SSA Spends $82M on Tape Drives and Media, Awarded to PCMG, Inc. via Competitive Delivery Order
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $82,212,380 ($82.2M)
Contractor: Pcmg, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration
Start Date: 2008-01-24
End Date: 2012-09-27
Contract Duration: 1,708 days
Daily Burn Rate: $48.1K/day
Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: STK TAPE DRIVES, MEDIA, AND PORTS
Place of Performance
Location: BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE (CITY) County, MARYLAND, 21235
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Social Security Administration obligated $82.2 million to PCMG, INC. for work described as: STK TAPE DRIVES, MEDIA, AND PORTS Key points: 1. Significant spending on data storage technology highlights the ongoing need for reliable media solutions. 2. Competition was present, suggesting potential for price discovery, though the specific impact is unclear. 3. The long contract duration (2008-2012) may raise questions about technology obsolescence and value. 4. This spending falls under the Electronic Computer Manufacturing sector, indicating a focus on IT infrastructure.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The total award value of $82.2 million over approximately four years suggests a substantial investment. Benchmarking against similar contracts for tape drives and media is difficult without more granular data on specific product types and quantities.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures fair market value.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds were utilized through a competitive process, which should theoretically lead to a reasonable price for the required goods.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operation of critical data backup and archival systems for the Social Security Administration. Supports the IT infrastructure necessary for processing and managing sensitive citizen data. Potential for outdated technology if not managed proactively, impacting long-term data accessibility and security.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Contract duration may lead to technology obsolescence.
- Lack of specific unit cost data makes precise value assessment challenging.
Positive Signals
- Competitive award process.
- Adequate funding for essential IT infrastructure.
Sector Analysis
Spending on tape drives, media, and ports falls within the Electronic Computer Manufacturing sector. This category often involves significant investment in hardware to support data storage and management, crucial for agencies like the SSA.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that larger, established vendors likely dominated this procurement, potentially limiting opportunities for smaller players in this specific contract.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Social Security Administration, implying internal oversight mechanisms. However, the long duration and lack of detailed performance metrics in the provided data make it difficult to assess the effectiveness of oversight throughout its life cycle.
Related Government Programs
- Electronic Computer Manufacturing
- Social Security Administration Contracting
- Social Security Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for technology obsolescence due to long contract duration.
- Lack of granular data on specific products and unit costs hinders precise value assessment.
- No indication of small business participation.
- Limited insight into performance monitoring and oversight effectiveness over the contract's lifespan.
Tags
electronic-computer-manufacturing, social-security-administration, md, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Social Security Administration awarded $82.2 million to PCMG, INC.. STK TAPE DRIVES, MEDIA, AND PORTS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is PCMG, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $82.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2008-01-24. End: 2012-09-27.
What was the specific type and quantity of tape drives, media, and ports procured, and how did this align with the SSA's evolving data storage needs over the contract period?
The provided data lacks specifics on the exact models and quantities of tape drives, media, and ports. Understanding these details would allow for a better assessment of whether the procurement met the SSA's actual technological requirements and if the purchased items remained relevant throughout the contract's four-year span, from 2008 to 2012.
Given the contract's duration (2008-2012), what measures were in place to mitigate the risk of technology obsolescence and ensure the long-term viability of the acquired data storage solutions?
The provided data does not detail specific risk mitigation strategies for technology obsolescence. A contract of this length in the rapidly evolving IT sector warrants scrutiny regarding upgrade paths, end-of-life support, and potential for technology refresh clauses to ensure the acquired solutions remained effective and secure.
How effectively did the competitive delivery order process ensure optimal value for taxpayer money, considering the $82 million expenditure on data storage hardware?
While the 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER' designation suggests a competitive process, the lack of detailed pricing data, including unit costs and comparisons, makes it challenging to definitively assess value. The total award amount is significant, and without further analysis of the pricing structure against market benchmarks, it's difficult to confirm optimal taxpayer value.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Computer and Peripheral Equipment Manufacturing › Electronic Computer Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT (INCLD FIRMWARE) SOFTWARE,SUPPLIES& SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: SSA-RFQ-07-1656
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: PC Mall, Inc (UEI: 181087842)
Address: 14120 NEWBROOK DR., STE. 100, CHANTILLY, VA, 90
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $377,761,242
Exercised Options: $82,761,242
Current Obligation: $82,212,380
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNG07DA08B
IDV Type: GWAC
Timeline
Start Date: 2008-01-24
Current End Date: 2012-09-27
Potential End Date: 2012-09-27 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2012-12-11
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