DoD's $17.4M IT consulting contract awarded to General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. for administrative management services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,402,721 ($17.4M)

Contractor: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2005-06-07

End Date: 2010-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,758 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON NAVY YARD, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20374

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $17.4 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract's duration of nearly five years indicates a significant, long-term need for services. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type aims to provide cost certainty for the government. 4. The administrative management and general management consulting services category is broad, encompassing various potential support functions. 5. Awarded by the Department of the Navy, indicating a focus on naval operations support. 6. The contract was awarded in 2005, providing historical context for current IT spending.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific deliverables or performance metrics. The $17.4 million award over approximately 4.8 years averages to about $3.6 million annually. This figure needs to be compared against the scope and complexity of the administrative management and general management consulting services provided to the Department of the Navy. Without detailed service descriptions or performance data, it's difficult to definitively assess if this represented excellent value for money. The firm fixed-price nature suggests an attempt to control costs, but the overall value proposition remains unclear.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. This typically suggests a robust bidding environment where multiple companies vied for the contract. The number of bidders is not specified, but the designation implies a competitive process designed to solicit the best offers. This level of competition is generally expected to drive down prices and improve the quality of services offered, benefiting the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for taxpayers compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Public Impact

The Department of the Navy benefits from administrative and management consulting services, potentially improving operational efficiency. The contract supports the broader mission of the Department of Defense by providing essential management support. The geographic impact is primarily within the District of Columbia, where the contractor is located. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for consultants and administrative staff at General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the true value and impact of the consulting services.
The broad nature of 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' could lead to scope creep or misaligned expectations if not clearly defined.
The contract's age (awarded in 2005) means current relevance and pricing benchmarks may be outdated.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a potentially competitive and cost-effective process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Long contract duration suggests a stable, ongoing need for the services, implying successful past performance or critical function.

Sector Analysis

The IT consulting services market is a significant segment of the broader professional services industry. This contract falls under administrative and general management consulting, which often supports government agencies in areas like strategic planning, process improvement, and organizational efficiency. The federal government is a major consumer of such services, with spending often concentrated in areas supporting defense, intelligence, and civilian agency operations. Benchmarking this $17.4 million contract requires comparison to similar-sized IT and management consulting contracts awarded to large system integrators within the federal space.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have been specifically set aside for small businesses, as indicated by 'sb': false. General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. is a large business. There is no explicit information provided regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this specific award is likely minimal, though large prime contractors are often encouraged or required to meet small business subcontracting goals on larger contracts.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within the Department of the Navy. As a firm-fixed-price contract, oversight would focus on ensuring deliverables meet the defined scope and quality standards. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected or alleged.

Related Government Programs

IT Professional Services
Management and Consulting Services
Department of Defense IT Contracts
Naval IT Support
Administrative Support Services

Risk Flags

Contract awarded over 5 years ago.
Lack of specific performance metrics.
Broad service category definition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $17.4 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.. See the official description on USAspending.

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 Defense (Department of the Navy).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-06-07. End: 2010-03-31.

What specific administrative and general management consulting services were provided under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract was for 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' (NAICS 541611) awarded to General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. by the Department of the Navy. However, the specific nature of these services is not detailed. Typically, such contracts can encompass a wide range of support, including strategic planning, organizational analysis, process improvement, policy development, program management support, and general administrative efficiency improvements. Without access to the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or task orders, it is impossible to ascertain the precise deliverables or the exact nature of the consulting provided. This lack of specificity makes it difficult to evaluate the contract's effectiveness or its alignment with specific naval operational needs.

How does the $17.4 million contract value compare to similar IT consulting contracts awarded by the Department of the Navy during that period?

Comparing the $17.4 million value requires context regarding the contract's duration (2005-2010, approximately 4.8 years) and the specific services rendered. The average annual value was roughly $3.6 million. During the mid-2000s, the Department of the Navy, like other large federal agencies, engaged in numerous IT and management consulting contracts. Larger, more comprehensive IT modernization or enterprise resource planning projects could easily run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. Conversely, smaller, more focused consulting engagements would be in the low millions. This $17.4 million contract appears to be a mid-to-large-sized engagement for specialized administrative and management consulting, rather than a massive IT infrastructure overhaul. A precise comparison would necessitate analyzing the scope of work for comparable contracts awarded within the same timeframe and to similar large IT service providers.

What was General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.'s track record with the federal government prior to and during this contract?

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. (GDIT), a subsidiary of General Dynamics, has historically been a major federal contractor. Prior to and during the 2005-2010 period of this specific contract, GDIT held numerous large contracts across various federal agencies, including the Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security, and civilian agencies. Their portfolio typically included IT services, systems integration, cybersecurity, and professional support services. GDIT's track record is generally characterized by its ability to manage large, complex programs and its extensive experience within the defense sector. While specific performance ratings for this particular $17.4 million contract are not detailed here, GDIT's overall standing as a large, established government IT provider suggests a significant operational capacity and a history of significant federal contract awards.

What risks were associated with this contract, and how were they mitigated?

Potential risks for a contract of this nature include scope creep, where the defined services expand beyond the original agreement, leading to cost overruns or schedule delays. Another risk is the potential for the consulting services to not yield the expected improvements in administrative efficiency or management effectiveness. Contractor performance issues, such as failing to meet deadlines or quality standards, also pose a risk. Mitigation strategies typically involve a clearly defined Statement of Work (SOW), robust contract management and oversight by the government, regular performance reviews, and the use of a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract type, which places the cost risk on the contractor. The long duration also presents a risk of the contracted services becoming outdated or misaligned with evolving agency needs, which would ideally be managed through contract modifications or future re-competition.

How did the 'full and open competition' impact the pricing and quality of services received by the Department of the Navy?

Awarding the contract through 'full and open competition' theoretically maximizes the chances of receiving competitive bids from multiple qualified vendors. This competitive pressure typically drives down prices as contractors vie to offer the most attractive bid to win the contract. Furthermore, competition can incentivize higher quality service delivery, as contractors aim to build a strong performance record for future opportunities. For the Department of the Navy, this process likely resulted in a more favorable price point than a sole-source award and encouraged General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. to deliver effective consulting services to meet the contract's objectives and maintain their reputation in the competitive federal marketplace.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: General Dynamics Corp (UEI: 001381284)

Address: 3211 JERMANTOWN RD, FAIRFAX, VA, 11

Business Categories: Category Business, Federally Funded Research and Development Corp, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0019R

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline