Interior Department awards $4.9M IT task order to Accenture for Mission Services Platform

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,897,071 ($4.9M)

Contractor: Accenture Federal Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2025-09-16

End Date: 2026-09-21

Contract Duration: 370 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: FRIS TASK ORDER: MISSION SERVICES PLATFORM IDIQ

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22203

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $4.9 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC for work described as: FRIS TASK ORDER: MISSION SERVICES PLATFORM IDIQ Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. Accenture Federal Services LLC, a large established contractor, received the award. 3. The contract is a Time and Materials type, which can pose cost control risks if not managed closely. 4. The task order duration is 370 days, indicating a short-to-medium term project. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541519 points to 'Other Computer Related Services'. 6. The contract is not set aside for small businesses, nor does it indicate subcontracting goals. 7. The award is a Delivery Order under an existing IDIQ contract. 8. The contract is for IT services supporting the Departmental Offices within the Department of the Interior.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount of $4.9 million for a 370-day IT services contract appears within a reasonable range for similar federal IT support services. However, without specific details on the deliverables and labor categories, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The Time and Materials pricing structure warrants close monitoring to ensure costs remain aligned with the work performed and do not escalate beyond initial expectations. Benchmarking against other similar IT platform support contracts would provide a clearer picture of its cost-effectiveness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but this method generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service offerings for the government. The open competition suggests the agency sought the best value from a wide pool of qualified contractors.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it promotes a level playing field, encourages innovation, and can drive down costs through competitive pressures.

Public Impact

The Department of the Interior's internal operations and administrative functions are expected to benefit from improved IT platform services. Federal employees within the Departmental Offices will likely utilize the services provided under this contract. The services delivered will support the 'Mission Services Platform', aiming to enhance operational efficiency. The geographic impact is primarily within the Department of the Interior's operational footprint, likely concentrated in Washington D.C. and other federal facilities. Workforce implications may include the need for specialized IT personnel to manage and maintain the platform, potentially sourced from Accenture.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can lead to cost overruns if not diligently managed and monitored.
Lack of specific performance metrics or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in the provided data makes it difficult to assess performance outcomes.
The contract is a delivery order under an IDIQ, suggesting it's part of a larger framework, but details of the parent IDIQ are not available for full context.
No indication of small business participation or subcontracting goals could limit opportunities for smaller businesses in this contract's ecosystem.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, which typically results in competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified vendors.
Accenture Federal Services LLC is a well-established contractor with significant experience in federal IT services.
The contract supports a critical 'Mission Services Platform', indicating alignment with agency operational goals.
The contract has a defined end date, providing a clear timeframe for service delivery and budget allocation.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector within the federal government is vast, encompassing a wide range of support, development, and maintenance activities. This contract falls under 'Other Computer Related Services' (NAICS 541519), a broad category that includes IT consulting, system integration, and custom software development. Federal spending on IT services consistently ranks among the largest categories of government procurement. Comparable contracts often involve system modernization, cloud migration, cybersecurity, and platform development, with costs varying significantly based on scope, duration, and complexity.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific contract are likely limited to direct subcontracting if Accenture chooses to engage them. The absence of set-aside provisions means the primary award went to a large business, potentially reducing the direct flow of federal dollars into the small business ecosystem for this particular procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of the Interior's contracting officers and program managers. As a delivery order under an IDIQ, the parent contract likely has established oversight mechanisms. The Time and Materials pricing structure necessitates rigorous monitoring of labor hours and costs to ensure accountability and prevent overspending. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, but detailed performance reporting and Inspector General oversight would depend on the specific terms and potential issues arising during contract execution.

Related Government Programs

Department of the Interior IT Modernization Initiatives
Federal Civilian IT Services Contracts
Mission Support Services
Enterprise IT Platforms
Accenture Federal Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Cost Overrun Risk (Time and Materials)
Performance Monitoring Difficulty (Lack of Metrics)
Limited Small Business Participation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $4.9 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC. FRIS TASK ORDER: MISSION SERVICES PLATFORM IDIQ

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-16. End: 2026-09-21.

What is the track record of Accenture Federal Services LLC with the Department of the Interior?

Accenture Federal Services LLC has a significant history of contracting with the Department of the Interior across various service areas, including IT, consulting, and program management. Reviewing historical contract data reveals numerous awards, indicating a strong existing relationship and familiarity with the agency's needs and processes. While specific performance metrics for past contracts are not detailed here, the consistent awarding of contracts suggests a generally satisfactory performance history. However, a deeper dive into past performance evaluations, any past disputes, or contract modifications would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their track record with this specific agency.

How does the $4.9 million award compare to similar IT platform support contracts within the federal government?

The $4.9 million award for a 370-day IT platform support contract is moderately sized within the federal IT services landscape. Many federal agencies procure similar services, with contract values ranging from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the complexity, duration, and scope of the platform. Contracts for enterprise-wide platform development or modernization can easily exceed this amount, while smaller, more focused support tasks might be awarded for less. The Time and Materials (T&M) nature of this contract means its final cost could fluctuate, making direct comparisons challenging without knowing the specific labor rates and hours utilized. Benchmarking against contracts with similar NAICS codes (541519) and contract types (T&M) awarded by agencies of similar size would offer a more precise comparison.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for IT services?

The primary risk with Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like this one, is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts reimburse the contractor for the actual cost of labor (at specified hourly rates) and materials used. If not managed diligently, contractors may bill for excessive hours, inefficient work, or unnecessary materials, leading to costs exceeding the government's initial budget or expectation. To mitigate this, the government must implement strong oversight, closely monitor labor hours, ensure efficient work practices, and potentially include cost ceilings or not-to-exceed clauses. The success of a T&M contract heavily relies on the government's ability to effectively manage and control the contractor's effort.

What is the expected effectiveness of the 'Mission Services Platform' based on this contract?

The effectiveness of the 'Mission Services Platform' cannot be definitively assessed solely based on this contract award. The contract specifies IT services to support the platform, implying it is an existing or developing system crucial for the Department of the Interior's mission. The effectiveness will depend on the quality of the IT services provided by Accenture, the platform's design, its integration with other agency systems, and how well it meets the defined mission requirements. The contract duration of 370 days suggests a focused effort, likely for maintenance, enhancement, or specific operational support rather than a complete overhaul. Actual effectiveness would be measured by performance metrics, user adoption, and its contribution to the agency's operational goals, which are not detailed in the provided data.

How has federal spending on 'Other Computer Related Services' (NAICS 541519) evolved over the past five years?

Federal spending on 'Other Computer Related Services' (NAICS 541519) has generally shown a consistent upward trend over the past five years, reflecting the increasing reliance of government agencies on specialized IT support. This category encompasses a broad range of services, including IT consulting, system integration, custom software development, and IT project management. Factors driving this growth include digital transformation initiatives, modernization of legacy systems, cybersecurity enhancements, and the adoption of new technologies. While specific figures fluctuate annually based on agency budgets and priorities, the overall demand for these services remains robust, indicating a sustained investment in IT capabilities across the federal government.

What is the significance of the contract being a Delivery Order under an IDIQ?

The significance of this contract being a Delivery Order (DO) under an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract is that it represents a specific task or project awarded against a pre-negotiated master contract. The IDIQ establishes the terms, conditions, and pricing structure under which multiple DOs can be issued over a period. This approach allows the agency to procure services more efficiently and rapidly as needs arise, without needing to conduct a full, separate competition for each individual task. It implies that Accenture was previously selected through a competitive process to hold the parent IDIQ, and this DO represents one of potentially many orders placed under that umbrella agreement.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 140D0425R0137

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Novetta Solutions, LLC

Address: 800 N GLEBE RD STE 300, ARLINGTON, VA, 22203

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $7,393,669

Exercised Options: $4,897,071

Current Obligation: $4,897,071

Actual Outlays: $695,393

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 4

Total Subaward Amount: $1,831,982

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 140D0424D0097

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline