DoD awards $15.9M in engineering services to Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. over 5 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $15,943,271 ($15.9M)

Contractor: Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2007-09-27

End Date: 2012-09-27

Contract Duration: 1,827 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: ANALYTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA (CITY) County, VIRGINIA, 22311, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $15.9 million to SYSTEMS PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, INC. for work described as: ANALYTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, which incentivizes contractor performance. 3. Duration of 1827 days (approx. 5 years) indicates a long-term need for these services. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541330 points to engineering services. 5. The awarding agency is the Defense Contract Management Agency, part of the Department of Defense. 6. The contractor, Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., has secured a significant federal contract. 7. The contract was awarded in 2007 and completed in 2012, providing historical performance data.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this $15.9 million contract requires more detailed cost breakdowns and comparison to similar engineering services contracts awarded around the 2007-2012 period. Without specific deliverables or performance metrics, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure suggests that performance targets were set, and the final cost could vary based on achieving those targets, making a direct price comparison challenging.

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 presence of 5 bids suggests a moderate level of competition for these engineering services. A competitive process generally helps in achieving better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive bidding process which aims to secure the most advantageous offer, balancing cost and performance for essential engineering services.

Public Impact

The Department of Defense benefits from specialized engineering services crucial for its operations. The contract supports national defense by ensuring the availability of expert engineering support. The geographic impact is primarily within the United States, supporting defense infrastructure and projects. The contract likely supported a workforce of engineers and technical specialists, contributing to employment in the sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it hard to assess the effectiveness of the award fee component.
The Cost Plus Award Fee structure can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully.
Limited public information on specific deliverables hinders a thorough value-for-money assessment.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
The Cost Plus Award Fee structure incentivizes contractor performance and quality.
The contract duration suggests a sustained need and successful delivery of services over its term.

Sector Analysis

The engineering services sector is a critical component of the federal procurement landscape, supporting a wide array of government functions, particularly in defense, infrastructure, and research. This contract falls under the broader engineering services category (NAICS 541330), which encompasses firms providing specialized design, consulting, and project management services. Federal spending in this sector is substantial, driven by complex technological requirements and infrastructure development needs.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have been specifically set aside for small businesses, as indicated by 'ss': false and 'sb': false. The primary contractor, Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., is likely a mid-to-large-sized business. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses within the provided data, which could represent a missed opportunity for small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would have been managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). As a Cost Plus Award Fee contract, performance monitoring and evaluation would be critical to determine award fee payouts. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, but detailed performance reports and audits are typically not publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense Engineering Services
Defense Contract Management Agency Support Contracts
Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance (SETA) Contracts
Federal Engineering Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Contract duration is long, requiring sustained oversight.
CPAF contract type necessitates careful performance evaluation to ensure value.
Limited public detail on specific deliverables hinders full assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $15.9 million to SYSTEMS PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, INC.. ANALYTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SYSTEMS PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Contract Management Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $15.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-09-27. End: 2012-09-27.

What were the specific engineering services provided under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract was for 'ANALYTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES' under NAICS code 541330 (Engineering Services). While the specific deliverables are not detailed, typical services under such contracts for the Department of Defense could include systems engineering, technical analysis, program management support, acquisition support, and lifecycle management for complex defense systems. The 'Analytical Support Services' designation suggests a focus on research, analysis, and problem-solving related to defense technologies and strategies.

How does the $15.9 million contract value compare to similar engineering services contracts awarded by the DoD during that period?

Comparing the $15.9 million value requires context on the scope and duration. Contracts for specialized engineering services for the DoD can range from a few million to hundreds of millions of dollars. This contract, valued at approximately $3.2 million per year over its 5-year term, appears to be a moderate-sized award for analytical and engineering support. Larger contracts often involve major system development or large-scale infrastructure projects, while smaller ones might focus on niche expertise or specific studies. Without knowing the exact nature of the 'analytical support,' a precise benchmark is difficult, but it falls within a common range for specialized technical support.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) that determined the award fee for Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to determine the award fee for Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. Under a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract, the government typically establishes objective and subjective criteria related to performance, schedule, cost control, and quality of deliverables. The contractor receives a base fee plus an award fee based on how well they meet or exceed these predefined metrics. The specific KPIs would have been detailed in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) and would be crucial for understanding how the contractor's performance was evaluated and incentivized.

What is the typical track record of Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. with federal contracts?

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) has a significant history of contracting with the U.S. federal government, particularly the Department of Defense. Based on publicly available contract data, SPA has been awarded numerous contracts across various agencies, often in areas related to defense analysis, systems engineering, acquisition support, and strategic planning. Their track record generally indicates experience with complex technical requirements and long-term support services. While this specific $15.9 million contract concluded in 2012, SPA continues to be an active participant in federal contracting, suggesting a sustained ability to secure and perform on government work.

What does the 'Cost Plus Award Fee' contract type imply about risk allocation and contractor incentives?

The 'Cost Plus Award Fee' (CPAF) contract type signifies a shared risk approach. The government agrees to reimburse the contractor for all allowable costs incurred (Cost Plus). However, the contractor's profit is not fixed; it includes a base fee plus an additional 'award fee' that is contingent upon meeting or exceeding specific performance standards defined by the government (Award Fee). This structure incentivizes the contractor to perform exceptionally well, as higher performance leads to greater profit. For the government, it offers flexibility to adjust requirements and reward superior performance, but it also requires robust oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and performance targets are appropriately assessed to avoid excessive payouts.

How did the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) oversee this specific contract?

The Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) is responsible for ensuring that contractors meet the terms and conditions of their contracts. For this $15.9 million contract, DCMA's oversight would have involved monitoring Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.'s performance against the contract's requirements, including technical execution, schedule adherence, and cost management. Given the CPAF structure, DCMA personnel would have been crucial in evaluating the contractor's performance against the established award criteria to determine the appropriate award fee. This oversight ensures that taxpayer funds are used effectively and that the DoD receives the intended analytical support services.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering 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

Solicitation ID: N0002407R3237

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2000 N BEAUREGARD ST, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22311

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $64,057,715

Exercised Options: $23,193,113

Current Obligation: $15,943,271

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: N0017805D4592

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline