DoD awards $6.2M for AWS Support Services to Raven Multimedia LLC under full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,203,901 ($6.2M)

Contractor: Raven Multimedia LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-12-02

End Date: 2026-12-01

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: AWS SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: PATUXENT RIVER, SAINT MARYS County, MARYLAND, 20670

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $6.2 million to RAVEN MULTIMEDIA LLC for work described as: AWS SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded for cloud computing support services, indicating a need for specialized IT infrastructure management. 2. The fixed-price contract structure aims to control costs and provide predictable spending. 3. Competition was full and open, suggesting a robust market for these services. 4. The contract duration of three years allows for sustained support and potential for performance evaluation. 5. The specific NAICS code points to custom computer programming services, highlighting the technical nature of the requirement. 6. The award to a single contractor, Raven Multimedia LLC, warrants scrutiny of performance and potential for future competition. 7. The contract is a delivery order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle or framework.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $6.2 million over three years averages approximately $2.07 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar AWS support contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, given the full and open competition, the pricing is presumed to be market-driven. The fixed-price nature provides cost certainty for the government. Further analysis would require comparing the scope of services to industry standards and other government contracts for comparable cloud support.

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 data does not specify the number of bidders, which is crucial for a complete assessment of competition dynamics. A high number of bidders typically suggests strong market interest and potentially better price discovery for the government. The absence of this detail limits the depth of analysis regarding price competitiveness.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to lower prices and higher quality services. It ensures that the government is not limited to a narrow set of providers, maximizing the potential for cost savings.

Public Impact

The Department of the Navy benefits from enhanced cloud computing capabilities and specialized support for its AWS environment. Services delivered likely include cloud architecture, migration, management, security, and optimization of AWS resources. The geographic impact is primarily within the Department of Defense's operational footprint, potentially supporting various naval operations. Workforce implications may involve specialized IT professionals within Raven Multimedia LLC, and potentially training or upskilling for Navy IT personnel interacting with the support team.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific number of bidders in full and open competition limits assessment of true competitive pressure.
Scope of 'AWS Support Services' is broad; actual value depends heavily on detailed service level agreements and deliverables.
Contract duration of three years may not be optimal for rapidly evolving cloud technologies without clear performance review triggers.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
Fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Contract duration of three years allows for sustained support and relationship building.
Award to a single entity simplifies contract management and accountability.

Sector Analysis

The Information Technology sector, specifically cloud computing services, is a rapidly growing area of federal spending. The Department of Defense, like other agencies, increasingly relies on cloud infrastructure for its operations, data storage, and application hosting. This contract for AWS support fits within the broader trend of agencies leveraging commercial cloud providers. Comparable spending benchmarks for cloud support services vary widely based on the scope of services, service level agreements, and the specific cloud platform. The market for these services is competitive, with numerous providers offering specialized expertise.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a primary consideration for this specific contract award. There is no indication of a small business set-aside. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem through this contract is likely minimal, unless Raven Multimedia LLC engages in significant subcontracting with small businesses, which is not specified. Future analysis could explore subcontracting plans if available.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of the Navy's contracting and program management offices. As a delivery order, it is likely governed by the terms of a parent IDIQ contract, which would have its own oversight mechanisms. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases, but detailed performance metrics and specific oversight activities are often internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Cloud Computing Services
IT Professional Services
Custom Computer Programming Services
Department of Defense IT Contracts
AWS Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in due to multi-year contract with a single provider.
Rapidly evolving cloud technology landscape may outpace vendor's service offerings over the contract duration.
Lack of specific bidder count limits assessment of competitive pressure and potential for best value.
Broad service description ('AWS Support Services') requires diligent performance monitoring to ensure value for money.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $6.2 million to RAVEN MULTIMEDIA LLC. AWS SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RAVEN MULTIMEDIA LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Navy).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-12-02. End: 2026-12-01.

What is the specific scope of 'AWS Support Services' being provided under this contract?

The provided data abbreviates the service as 'AWS SUPPORT SERVICES' and categorizes it under NAICS code 541511, 'Custom Computer Programming Services'. This suggests services beyond basic cloud hosting, likely encompassing areas such as cloud architecture design, implementation, migration, ongoing management, security configuration, performance optimization, and potentially troubleshooting for the Department of the Navy's Amazon Web Services (AWS) environment. Without the full contract details or statement of work, the precise deliverables, service level agreements (SLAs), and specific technical support functions remain undefined. However, the classification points towards specialized technical expertise required to manage and maintain cloud infrastructure effectively.

How does the $6.2 million contract value compare to similar AWS support contracts awarded by the DoD?

Comparing the $6.2 million contract value for AWS support services requires context regarding the duration, scope, and specific services rendered. This contract spans three years (1095 days), equating to an average annual value of approximately $2.07 million. Benchmarking against similar DoD contracts for AWS support is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of comparable awards with detailed service descriptions. However, for large-scale cloud environments requiring comprehensive management, security, and optimization, this value appears within a reasonable range for a three-year period. Full and open competition suggests the price was deemed fair and reasonable at the time of award, but a deeper analysis would involve comparing specific service level agreements and technical requirements against other awarded contracts.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate Raven Multimedia LLC's performance?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate Raven Multimedia LLC's performance under this contract. Typically, for IT support services, especially cloud-based ones, KPIs would include metrics related to system availability, response times for support requests, resolution times for issues, security compliance adherence, and successful implementation of requested changes or optimizations. The contract type, Firm Fixed Price (FFP), implies that the contractor is responsible for delivering the agreed-upon scope of services within the set price. Performance evaluation would likely be tied to meeting the specific requirements outlined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and any associated Service Level Agreements (SLAs).

What is the historical spending pattern for AWS support services within the Department of the Navy?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending patterns for AWS support services within the Department of the Navy. To analyze historical spending, one would need to examine contract data over several fiscal years, identifying all contracts related to AWS support, cloud management, and related IT services awarded by the Navy. This would involve looking at total obligated amounts, contract types, awardees, and the evolution of spending as the Navy's adoption of cloud technologies has progressed. Such an analysis would reveal trends in investment, identify key service providers, and potentially highlight areas of increasing or decreasing reliance on external support.

What is the potential risk associated with awarding a three-year contract to a single vendor for specialized IT services?

Awarding a three-year contract to a single vendor for specialized IT services like AWS support carries several potential risks. Firstly, there's the risk of vendor lock-in, where the government becomes overly reliant on one provider, potentially diminishing leverage in future negotiations. Secondly, the rapidly evolving nature of cloud technology means that the vendor's capabilities might become outdated, or new, more innovative solutions might emerge from competitors. Thirdly, performance degradation or complacency can set in over time if robust oversight and performance management are not consistently applied. Finally, if the vendor experiences financial instability or significant operational issues, it could disrupt critical services. Mitigating these risks often involves clear performance standards, regular contract reviews, and maintaining awareness of the broader market landscape.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 11440 W BERNARDO CT, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92127

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,708,783

Exercised Options: $7,249,252

Current Obligation: $6,203,901

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F220DA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline