State Dept. Spends $21.6M on Configuration Management Services with ASSYST INC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,620,373 ($21.6M)
Contractor: Assyst Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of State
Start Date: 2009-11-25
End Date: 2016-09-06
Contract Duration: 2,477 days
Daily Burn Rate: $8.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: IT
Official Description: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20520
Plain-Language Summary
Department of State obligated $21.6 million to ASSYST INC. for work described as: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $21.6 million over nearly 7 years. 2. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources, suggesting some market vetting. 3. Risk is moderate due to the long duration and potential for vendor lock-in. 4. Sector is IT services, specifically Computer Systems Design. 5. Contract type is labor hours, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's labor hour pricing model makes direct comparison difficult without detailed task breakdowns. However, the total value suggests a substantial investment in configuration management services.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources. This method allows for broad market participation but the exclusion clause warrants scrutiny to ensure it didn't unduly limit competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers funded $21.6 million for these services over the contract's lifespan.
Public Impact
Ensures stability and integrity of IT systems for the Department of State. Supports critical government operations through effective IT asset management. Potential for cost savings if configuration management leads to reduced IT incidents and faster deployments.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Labor hour contract type can inflate costs if not closely monitored.
- Long contract duration may reduce flexibility and increase risk of vendor lock-in.
- Exclusion of sources in competition needs justification to ensure fairness.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition generally leads to better pricing.
- Configuration management is crucial for IT system reliability.
- Long-term contract provides stability for essential IT services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically computer systems design. Spending benchmarks for similar configuration management services can vary widely based on scope and complexity, but $21.6M over nearly 7 years indicates a significant, long-term engagement.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses had opportunities to participate in the subcontracting.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Department of State, implying internal oversight mechanisms. However, the long duration and labor-hour nature necessitate robust monitoring to ensure accountability and prevent cost overruns.
Related Government Programs
- Computer Systems Design Services
- Department of State Contracting
- Department of State Programs
Risk Flags
- Labor hour contract type.
- Long contract duration.
- Exclusion of sources in competition.
- No small business awardee indicated.
Tags
computer-systems-design-services, department-of-state, dc, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of State awarded $21.6 million to ASSYST INC.. CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ASSYST INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $21.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2009-11-25. End: 2016-09-06.
What specific configuration management tasks were performed, and how did the labor hours translate into value?
The provided data lacks specifics on the exact configuration management tasks performed. A detailed review of task orders and deliverables would be necessary to assess the value derived from the labor hours expended. Understanding the scope of work, such as system inventories, change control, and baseline management, is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of the $21.6 million investment.
Were there any risks associated with the 'exclusion of sources' clause in the competition, and how were they mitigated?
The 'exclusion of sources' clause, while allowing for full and open competition among the remaining pool, inherently limits the potential bidder pool. The risk is that legitimate, capable vendors might be excluded without proper justification, potentially leading to suboptimal pricing or reduced innovation. Mitigation would involve a clear, documented rationale for the exclusion and ensuring the remaining competition was robust enough to drive value.
How effectively did ASSYST INC. manage IT configurations to ensure system stability and security for the Department of State?
Assessing the effectiveness requires examining performance metrics, incident reports, and system uptime data during the contract period. While the contract value is substantial, effectiveness hinges on the quality of service delivery. A review of past performance evaluations and any documented successes or failures in maintaining IT configurations would provide insight into ASSYST INC.'s performance.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 22866 SHAW RD, STERLING, VA, 20166
Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $49,534,034
Exercised Options: $45,299,036
Current Obligation: $21,620,373
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS06F0596Z
IDV Type: GWAC
Timeline
Start Date: 2009-11-25
Current End Date: 2016-09-06
Potential End Date: 2016-09-06 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-09-09
More Contracts from Assyst Inc.
- Edgar Systems Engineering Igf::ot::igf for Other Functions — $49.0M (Securities and Exchange Commission)
- Enterprise Cybersecurity Program Support — $32.0M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Cyber Risk Management (CRM) — $30.1M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- CMS Security & Privacy Officer Support Services (csposs) — $16.3M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Enterprise Applications - Assyst, Inc. - Work Order 1-Eeoc - Base Year (date of Award to 12 Months) - Remainder: Pending Availability of Funds — $7.2M (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission)
Other Department of State Contracts
- Care Logistical Support Services - Clss — $2.3B (Xator LLC)
- Task Order to Provide Project Management Support, Transition Support, Engineering and Design Support, Securing the Infrastructure Support and O&M Support for the Department's IT Consolidation Program — $2.1B (Science Applications International Corporation)
- Global Security Engineering&supply Chain Services — $1.5B (General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.)
- Slmaqm04c0030 — $1.2B (Dyncorp International LLC)
- THE Purpose of This Action IS to Establish a NEW Contract With General Dynamics Information Technology for Global Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Technology Development Services to Support the Department of State. the Initial Funding Associated With This Contract IS $22,304,578.00. the Overall Contract Value IS $2,200,000,000.00 — $1.2B (General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.)