PC10439
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2008-05-01
Current End Date: 2009-04-30
Potential End Date: 2009-04-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-04-20
More Contracts from Leidos, Inc.
- Science Operation and Maintenance Support for the United States Antarctic Program — $3.1B (National Science Foundation)
- Provide Funding for Clin 302 for Pre-Flight and In-Flight Services. Contract Number Dtfawa-05-C-00031, Lockheed Martin. POP 01/16/08-03/31/08 — $1.9B (Department of Transportation)
- THE Facilities Development and Operations Contract(fdoc) Specifies Technical, Managerial, and Adminstrative Work Needed to Ensure the Availablitity, Integrity, and Reliability of Missionoperations Facilites Supporting National Aeronautics and Space Administration (nasa) Human Space Flight (HSF) Programs Requiring Mission Operations Support. the Objective of This Contract IS to Consolidate Efforts Across the Facilities Covered Under Fodoc in Order to Maximize Synergy for Hardware and Software Development, Modification, Sustaining. Maintenance, Reconfiguration, and Operations for the Purpose of Reducing Cost Without Compromising Facility Functionality and Performance. Nasa Will Collaborate With the Contractor on Developing Procedural and Technical Innovations That Improve Quality, Ensure Customer Satisfaction and Reduce Cost. Mission Operations Facilities Currently Support the Space Shuttle Programand the International Space Station Progra, Including International Partner and Commmercial Visiting Vehicles. Mission Operations Facilities Supporting the Cnstellation Program(cxp) ARE Continuously Under Development in Concert With CXP Formulation and Implementation. Fdoc Applies to the Facilities of These Three Programs, and ANY Other HSF Program Requiring Mission Operations Facility Support. in Addition, Future Mission Operations Facilities and Capabilities ARE Within the Technical Scope of This SOW, and Fdoc Worlk Associated With These Facilities Will BE Enabled Through Idiq — $1.3B (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- National Airspace System (NAS) Implementation Support Contract (nisc). Provides Engineering and Technical Support Services to FAA Organizations Responsible for NAS Transformation, Integration and Implementation in the Areas of Implementation and Integration Planning, Transition Planning, Engineering Support, Environmental Support, Automation Support and Other Engineering and Technical Disciplines AS Required. TAS::69 8107::TAS — $1.1B (Department of Transportation)
- Itssc Task Order for Systems — $1.1B (Social Security Administration)
Other Department of the Interior Contracts
- Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement's Legal Services for Unaccompanied Children — $832.4M (Acacia Center for Justice)
- Military Family Life Counseling Program Igf::ot::igf — $638.8M (MHN Government Services LLC)
- Military Family Life Counseling Program — $637.0M (Magellan Healthcare Inc)
- Grants Program Solutions and Information Technology Support Services — $446.3M (Guidehouse Digital LLC)
- THE Purpose of This Requirement for Grants Program Solutions and IT Support Services IS to Provide Efficient and Effective Grant, Financial, and Contract Management Services, IT Solutions, and Support to the Grantsolutions and ITS Partners — $403.1M (Guidehouse Inc.)