VA Awards $27.3M to MITRE for Advanced Analytics R&D Support
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $27,322,758 ($27.3M)
Contractor: THE Mitre Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs
Start Date: 2016-09-28
End Date: 2020-09-27
Contract Duration: 1,460 days
Daily Burn Rate: $18.7K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: IT
Official Description: FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, VBA ADVANCED ANALYTICS. IGF::CL::IGF IGF::CT::IGF
Place of Performance
Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $27.3 million to THE MITRE CORPORATION for work described as: FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, VBA ADVANCED ANALYTICS. IGF::CL::IGF IGF::CT::IGF Key points: 1. MITRE Corporation, a non-profit, received a significant contract for specialized R&D. 2. The contract focuses on advanced analytics for the VA, a critical area for veteran services. 3. Lack of competition raises questions about potential overpricing and limited innovation. 4. The IT and professional services sector sees substantial government investment in analytics.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure, combined with a lack of competition, makes a direct pricing assessment difficult. Benchmarking against similar R&D analytics contracts is challenging without more detailed cost breakdowns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially reduces the government's ability to secure the best value through competitive bidding.
Taxpayer Impact: Without competitive pressure, taxpayers may be paying a premium for the services rendered, as there was no market validation of the price.
Public Impact
Improved data analysis capabilities for the VA could lead to better veteran services and resource allocation. The reliance on a single provider for advanced analytics may create vendor lock-in. Transparency in how the $27.3M is utilized for R&D is crucial for public trust.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure
- Potential for vendor lock-in
Positive Signals
- Supports critical VA mission
- Focus on advanced analytics
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically R&D support. Government spending in this area, particularly for IT and data analytics, has been increasing to modernize services.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to The MITRE Corporation, a large non-profit research and development organization. There is no indication of small business participation in this specific award.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure the VA is receiving fair value and that the R&D objectives are being met effectively. Regular performance reviews are essential.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
- Department of Veterans Affairs Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition.
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee can incentivize higher costs.
- Lack of transparency on specific deliverables.
- Potential for vendor lock-in.
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, department-of-veterans-affairs, va, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $27.3 million to THE MITRE CORPORATION. FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS, VBA ADVANCED ANALYTICS. IGF::CL::IGF IGF::CT::IGF
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE MITRE CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $27.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2016-09-28. End: 2020-09-27.
What specific advanced analytics capabilities are being developed or supported under this contract, and how do they directly benefit veteran services?
The contract supports the VBA's advanced analytics initiatives. While specific capabilities are not detailed, they likely involve leveraging data to improve claims processing, identify trends in veteran needs, optimize resource allocation, and enhance the overall efficiency and effectiveness of veteran support programs.
Given the sole-source nature, what mechanisms are in place to ensure the cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing remains reasonable and avoids excessive profit for the contractor?
The VA should employ robust cost accounting standards and conduct thorough audits of MITRE's expenditures. Regular reviews of the fixed fee, based on performance and adherence to budget, are crucial. Transparency in reporting and justification of costs are key oversight elements.
How will the effectiveness of the R&D support be measured, and what are the key performance indicators for this contract?
Effectiveness will likely be measured by the successful development and implementation of advanced analytics tools and methodologies that demonstrably improve VA operations. Key performance indicators could include metrics related to data processing speed, accuracy of insights generated, cost savings achieved through optimized resource allocation, and improvements in veteran service delivery times or satisfaction.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 7515 COLSHIRE DR, MC LEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $27,322,758
Exercised Options: $27,322,758
Current Obligation: $27,322,758
Actual Outlays: $227,065
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: VA118A15D0004
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2016-09-28
Current End Date: 2020-09-27
Potential End Date: 2020-09-27 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-09-15
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