DoD's $6.6M software contract with Unison Software Inc. awarded under full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,611,079 ($6.6M)

Contractor: Unison Software Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2022-01-01

End Date: 2026-12-31

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: PROJECT MANAGEMENT/

Place of Performance

Location: SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO County, CALIFORNIA, 92110

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $6.6 million to UNISON SOFTWARE INC for work described as: PROJECT MANAGEMENT/ Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable given the duration and scope of software licensing and support. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process, potentially leading to better pricing. 3. Fixed-price contract type shifts performance risk to the contractor. 4. Contract duration of five years provides long-term software access and support. 5. The contract falls within the Software Publishers industry, a common area for federal IT spending. 6. No small business set-aside was utilized, indicating the primary awardee is not a small business.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's total value of approximately $6.6 million over five years suggests a moderate annual spend. Benchmarking against similar software licensing and support contracts for enterprise-level solutions would be necessary for a precise value-for-money assessment. However, the firm fixed-price nature indicates that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which is generally favorable for the government. The absence of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes a detailed assessment of efficiency challenging, but the duration implies a stable, ongoing need.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The data indicates one award, but the competition level itself suggests that multiple vendors likely participated in the bidding process. This broad competition is generally expected to drive down prices and encourage innovation as contractors vie for the award. The specific number of bids received is not provided, which would offer further insight into the intensity of the competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the potential for receiving the best value through a wide range of offers and competitive pricing.

Public Impact

The Department of the Navy benefits from access to essential software, likely for operational or administrative functions. This contract ensures the continued availability of software licenses and technical support. The geographic impact is primarily within the Department of the Navy's operations, potentially nationwide or global. Workforce implications are likely related to the IT personnel who will utilize and manage the software.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess contractor performance beyond delivery.
Limited insight into the specific software being procured and its criticality to DoD operations.
No data provided on the number of bids received, hindering a full assessment of competition intensity.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract type transfers cost overrun risk to the contractor.
Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
Long contract duration (5 years) provides stability and predictability for software needs.
Contractor (Unison Software Inc.) is established in the federal contracting space.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically under Software Publishers (NAICS 511210). The federal government is a significant purchaser of software licenses and maintenance, with spending often concentrated in areas like enterprise resource planning, cybersecurity, and specialized operational software. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale software procurements by defense agencies or other federal departments for similar types of software, considering factors like user base and functionality.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, and there is no indication of specific subcontracting goals for small businesses in the provided data. This suggests that the primary contract was competed broadly, and the awardee is likely a large business. While this doesn't preclude subcontracting opportunities, it means that direct set-aside benefits for small businesses were not a feature of this specific award mechanism. Further analysis of subcontracting plans would be needed to understand the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program management office within the Department of the Navy. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract type, requiring the contractor to deliver specified software and services within the agreed price. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award data being publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense IT Procurement
Software Licensing and Maintenance
Federal Enterprise Software Contracts
Navy IT Modernization Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics.
Limited detail on competition intensity (number of bids).
Unknown specific software product and its criticality.
No explicit small business subcontracting requirements mentioned.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $6.6 million to UNISON SOFTWARE INC. PROJECT MANAGEMENT/

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UNISON SOFTWARE 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 $6.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-01-01. End: 2026-12-31.

What is the specific software product or suite being procured under this contract, and what is its primary function within the Department of the Navy?

The provided data does not specify the exact software product or suite. However, given the contractor (Unison Software Inc.) and the NAICS code (511210 - Software Publishers), it is likely a commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) software solution. Unison Software Inc. is known for providing various software solutions, including those related to procurement, financial management, and IT asset management. The primary function within the Department of the Navy would depend on the specific product chosen, but it could range from supporting administrative functions, financial operations, supply chain management, or IT infrastructure management. Without more detailed information, the precise application remains unknown, but it serves a critical function necessitating a five-year commitment.

How does the per-unit cost or total contract value compare to similar software procurements by other federal agencies or within the Department of Defense?

A direct per-unit cost comparison is not feasible without knowing the number of licenses or users associated with this $6.6 million contract. However, the total value over five years, averaging approximately $1.32 million annually, places it in the mid-to-large tier for federal software procurements. To benchmark effectively, one would compare this annual spend against similar enterprise software solutions (e.g., ERP, CRM, specialized operational software) procured by agencies like the Army, Air Force, or civilian departments with comparable user bases and functional requirements. Factors such as volume discounts, contract duration, and included support levels significantly influence these comparisons. The firm fixed-price nature suggests the government has locked in costs, but the value is truly determined by the software's utility and the market rates for comparable solutions.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract to ensure effective delivery and performance?

The provided data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. However, for a software licensing and support contract of this nature and duration, typical SLAs would likely focus on software availability (uptime), response times for technical support, resolution times for reported issues, and potentially the delivery schedule for any updates or patches. The firm fixed-price nature implies that the contractor is obligated to provide the software and support as defined in the contract's statement of work. The absence of explicit KPIs in the summary data means that oversight would rely on the contractual terms and the government's internal processes for monitoring contractor performance against those terms.

What is Unison Software Inc.'s track record with the Department of Defense or other federal agencies regarding similar software contracts?

Unison Software Inc. has a history of contracting with the U.S. federal government, including the Department of Defense. They provide various software solutions, often related to procurement, financial management, and IT systems. Analyzing their past performance on similar contracts would involve reviewing contract databases for awards, past performance evaluations (if available), and any documented issues or successes. A positive track record with the DoD suggests familiarity with government requirements, compliance standards, and procurement processes. Conversely, any history of performance issues, contract disputes, or quality problems would be a risk indicator. Without access to detailed past performance data, a comprehensive assessment of their track record is limited to their general presence in the federal market.

What is the historical spending trend for this specific software or category of software by the Department of the Navy over the past five years?

The provided data only details a single award for $6.6 million from 2022 to 2026. To understand historical spending trends, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending) for all contracts awarded by the Department of the Navy (or DoD broadly) for software from Unison Software Inc. or for the specific NAICS code (511210) or Product Service Code (if available) over the preceding five years (e.g., 2017-2021). This analysis would reveal if this $6.6 million award represents a new initiative, a continuation of previous spending, an increase or decrease in investment, or if it's part of a larger, multi-award indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity (IDIQ) contract. Without this broader context, it's difficult to ascertain the trend.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: N0003921R4219

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Mantech International Corporation

Address: 8444 WESTPARK DR STE 920, MCLEAN, VA, 22102

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,777,708

Exercised Options: $6,614,454

Current Obligation: $6,611,079

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCA19D00EP

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline