SBA's $17.2M Web Application Management Contract Awarded to Trusted Mission Solutions Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,192,709 ($17.2M)

Contractor: Trusted Mission Solutions Inc.

Awarding Agency: Small Business Administration

Start Date: 2007-04-01

End Date: 2014-10-30

Contract Duration: 2,769 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.2K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: WEB APPLICATION MANAGEMENT

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20024

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Small Business Administration obligated $17.2 million to TRUSTED MISSION SOLUTIONS INC. for work described as: WEB APPLICATION MANAGEMENT Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable given the duration and scope of web application management services. 2. Sole-source award limits opportunities for competitive pricing and potentially higher value. 3. Long contract duration (2007-2014) suggests a stable, ongoing need for these services. 4. Performance context is limited without specific metrics on application uptime, security, or user satisfaction. 5. This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically computer facilities management. 6. No indication of small business set-aside or subcontracting, suggesting limited direct impact on small businesses.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's total value of $17.2 million over approximately 7 years averages to about $2.46 million per year. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale web application management contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the duration and the nature of managing critical web applications suggest the pricing might be within a reasonable range for a sole-source award, though competitive bidding could have potentially yielded better value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. This approach is typically used when only one vendor possesses the unique capabilities or resources required for the service, or in specific circumstances like follow-on work to a previous sole-source award. The lack of competition means there was no direct price discovery through a bidding process, which can sometimes lead to higher costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, a sole-source award means there's a reduced likelihood of achieving the lowest possible price through market competition. While the government may have justified the sole-source nature, it limits the opportunity to leverage competitive pressures to ensure maximum value for public funds.

Public Impact

The Small Business Administration (SBA) benefits directly from the continuous management and maintenance of its web applications. Services delivered include the operational support, maintenance, and potential development of critical web-based platforms used by the SBA. The geographic impact is primarily within the District of Columbia, where the SBA is headquartered and likely where the primary users of these services are located. Workforce implications are tied to the contractor's personnel, ensuring the SBA's digital infrastructure remains functional and secure.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits price competition and potential value for taxpayers.
Lack of transparency in the justification for sole-source procurement.
Contract duration is long, potentially leading to vendor lock-in if not managed carefully.
No explicit mention of performance metrics or service level agreements (SLAs) in the provided data.
Absence of small business subcontracting goals may limit opportunities for smaller firms.

Positive Signals

Contract awarded to a company with a name suggesting a focus on mission-critical services.
Long-term contract indicates a sustained need and potentially a successful working relationship.
Fixed-price contract type can provide cost certainty for the government.
The contract was managed by the SBA itself, suggesting direct oversight.
The contract was active for a significant period, implying continuity of essential services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Information Technology (IT) services sector, specifically within the sub-category of Computer Facilities Management Services. The IT services market is vast and highly competitive, encompassing a wide range of services from software development to cloud computing and infrastructure management. Contracts for web application management are crucial for government agencies to ensure the availability, security, and performance of their online presence and internal systems. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing the average cost per year for similar management services across federal agencies, considering factors like the complexity of applications, user base size, and security requirements.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor is there any explicit mention of subcontracting requirements. The contractor, Trusted Mission Solutions Inc., is identified as an entity that was awarded this contract, but its size status (small or large business) is not detailed in the provided snippet. The absence of small business set-aside provisions means that opportunities for small businesses to directly participate in this contract were likely limited, unless they were part of a subcontracting plan that is not detailed here. This could mean a missed opportunity to foster the small business ecosystem within the federal IT contracting space.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would have been primarily managed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) itself, as indicated by the 'agency' and 'servicing agency' fields. As a firm-fixed-price contract, the primary accountability measure is the delivery of the specified web application management services within the agreed-upon cost. Transparency is limited by the sole-source nature of the award; detailed justifications for this procurement method would typically be available through federal procurement databases. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any issues of fraud, waste, or abuse arose during the contract's performance.

Related Government Programs

IT Infrastructure Management
Web Hosting Services
Application Maintenance and Support
Cloud Services Management
Cybersecurity Services for Web Applications

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Long contract duration
Lack of competition
Limited performance data available

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Small Business Administration awarded $17.2 million to TRUSTED MISSION SOLUTIONS INC.. WEB APPLICATION MANAGEMENT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TRUSTED MISSION SOLUTIONS INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Small Business Administration (Small Business Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-04-01. End: 2014-10-30.

What specific web applications were managed under this contract, and what was their criticality to the SBA's mission?

The provided data does not specify the exact web applications managed under this $17.2 million contract. However, given the Small Business Administration's role in supporting small businesses, it's highly probable that these applications included public-facing portals for loan applications, business counseling resources, grant management systems, and internal administrative tools. The criticality would range from high for systems directly supporting loan processing and applicant interaction, to moderate for internal resource management. Without specific application names, a precise criticality assessment is not possible, but managing these systems is fundamental to the SBA's operational effectiveness and its ability to serve its constituents.

How did the $17.2 million total contract value compare to industry benchmarks for similar web application management services during the 2007-2014 period?

Benchmarking the $17.2 million contract value against industry standards from 2007-2014 for web application management requires detailed service scope. This contract, spanning approximately seven years, averaged around $2.46 million annually. During that era, federal IT spending was significant, and managing complex web applications involved substantial costs for infrastructure, security, personnel, and maintenance. Factors like the number of applications, user load, uptime requirements (e.g., 24/7 availability), and security protocols (e.g., FISMA compliance) heavily influence pricing. While precise comparisons are difficult without granular data, the annual average suggests a substantial undertaking, potentially aligning with mid-to-high tier managed services contracts for agencies of the SBA's size and scope during that period. The sole-source nature, however, prevents a direct comparison to competitively bid outcomes.

What were the primary risks associated with this sole-source contract, and how were they mitigated?

The primary risk associated with this sole-source contract is the potential for inflated pricing due to the lack of competitive pressure. Without multiple bids, the government may not have secured the most cost-effective solution. Another risk is vendor lock-in, where the agency becomes overly reliant on a single provider, making future transitions difficult and potentially expensive. Mitigation strategies for sole-source contracts often involve rigorous negotiation of terms and pricing, detailed performance monitoring, and clearly defined exit strategies. However, the provided data does not detail the specific mitigation efforts undertaken by the SBA for this particular contract. The long duration could also pose a risk if technology rapidly evolved beyond the contractor's capabilities.

What was the track record of Trusted Mission Solutions Inc. prior to and during this contract?

The provided data snippet does not include information on the track record of Trusted Mission Solutions Inc. (TMSI) prior to or during this specific Small Business Administration (SBA) contract. To assess their performance, one would typically look at past performance evaluations on previous government contracts, any awards or commendations received, and any documented instances of contract failures or disputes. Without access to these records, it's impossible to definitively state TMSI's track record. The fact that they were awarded a sole-source contract by the SBA for a significant duration (2007-2014) might suggest a level of trust or prior successful engagement, but this is speculative without further information.

How did the SBA ensure accountability and performance quality given the sole-source nature and long duration of this contract?

Ensuring accountability and performance quality on a sole-source contract, especially one spanning seven years, typically involves robust contract management by the procuring agency. For the SBA, this would likely include establishing clear performance standards and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) within the contract, even if not explicitly detailed in the summary data. Regular performance reviews, milestone tracking, and potentially independent technical assessments would be crucial. As a firm-fixed-price contract, the primary accountability is tied to delivering the defined services within budget. The SBA's Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) would play a vital role in monitoring progress, addressing issues, and ensuring compliance with contract terms. Without specific oversight reports, the effectiveness of these measures remains inferred.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Facilities Management Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ALTERNATIVE SOURCES

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1749 OLD MEADOW RD STE 500, MC LEAN, VA, 90

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,192,709

Exercised Options: $17,192,709

Current Obligation: $17,192,709

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline