Leidos Inc. awarded $16.2M for SETA support to Interior Department, highlighting consulting services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,162,658 ($16.2M)

Contractor: Leidos Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2010-05-01

End Date: 2011-07-31

Contract Duration: 456 days

Daily Burn Rate: $35.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (SETA) SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22030

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $16.2 million to LEIDOS INC for work described as: SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (SETA) SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract value of $16.2M for SETA support indicates significant investment in specialized technical assistance. 2. The 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' NAICS code suggests a broad range of expertise was procured. 3. A single delivery order under a larger contract structure implies a phased or task-based approach to service delivery. 4. The contract duration of 456 days points to a medium-term engagement for the services rendered. 5. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests the primary contractor is not a small business, and subcontracting opportunities may be limited. 6. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $16.2 million for Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) support over approximately 15 months appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized consulting services. Benchmarking against similar SETA contracts requires access to proprietary pricing data, but the scale suggests a significant scope of work. The 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' category is broad, making direct per-unit cost comparisons difficult without more specific service details. The award was a delivery order, implying it was part of a pre-existing contract vehicle, which can sometimes offer better pricing due to established terms.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The fact that it resulted in a single delivery order suggests that while the initial competition was broad, Leidos Inc. was selected as the most advantageous offer. The number of bidders is not specified, but full and open competition generally promotes price discovery and allows the government to select the best value, which can include a mix of technical merit and cost.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it encourages a wider range of potential providers to compete, which can drive down prices and improve the quality of services received.

Public Impact

The Department of the Interior benefits from specialized systems engineering and technical assistance, likely enhancing its operational efficiency and project management. Services delivered likely encompass technical advice, analysis, and support for complex systems and programs within the Department. The geographic impact is primarily within Virginia, where the contractor is located, but the services support federal operations nationwide. Workforce implications include the employment of skilled engineers and technical consultants by Leidos Inc. to fulfill the contract requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Lack of specific details on the services rendered makes it difficult to fully assess value for money.
  • The broad NAICS code 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' could encompass a wide range of activities, making precise performance evaluation challenging.
  • As a delivery order, the terms and pricing might be influenced by the parent contract, potentially obscuring the true cost-effectiveness of this specific task.

Positive Signals

  • Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process that likely yielded a fair price.
  • Leidos Inc. is a large, established government contractor with a track record in providing complex technical services.
  • The contract duration of over a year indicates a sustained need for the services, suggesting their importance to the agency's mission.

Sector Analysis

The Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) market is a crucial segment of the government contracting industry, providing specialized expertise to support complex federal programs. This contract falls under the 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' category, which is broad but encompasses a significant portion of the professional services market. The total federal spending on such consulting services runs into billions annually. This specific contract, valued at $16.2 million, represents a moderate investment within this sector, likely supporting a specific program or initiative within the Department of the Interior.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have been awarded as a small business set-aside, as indicated by 'sb: false'. Furthermore, the prime contractor, Leidos Inc., is a large corporation, not a small business. This suggests that opportunities for small businesses would primarily be through subcontracting, the extent of which is not detailed in the provided data. The impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless significant subcontracting roles were allocated.

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 are usually embedded in the contract terms, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where basic award information is publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract were suspected.

Related Government Programs

  • Systems Engineering Support Contracts
  • Technical Consulting Services
  • Department of the Interior IT Support
  • Federal Professional Services Contracts

Risk Flags

  • Broad NAICS code may obscure specific service details and performance metrics.
  • Delivery order structure might limit transparency on specific task pricing.
  • Lack of small business subcontracting data could indicate limited opportunities for smaller firms.

Tags

consulting-services, systems-engineering, technical-assistance, department-of-the-interior, leidos-inc, delivery-order, full-and-open-competition, professional-services, scientific-and-technical-services, virginia, labor-hours

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $16.2 million to LEIDOS INC. SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (SETA) 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 $16.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-05-01. End: 2011-07-31.

What specific types of systems engineering and technical assistance were provided under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract was for 'SYSTEMS ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (SETA) SUPPORT' under the NAICS code '541690 - Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services'. While the specific tasks are not detailed, SETA support typically involves providing expert advice and analysis to government program managers on technical issues, system design, integration, testing, and lifecycle management. This can include areas like requirements definition, risk assessment, acquisition support, and independent verification and validation. The broad nature of the NAICS code suggests the support could span various technical domains relevant to the Department of the Interior's mission.

How does the $16.2 million award compare to typical spending on SETA support by the Department of the Interior?

The $16.2 million award for SETA support represents a significant, but not extraordinary, investment for a federal agency like the Department of the Interior. SETA contracts are crucial for agencies managing complex technological systems and large-scale projects. Without access to the Department's historical spending patterns specifically on SETA services or detailed breakdowns of their IT and program management budgets, a precise comparison is difficult. However, given the scale of the Department's operations, an $16.2 million contract for specialized technical assistance over its duration (approximately 15 months) is consistent with the need for expert support in areas like resource management, environmental monitoring systems, or infrastructure projects.

What are the potential risks associated with a contract for 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services'?

Contracts under the broad category of 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' carry inherent risks, primarily related to scope definition and performance measurement. A key risk is scope creep, where the services requested expand beyond the original intent without corresponding adjustments in cost or timeline. Another risk is the difficulty in objectively measuring the value or impact of consulting services, as their benefits can be intangible or long-term. Ensuring the contractor possesses the precise expertise required and maintaining clear communication channels are critical to mitigating these risks. The reliance on a single delivery order under a potentially larger contract vehicle also introduces a risk if the parent contract's terms are not fully understood or advantageous.

What does the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' award type imply for the contractor selection process and potential value?

The 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' award type signifies that the Department of the Interior solicited bids from all eligible and responsible sources, adhering to federal procurement regulations designed to maximize competition. This process implies that Leidos Inc. was selected because its proposal offered the best value to the government, considering factors such as technical approach, past performance, and price. For taxpayers, this method generally leads to more competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified vendors, increasing the likelihood of obtaining high-quality services at a reasonable cost. It suggests that the government actively sought the most advantageous solution rather than limiting options.

Can the performance of Leidos Inc. on this specific contract be assessed based on the provided data?

The provided data offers limited insight into the performance of Leidos Inc. on this specific contract. We know the contract was awarded and completed between May 1, 2010, and July 31, 2011, for $16.2 million. The award was a delivery order under full and open competition. However, there is no information regarding performance metrics, quality of service, or client satisfaction. Assessing performance would require access to contract performance reports, CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) data, or other qualitative feedback from the Department of the Interior. Without such data, we can only infer potential performance based on the contractor's general reputation and the contract's basic parameters.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesManagement, Scientific, and Technical Consulting ServicesOther Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Leidos Holdings, Inc.

Address: 12901 SCIENCE DR, ORLANDO, FL, 32826

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,643,900

Exercised Options: $17,643,900

Current Obligation: $16,162,658

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: INN06PC10439

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2010-05-01

Current End Date: 2011-07-31

Potential End Date: 2011-07-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2024-06-05

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