DOJ's $211M AT&T Mobility contract for wireless services awarded under full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $21,154 ($21.2K)

Contractor: ATT Mobility LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-05-01

End Date: 2027-04-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $58/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: AT&T

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT LOUIS, SAINT LOUIS CITY County, MISSOURI, 63103

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $21,153.84 to ATT MOBILITY LLC for work described as: AT&T Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single provider, AT&T Mobility LLC, for wireless telecommunications services. 2. The contract duration is 364 days, with a potential value of $211.5 million. 3. Awarded under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call, indicating a pre-negotiated framework. 4. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which shifts cost overrun risk to the contractor. 5. No small business set-aside was utilized for this procurement. 6. The services are for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) within the Department of Justice (DOJ). 7. The contract is for wireless telecommunications carriers, excluding satellite services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific service details or comparable contract data. The total potential value of $211.5 million over one year suggests a significant scale of operations for wireless services. However, the absence of detailed service metrics and the BPA Call mechanism make a direct price-per-unit comparison difficult. Further analysis would require understanding the specific data plans, device allocations, and geographic coverage included in the agreement to assess if the pricing is competitive against market rates for similar large-scale enterprise wireless solutions.

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 use of a BPA Call implies that a broader BPA was previously competed, and this specific call leverages that existing framework. While the number of bidders for this specific call is not provided, the 'full and open' designation indicates a competitive process was initiated. This approach generally promotes price discovery and allows the government to select the best value offering from a range of qualified providers.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process aims to ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by fostering a competitive environment that drives down prices and encourages innovation from multiple vendors.

Public Impact

Federal law enforcement agencies, specifically the DEA, will benefit from reliable wireless telecommunications services. The services will support critical operations, communication, and data transfer for agents and personnel. The geographic impact is likely nationwide, given the operational scope of the DEA. The contract supports the telecommunications workforce employed by AT&T.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if the BPA framework heavily favors AT&T's ecosystem.
Reliance on a single provider for critical communication infrastructure could pose a risk.
Lack of transparency on specific service level agreements (SLAs) within the BPA call.
The large contract value could indicate a lack of aggressive price negotiation or limited competition at the BPA level.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process was followed.
Firm Fixed Price contract type shifts cost overrun risk to the contractor.
BPA Call mechanism can streamline procurement for recurring needs.
AT&T is a major telecommunications provider with extensive infrastructure and support capabilities.
Contract duration of one year allows for periodic re-evaluation of needs and market conditions.

Sector Analysis

The wireless telecommunications market is a mature and highly competitive sector dominated by a few major providers. Government contracts for these services are substantial, reflecting the widespread need for mobile communication across federal agencies. This contract fits within the broader category of telecommunications services procurement, which includes voice, data, and mobile device management. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large federal contracts for wireless services awarded to major carriers, considering factors like user volume, data allowances, and geographic coverage.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside component, as indicated by 'sb': false. Consequently, small businesses are unlikely to be direct beneficiaries of this award. However, AT&T, as a large prime contractor, may engage small businesses as subcontractors for specific services or equipment, though this is not explicitly detailed in the provided data. The absence of a set-aside suggests the primary competition was focused on large, established telecommunications providers.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Justice's procurement and contracting offices, as well as the Drug Enforcement Administration's program managers. The contract's performance would be monitored against the terms and conditions outlined in the BPA Call and the underlying BPA. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS-NG, where award details are published. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Federal Information Technology (IT) Services
Telecommunications Services
Law Enforcement Support Services
Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Reliance on single provider for critical communications
Lack of detailed service metrics for value assessment
Limited visibility into competition at the BPA call level

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $21,153.84 to ATT MOBILITY LLC. AT&T

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ATT MOBILITY LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Drug Enforcement Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $21,153.84.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-05-01. End: 2027-04-30.

What specific wireless services are included under this $211.5 million contract?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)' and was awarded to AT&T Mobility LLC. This typically encompasses mobile voice and data services, cellular plans for government-issued devices, and potentially mobile device management solutions. However, the exact breakdown of services, such as the number of lines, data caps per line, international roaming capabilities, or specific device support, is not detailed in the summary data. A comprehensive understanding would require reviewing the full contract award documents and associated statements of work.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar large federal wireless procurements?

Direct price comparison is difficult without granular data on service levels, data allowances, and user counts. However, the $211.5 million value for a 364-day contract suggests a significant scale, potentially serving thousands of users across the DEA. Large federal contracts often leverage volume discounts. To assess value, one would compare the per-line cost, data cost per gigabyte, and included features against other major carrier contracts with agencies of similar size and scope, considering factors like geographic coverage and service level agreements. The Firm Fixed Price nature indicates AT&T bears the risk of cost increases.

What are the primary risks associated with relying on AT&T for these critical wireless services?

Key risks include potential vendor lock-in, where the specific technologies and services offered by AT&T might make switching providers difficult or costly in the future. Dependence on a single carrier for essential communications can also pose a risk if AT&T experiences widespread service outages or network issues, impacting DEA operations. Furthermore, the large contract value, while indicative of scale, could also suggest a lack of aggressive price competition if the underlying BPA was not recently re-competed or if market alternatives have evolved significantly. Security vulnerabilities within the network infrastructure are also an inherent risk for any telecommunications provider.

What is the historical spending pattern for wireless services by the Department of Justice or DEA?

Historical spending data for wireless services by the DOJ or DEA is not provided in the summary. However, federal agencies consistently procure significant amounts of wireless telecommunications services annually. Analyzing past contract awards for these entities would reveal trends in spending levels, primary carriers used, and the evolution of service requirements. Such analysis could indicate whether this $211.5 million award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of spending compared to previous years and identify any shifts in procurement strategies or carrier relationships.

What oversight mechanisms are in place to ensure the effective delivery and value for money of these wireless services?

Oversight for this contract is managed through the Department of Justice's contracting and program management functions. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) program managers are responsible for monitoring AT&T's performance against the contract's terms, including service level agreements (SLAs) and delivery schedules. The Firm Fixed Price nature of the contract provides some cost certainty. Transparency is maintained through contract reporting requirements and public databases. Any concerns regarding performance, billing, or potential fraud would fall under the purview of the DOJ's Office of the Inspector General.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers › Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Tyto Athene, LLC

Address: 1025 LENOX PARK BLVD NE, ATLANTA, GA, 30319

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $22,515

Exercised Options: $22,515

Current Obligation: $21,154

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15F06720A0001516

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline