Quantitative Research Analytical Data Support 2 (QRADS2)

The Securities and Exchange Commission established Quantitative Research Analytical Data Support 2 (QRADS2), a Master IDIQ for quantitative research, data analytics, and technical support to the Division of Economic and Risk Analysis, on June 14, 2018, with a shared ceiling of $43.1 million. Ordering closed on June 13, 2019, and the vehicle is no longer available for new task orders.

The vehicle procured five distinct service channels: Capital Markets and Financial Industry Data Analysis (a total small business set-aside), Quantitative Analytical Support, Analytic Development Environment Database Support, Communication and Technical Writing Support, and Text Analytics Support. Task orders executed under QRADS2 address liquidity analysis, machine-learning and artificial-intelligence development, data visualization, analytical tool development, and database maintenance and support. All awarded task orders are unrestricted competitions; no set-aside designations were used.

Seven task orders issued between July 5, 2018 and September 22, 2020, generating $39.4 million in combined potential value with $32.7 million obligated (83% of potential). Only one order arrived in 2020, reflecting a sharp decline in ordering activity after initial awards in 2018 and 2019. International Business Machines Corporation holds the largest single award at $9.6 million for database maintenance; Analytica LLC received two orders totaling $7.9 million; TCG Inc., Onyx Government Services, and Elder Research each received one order valued between $5.2 and $6 million. Six distinct primes won awards, with the top five capturing 87% of combined potential value. All task orders fund the Securities and Exchange Commission exclusively; no other agencies used the vehicle.

Task-order values ranged from $1.7 million to $9.6 million, with most awards priced on labor-hours or time-and-materials bases. Most orders have completed performance; the latest task-order completion date on record is November 14, 2024. The vehicle succeeded a predecessor QRADS contract awarded in September 2013.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Division of Economic and Risk Analysis (DERA) supports the mission of the SEC to protect investors, maintain fair and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation. The program is to obtain support in the following Channels: 1) Capital Markets and Financial Industry Data Analysis (total small business set aside); 2) Quantitative Analytical Support; 3) Analytic Development Environment Database Support; 4) Communication and Technical Writing Support; and, 5) Text Analytics Support.