SSA Spends $52.5M on Ethernet Bridge Maintenance, Awarded to Iron Bow Technologies
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $52,465,759 ($52.5M)
Contractor: Iron BOW Technologies, LLC
Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration
Start Date: 2011-04-01
End Date: 2013-12-31
Contract Duration: 1,005 days
Daily Burn Rate: $52.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 7
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: ETHERNET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT MAINTENANCE
Place of Performance
Location: CHANTILLY, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20151
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Social Security Administration obligated $52.5 million to IRON BOW TECHNOLOGIES, LLC for work described as: ETHERNET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT MAINTENANCE Key points: 1. High contract value suggests significant infrastructure needs. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, indicating a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration of over 3 years implies a long-term need for these services. 4. The 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code covers a broad range of IT support.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $52.5 million over approximately 3 years is substantial. Without specific per-unit cost data or benchmarks for similar Ethernet bridge maintenance contracts, it's difficult to definitively assess pricing efficiency. However, the scale of spending warrants scrutiny.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is a positive indicator for taxpayer value, as it aims to secure the best possible price through market forces.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operation of critical network infrastructure for the Social Security Administration. Supports the agency's ability to deliver essential services to the public. Potential for service disruptions if maintenance is inadequate. The large sum allocated could be scrutinized for efficiency and necessity.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- High total contract value
- Long contract duration
- Lack of specific performance metrics in provided data
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition
- Firm fixed price contract type
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under IT services, specifically network maintenance. Spending benchmarks for IT services vary widely by agency size and complexity. A $52.5 million contract for maintenance over three years for a federal agency like the SSA is significant but not necessarily outside the norm for large-scale IT operations.
Small Business Impact
The provided data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved as subcontractors or prime contractors. The award to Iron Bow Technologies, LLC, does not inherently suggest or preclude small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Social Security Administration, implying internal oversight mechanisms. Further review of contract performance reports and audits would be necessary to assess the effectiveness of oversight.
Related Government Programs
- Other Computer Related Services
- Social Security Administration Contracting
- Social Security Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- High total contract value
- Long contract duration
- Lack of detailed performance metrics
- Potential for vendor lock-in with specialized hardware
- Limited insight into specific services provided
Tags
other-computer-related-services, social-security-administration, va, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Social Security Administration awarded $52.5 million to IRON BOW TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. ETHERNET BRIDGE REPLACEMENT MAINTENANCE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is IRON BOW TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $52.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2011-04-01. End: 2013-12-31.
What specific Ethernet bridge hardware and software are covered under this maintenance contract, and how does the cost align with industry standards for these components?
The provided data lacks specifics on the exact hardware and software. To assess value, a detailed inventory of the equipment, its age, and the scope of maintenance services (e.g., 24/7 support, parts replacement, software updates) is needed. Benchmarking against similar contracts for comparable equipment and service levels would reveal if the $52.5 million is reasonable or inflated.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how has Iron Bow Technologies performed against them to mitigate risks of service degradation?
The data does not include specific KPIs or performance metrics. Risk mitigation relies on clearly defined service level agreements (SLAs) and performance standards. Without this information, it's difficult to assess the risk of service degradation or the effectiveness of the contractor in maintaining the network infrastructure as intended.
Given the substantial investment, what is the measurable impact of this Ethernet bridge maintenance on the SSA's operational efficiency and service delivery to the public?
The direct impact on operational efficiency and public service delivery is not quantified in the provided data. A positive impact would be demonstrated by reduced network downtime, faster data transmission, and improved reliability of SSA systems. Quantifying this requires tracking network performance metrics before and after maintenance interventions.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services
Product/Service Code: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT (INCLD FIRMWARE) SOFTWARE,SUPPLIES& SUPPORT EQUIPMENT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: SSA-RFQ-11-1214
Offers Received: 7
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4800 WESTFIELDS BLVD STE 300, CHANTILLY, VA, 90
Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $52,465,759
Exercised Options: $52,465,759
Current Obligation: $52,465,759
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNG07DA31B
IDV Type: GWAC
Timeline
Start Date: 2011-04-01
Current End Date: 2013-12-31
Potential End Date: 2013-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2013-12-18
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