SSA awards $45.3M contract to CA, INC. for Software Publishers services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $45,278,592 ($45.3M)

Contractor: CA, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Social Security Administration

Start Date: 2011-10-01

End Date: 2012-09-30

Contract Duration: 365 days

Daily Burn Rate: $124.1K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: SS00-07-60009 CA, INC.SW

Place of Performance

Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Social Security Administration obligated $45.3 million to CA, INC. for work described as: SS00-07-60009 CA, INC.SW Key points: 1. Contract awarded to CA, INC. for $45.3 million. 2. The contract falls under the Software Publishers NAICS code. 3. This contract was not competed, raising potential concerns about price discovery. 4. The award was made to a single vendor, CA, INC.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $45.3 million for a 1-year duration is significant. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price is optimal compared to market rates for similar software publishing services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for the government compared to a competitive procurement.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a $45.3 million contract could lead to taxpayers paying more than necessary for the software publishing services.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the lack of competition. The Social Security Administration relies on this vendor for critical software publishing needs. Limited transparency into the pricing structure due to sole-source award.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole-source award
  • Lack of competition
  • Potential for overpayment

Positive Signals

  • Award to a single, established vendor

Sector Analysis

The Software Publishers sector involves companies that produce and distribute software. Government spending in this area is crucial for IT infrastructure and operations. Benchmarks for similar contracts are hard to establish without competitive data.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded to CA, INC., a single entity, and there is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this data. The sole-source nature further limits potential small business involvement.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny. Oversight should focus on ensuring the necessity of a sole-source justification and verifying the reasonableness of the price paid, even without competition.

Related Government Programs

  • Software Publishers
  • Social Security Administration Contracting
  • Social Security Administration Programs

Risk Flags

  • Sole-source award
  • Lack of competition
  • Potential for inflated pricing
  • Limited transparency in price determination

Tags

software-publishers, social-security-administration, va, do, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Social Security Administration awarded $45.3 million to CA, INC.. SS00-07-60009 CA, INC.SW

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CA, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Social Security Administration (Social Security Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $45.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2011-10-01. End: 2012-09-30.

What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED' and awarded to 'CA, INC.'. A sole-source justification would typically involve circumstances where only one vendor can provide the required goods or services, such as unique capabilities, urgent needs, or follow-on work. Further investigation into the SSA's procurement records would be necessary to ascertain the specific rationale.

How can the government ensure fair pricing without competition?

Even in sole-source procurements, agencies can employ several strategies to ensure fair pricing. This includes conducting thorough market research to establish independent government cost estimates, negotiating aggressively with the vendor, and utilizing cost analysis techniques. Verifying the vendor's cost proposals and profit margins is also crucial to mitigate the risks associated with a lack of competition.

What is the potential impact on future procurements if sole-source awards become common?

A pattern of sole-source awards can stifle innovation and competition within the market, potentially leading to higher prices and reduced quality over time. It can discourage new entrants and entrench incumbent contractors. Agencies should prioritize competitive procurements whenever feasible to foster a healthy market and ensure the best value for taxpayer dollars.

Industry Classification

NAICS: InformationSoftware PublishersSoftware Publishers

Product/Service Code: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EQUIPMENT (INCLD FIRMWARE) SOFTWARE,SUPPLIES& SUPPORT EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2291 WOOD OAK DR, HERNDON, VA, 11

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $45,278,592

Exercised Options: $45,278,592

Current Obligation: $45,278,592

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: SS000760009

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2011-10-01

Current End Date: 2012-09-30

Potential End Date: 2012-09-30 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2011-12-30

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