VA's $22.5M SOA R&D and Project Management Support contract awarded to Booz Allen Hamilton

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,555,539 ($22.6M)

Contractor: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2014-06-23

End Date: 2018-03-02

Contract Duration: 1,348 days

Daily Burn Rate: $16.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF - VHA SERVICE ORIENTATED ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (SOARD) PROGRAM AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES (PPMSS) FOR ASSET MANAGEMENT ENTERPRISE-WIDE DEPLOYMENT

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20420

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $22.6 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF - VHA SERVICE ORIENTATED ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (SOARD) PROGRAM AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES (PPMSS) FOR ASSET MANAGEMENT ENTERPRISE-WIDE DEPLOYMENT Key points: 1. Contract focused on research and development for Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and project management support for asset management. 2. The contract was awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis, indicating a defined scope and cost. 3. A single delivery order was issued against this contract. 4. The contract duration was approximately 3.7 years. 5. The primary NAICS code (541611) points to management consulting services. 6. The contract was awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific contract is challenging without more granular data on the services provided and comparable market rates for SOA R&D and project management support. The total award amount of $22.5 million over nearly four years suggests a moderate investment in these specialized services. However, without details on deliverables, performance metrics, or comparisons to similar VA or other agency contracts for similar R&D and project management support, a definitive value-for-money assessment is difficult. The firm-fixed-price structure provides some cost certainty, but the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the spending depend heavily on the execution and outcomes achieved by Booz Allen Hamilton.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The fact that it was competed openly is a positive indicator for price discovery and potentially achieving competitive pricing. However, the issuance of only one delivery order might suggest limited tasking or a specific need that was met by the selected contractor. Further analysis would be needed to understand the number of bids received and the specific evaluation criteria used to ensure the best value was obtained.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to lower prices and better quality services. It ensures that the government explores a wide range of potential providers, increasing the likelihood of selecting a contractor that offers the best combination of cost and performance.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Department of Veterans Affairs, which sought to enhance its asset management capabilities through SOA research and development. Services delivered included project management support and research and development related to Service Oriented Architecture. The geographic impact is likely centered around the VA's operational centers, particularly within the District of Columbia where the contract was registered. Workforce implications would involve specialized IT and management consulting professionals contributing to the VA's technological modernization efforts.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited public information on specific deliverables and performance outcomes makes it difficult to fully assess the impact of the R&D and project management support.
The single delivery order could indicate a narrow scope of work or a potential lack of follow-on needs, requiring further investigation into the project's lifecycle.
Without detailed performance metrics, it's challenging to gauge the contractor's effectiveness in achieving the VA's SOA and asset management goals.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
The firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Booz Allen Hamilton is a well-established contractor with significant experience in government consulting.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the management and general management consulting services sector, specifically focusing on IT-related research and development and project management. The market for such services is substantial, driven by government and commercial entities seeking to modernize their IT infrastructure and improve operational efficiency through architectural advancements like SOA. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other large-scale IT consulting and R&D contracts awarded by federal agencies for similar strategic initiatives.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have involved small business set-asides, as indicated by the 'sb' field being false. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans or performance related to small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this specific contract is likely minimal, unless Booz Allen Hamilton voluntarily engaged small businesses as subcontractors without it being a formal requirement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would have been managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officers and program managers. As a federal contract, it would also be subject to general government oversight mechanisms, including potential reviews by the VA's Office of Inspector General (OIG) if performance issues or financial irregularities were identified. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, which provide basic award information, but detailed performance reports and specific oversight actions are often not publicly disclosed.

Related Government Programs

VA IT Modernization Programs
Federal Enterprise Architecture Initiatives
IT Consulting Services Contracts
Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) Development
Project Management Support Services

Risk Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics
Limited information on specific R&D outcomes
Single delivery order may indicate narrow scope or limited follow-on need

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $22.6 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC. IGF::OT::IGF - VHA SERVICE ORIENTATED ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT (SOARD) PROGRAM AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES (PPMSS) FOR ASSET MANAGEMENT ENTERPRISE-WIDE DEPLOYMENT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC.

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 $22.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2014-06-23. End: 2018-03-02.

What specific research and development activities were undertaken under this contract related to Service Oriented Architecture?

The provided data does not detail the specific R&D activities. However, Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) research and development typically involves exploring new methods, technologies, and frameworks for designing, implementing, and managing loosely coupled, interoperable services. For the VA's asset management, this could have included investigating how SOA principles could improve data sharing, system integration, and the overall efficiency of managing VA assets (e.g., facilities, equipment, IT systems). This might have involved prototyping, feasibility studies, or developing best practices for SOA adoption within the VA's complex environment.

How did Booz Allen Hamilton's performance compare to expectations or industry benchmarks for similar project management support services?

Performance comparison data is not available in the provided summary. A comprehensive assessment would require access to performance reports, contractor past performance evaluations, and potentially user feedback from VA program managers. Benchmarking would involve comparing Booz Allen Hamilton's delivery timelines, budget adherence, quality of deliverables, and problem-resolution effectiveness against industry standards for IT project management and consulting, as well as against other contractors performing similar roles for the VA or other federal agencies. Without such data, it's impossible to definitively state how their performance stacked up.

What was the total spending on this contract over its lifecycle, and how does it compare to initial estimates or budget allocations?

The total award amount for this contract was $22,555,538.81. The data indicates this was the total value obligated. As it was a firm-fixed-price contract with a single delivery order, the spending is directly tied to the awarded amount. Comparing this to initial estimates or budget allocations would require access to the original contract solicitation documents and budget planning information, which are not provided here. However, the final award amount represents the government's commitment for the defined scope of work.

What were the key risks identified during the solicitation or performance phases of this contract, and how were they mitigated?

Specific risks are not detailed in the provided data. However, common risks for R&D and project management consulting contracts include technical challenges in developing new architectures, scope creep, contractor performance issues, integration difficulties with existing systems, and budget overruns. Mitigation strategies typically involve robust contract oversight, clear definition of requirements and deliverables, phased development with regular reviews, strong communication channels between the government and contractor, and performance incentives or penalties.

What is the historical spending pattern for Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) research and development and project management support within the Department of Veterans Affairs?

The provided data only covers this single contract ($22.5M from 2014-2018). To understand historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze VA's contracting data over a longer period, looking for similar NAICS codes (like 541611) and contract descriptions related to IT architecture, R&D, and project management. This would involve querying databases like FPDS or USASpending to identify trends, average contract values, and the prevalence of SOA-related investments across different VA programs and fiscal years.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (UEI: 964725688)

Address: 8283 GREENSBORO DR, MCLEAN, VA, 22102

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $22,616,965

Exercised Options: $22,555,539

Current Obligation: $22,555,539

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 2

Total Subaward Amount: $1,783,540

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: VA79811D0122

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline