NUAXIS LLC awarded $13.1M for IT support, with potential for 5 years of service

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,088,247 ($13.1M)

Contractor: Nuaxis LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2008-04-01

End Date: 2009-11-30

Contract Duration: 608 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21.5K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: BASE PERIOD IS 8 MONTHS WITH 4 - ONE YEAR OPTIONS. TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20005

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $13.1 million to NUAXIS LLC for work described as: BASE PERIOD IS 8 MONTHS WITH 4 - ONE YEAR OPTIONS. TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER. Key points: 1. Contract awarded via competitive delivery order, indicating a degree of market vetting. 2. Base period of 8 months with four 1-year options suggests a phased approach to service delivery. 3. Technical support for the National Information Technology Center points to critical IT infrastructure reliance. 4. Firm Fixed Price contract type aims to control costs and provide budget certainty. 5. The contract duration of 608 days (base period) is relatively short, potentially allowing for reassessment of needs. 6. Awarded to NUAXIS LLC, whose track record and performance will be key to evaluating value. 7. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541519 covers a broad range of IT services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award value of $13.1 million over a potential 5-year period (8 months base + 4 x 1-year options) needs to be benchmarked against similar IT support contracts. Without specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns, assessing the value-for-money is challenging. The firm fixed-price structure is a positive indicator for cost control, but the actual cost per unit of service or per IT professional is not readily available for direct comparison. The contract's duration and scope will influence its overall value proposition.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, suggesting it was competed under a broader indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar vehicle that allowed for full and open competition. The presence of 5 bidders indicates a reasonable level of competition, which generally aids in price discovery and can lead to more favorable pricing for the government. However, the specific details of the bidding process and the number of proposals received are not provided.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award suggests that taxpayers likely benefited from a more efficient price compared to a sole-source or limited competition scenario. The multiple bids received indicate that the government explored the market to secure a competitive rate for IT support services.

Public Impact

Federal employees within the Department of the Interior, specifically the National Park Service, will benefit from reliable IT support. Ensures the continued operation and maintenance of critical IT systems for the National Information Technology Center. Services delivered include technical support, likely encompassing help desk, system maintenance, and potentially network support. The geographic impact is centered in the District of Columbia, where the National Park Service headquarters and the National Information Technology Center are likely located. Workforce implications may include the direct employment of IT professionals by NUAXIS LLC to fulfill the contract requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if contract is repeatedly renewed without re-competition.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical IT infrastructure could pose a risk if performance falters.
Scope creep could lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly under the fixed-price contract.
The relatively short base period might lead to frequent re-procurement efforts, increasing administrative burden.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty and incentivizes efficient service delivery.
Competitive award process suggests a market-tested price and a vetted contractor.
Multiple option periods allow for flexibility and adaptation to evolving IT needs.
Technical support for a National Information Technology Center indicates a focus on essential government functions.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on computer-related services. The market for IT support services to government agencies is substantial, with numerous companies competing for these contracts. Benchmarks for similar IT support contracts often vary widely based on the scope of services, required skill sets, and contract duration. The NAICS code 541519, 'Other Computer Related Services,' encompasses a broad range of activities, making direct comparisons challenging without further detail on the specific tasks performed.

Small Business Impact

The provided 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 arising from a small business set-aside. The award to NUAXIS LLC, a presumably larger entity given the contract value, means that opportunities for small business participation would likely depend on NUAXIS's own subcontracting plans, which are not detailed here. The impact on the small business ecosystem is neutral in terms of direct set-aside benefits.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the contracting officer and the relevant program managers within the Department of the Interior's National Park Service. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm fixed-price contract terms, requiring NUAXIS LLC to deliver specified IT support services. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, though detailed performance reports or cost audits are not typically made public. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

IT Services for Federal Agencies
Computer Systems Design Services
Information Technology Support Contracts
National Park Service IT Modernization Efforts
Department of the Interior IT Procurement

Risk Flags

Potential for performance issues if contractor lacks adequate staffing or expertise.
Risk of cybersecurity vulnerabilities if contractor's security protocols are insufficient.
Dependency on a single vendor for critical IT functions.
Possibility of cost overruns if contract scope is not clearly defined or managed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $13.1 million to NUAXIS LLC. BASE PERIOD IS 8 MONTHS WITH 4 - ONE YEAR OPTIONS. TECHNICAL SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY CENTER.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NUAXIS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (National Park Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $13.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-04-01. End: 2009-11-30.

What is the historical performance record of NUAXIS LLC on similar federal contracts, particularly regarding on-time delivery, quality of service, and adherence to budget?

Assessing NUAXIS LLC's historical performance requires accessing contract databases like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). A review of past contracts would reveal their track record in delivering IT support services. Key indicators to examine include past performance ratings, any documented instances of contract disputes or terminations, and their history of meeting delivery schedules and quality standards. Understanding their financial stability and capacity to handle contracts of this size is also crucial. Without specific CPARS data or a detailed review of their contract history, it's difficult to definitively assess their reliability for this specific task.

How does the awarded price compare to market rates for similar IT technical support services in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area?

To compare the awarded price to market rates, one would typically benchmark against industry salary surveys for IT professionals with comparable skill sets (e.g., network administrators, help desk technicians, system analysts) in the Washington D.C. area, factoring in overhead, profit, and the specific services required. Additionally, analyzing prices from recently awarded, similar government contracts (using FPDS data) for IT support can provide a competitive baseline. Given the $13.1 million potential value over up to 60 months, the average annual cost is approximately $2.6 million. This figure needs to be broken down by labor categories and service levels to perform a meaningful comparison against market data and other government contracts.

What are the specific technical support requirements and deliverables outlined in the contract, and how are they measured for performance?

The contract details, likely found in the Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS), would specify the exact technical support requirements and deliverables. These could include response times for help desk tickets, system uptime guarantees, patch management schedules, cybersecurity support, and hardware/software troubleshooting. Performance measurement would typically involve metrics such as Mean Time to Respond (MTTR), Mean Time to Resolve (MTTR), customer satisfaction surveys, and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs). Without access to the full contract documentation, the precise nature of these requirements and their measurement remains unspecified, making a thorough assessment of performance expectations impossible.

What is the projected spending trend for IT technical support services within the Department of the Interior and the National Park Service over the past five years?

Analyzing historical spending trends for IT technical support within the Department of the Interior (DOI) and the National Park Service (NPS) requires examining federal procurement data over the last five years. This involves querying databases like FPDS for contracts categorized under relevant NAICS codes (e.g., 541519) and service descriptions related to IT support. Trends would indicate whether spending in this area has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable. Such analysis helps contextualize the current $13.1 million award, determining if it represents a significant shift in procurement strategy or aligns with established spending patterns for essential IT services.

Are there any identified risks associated with NUAXIS LLC's ability to provide continuous and secure IT support, considering the critical nature of the National Information Technology Center?

Assessing risks associated with NUAXIS LLC requires a review of their past performance, financial stability, and security clearance capabilities, often detailed in CPARS reports and pre-award surveys. For critical IT infrastructure like the National Information Technology Center, risks could include potential service disruptions due to technical failures, cybersecurity breaches, or personnel turnover. The government's due diligence process, including vetting the contractor's security protocols and contingency plans, aims to mitigate these risks. The contract's structure, with defined SLAs and potential penalties, also serves as a risk mitigation tool. However, without specific risk assessments or performance data, potential vulnerabilities remain speculative.

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: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8614 WESTWOOD CENTER DR, VIENNA, VA, 11

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $13,088,247

Exercised Options: $13,088,247

Current Obligation: $13,088,247

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0361T

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline