State Dept. Spends $23.8M on DTFS Code Maintenance, Awarded to Advanced C4 Solutions Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $23,777,130 ($23.8M)
Contractor: Advanced C4 Solutions Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of State
Start Date: 2013-01-01
End Date: 2019-07-31
Contract Duration: 2,402 days
Daily Burn Rate: $9.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: IT
Official Description: MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OF DTFS CODE IGF::CL::IGF
Place of Performance
Location: ANCHORAGE, ANCHORAGE County, ALASKA, 99501
State: Alaska Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of State obligated $23.8 million to ADVANCED C4 SOLUTIONS INC for work described as: MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OF DTFS CODE IGF::CL::IGF Key points: 1. The contract value is $23.8 million over approximately 6.7 years. 2. Advanced C4 Solutions Inc. is the sole awardee. 3. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost risks. 4. The NAICS code 541611 indicates Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The Time and Materials contract type, without a ceiling, offers less price certainty compared to fixed-price contracts. Benchmarking against similar maintenance and operations contracts for IT services is difficult without more specific scope details.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' suggesting a limited competition where other sources were excluded. This method may not have resulted in the most competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of robust competition and the Time and Materials pricing structure could lead to higher costs for taxpayers than a more competitive, fixed-price contract.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be paying more than necessary due to limited competition and contract type. The long duration of the contract (over 6 years) means potential cost overruns could significantly impact the budget. Lack of transparency in the exclusion of sources raises questions about fairness and best value.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition
- Time and Materials pricing
- Long contract duration
Positive Signals
- Contract awarded to a single vendor, potentially indicating specialized expertise.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services, often related to IT infrastructure and operations. Spending benchmarks for such services vary widely based on scope and complexity, but $23.8M over nearly 7 years suggests a significant, ongoing operational need.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses, as the 'sb' field is false. There is no information provided on subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract's award justification ('FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES') warrants further review to ensure proper procedures were followed and that the exclusion of other potential bidders was justified and in the government's best interest.
Related Government Programs
- Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
- Department of State Contracting
- Department of State Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
- Limited competition may have resulted in suboptimal pricing.
- Lack of clarity on the specific services provided by 'DTFS Code IGF::CL::IGF'.
- Justification for excluding sources needs further scrutiny.
Tags
administrative-management-and-general-ma, department-of-state, ak, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of State awarded $23.8 million to ADVANCED C4 SOLUTIONS INC. MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OF DTFS CODE IGF::CL::IGF
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ADVANCED C4 SOLUTIONS INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $23.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2013-01-01. End: 2019-07-31.
What specific DTFS code functionalities are being maintained and operated under this contract, and how critical are they to the Department of State's operations?
The provided data does not specify the exact functionalities of the 'DTFS Code IGF::CL::IGF'. Understanding the criticality of these functions is essential for assessing the value proposition of the $23.8 million expenditure. Without this context, it's difficult to determine if the spending aligns with essential operational needs or represents discretionary expenditure.
What was the justification for excluding other potential sources during the competition phase, and were alternative solutions considered?
The contract states 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES.' This implies that while competition was intended, specific sources were excluded. A thorough review would require understanding the rationale behind this exclusion to ensure it was based on legitimate technical requirements or other valid government interests, rather than limiting competition unnecessarily.
How does the Time and Materials pricing structure compare to industry standards for similar IT maintenance and operations contracts, and what controls are in place to manage costs?
Time and Materials contracts, especially for long-term services, can be prone to cost overruns if not tightly managed. Benchmarking against similar contracts is crucial. The Department of State should have robust oversight mechanisms, including detailed labor rate reviews and work scope limitations, to mitigate the inherent risks associated with this contract type and ensure cost-effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: OPERATION OF GOVT OWNED FACILITY › OPERATE GOVT OWNED BUILDINGS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4017 WEST MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD, TAMPA, FL, 33614
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $23,801,643
Exercised Options: $23,801,643
Current Obligation: $23,777,130
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: SAQMMA13D0021
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2013-01-01
Current End Date: 2019-07-31
Potential End Date: 2021-07-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2018-10-29
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