DOJ awards $15M for wireless telecom services to AT&T Mobility LLC, spanning over 360 days

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,963 ($15.0K)

Contractor: ATT Mobility LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2024-10-01

End Date: 2025-09-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $41/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: M2M SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: LORTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22079

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $14,963.47 to ATT MOBILITY LLC for work described as: M2M SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract's value of $14.96 million for wireless telecommunications services appears to be a significant investment in communication infrastructure. 2. AT&T Mobility LLC, a major telecommunications provider, secured this contract, indicating a competitive landscape for such services. 3. The contract duration of 364 days suggests a need for ongoing, reliable wireless connectivity. 4. The award type 'BPA CALL' implies this is a call against a previously established Blanket Purchase Agreement, potentially streamlining the procurement process. 5. The fixed-price contract type offers cost certainty for the government, mitigating risks associated with fluctuating service costs. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests this contract was not specifically targeted towards small businesses.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $14.96 million for wireless telecommunications services over approximately one year needs to be benchmarked against similar government contracts for scale and scope. AT&T Mobility LLC is a large, established provider, suggesting competitive pricing is likely, but a direct comparison to market rates for similar data plans and services would be necessary for a definitive value assessment. The firm fixed-price nature provides budget predictability.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. This approach generally fosters robust price discovery and encourages multiple bidders to vie for the contract, leading to potentially better pricing and service options for the government. The specific number of bidders is not provided, which would offer further insight into the intensity of the competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the potential for cost savings through competitive bidding and ensures the government receives the best value for its spending.

Public Impact

This contract directly benefits the Department of Justice, specifically the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), by providing essential wireless telecommunications services. The services delivered will support the DEA's operational needs, likely including communication for agents, data transmission, and mobile connectivity across various locations. The geographic impact is primarily within Virginia, where the contract is registered, but likely extends to wherever DEA operations require mobile communication. The workforce implications are indirect, supporting the operational efficiency of DEA personnel who rely on these communication services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific bidder count limits assessment of competition intensity.
Per-unit cost analysis is not available, hindering precise value-for-money assessment.
Details on specific services covered by the $15M award are not provided.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting broad market access.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Contract awarded to a major, established provider (AT&T Mobility LLC).

Sector Analysis

The wireless telecommunications sector is a critical component of modern infrastructure, supporting a vast array of government and commercial operations. This contract falls under the NAICS code 517312 (Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)). The market is characterized by a few dominant players, making competition dynamics crucial. Government spending in this area is substantial, reflecting the essential nature of reliable mobile communication for agencies like the DEA.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct implications for small business subcontracting targets based on this specific award. The primary contractor, AT&T Mobility LLC, is a large corporation, and while they may engage small businesses in their broader operations, this contract itself does not mandate such engagement.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is subject to standard federal procurement oversight mechanisms. As a BPA Call award, it likely falls under the oversight of the agency that established the BPA. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases like FPDS. Accountability rests with the Department of Justice and the DEA to ensure the services meet the contract's requirements and are utilized effectively. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Wireless Communication Services
Telecommunications Equipment and Services
Mobile Device Management
Network Infrastructure

Risk Flags

Potential for service disruption
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities
Dependence on a single large provider

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $14,963.47 to ATT MOBILITY LLC. M2M SERVICES

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 $14,963.47.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-10-01. End: 2025-09-30.

What specific wireless services are included in this $14.96 million contract, and how do they align with the DEA's operational requirements?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'M2M SERVICES' (Machine-to-Machine) and falls under NAICS code 517312 (Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)). While the exact breakdown of services is not detailed, M2M services typically involve data communication between devices, often used for tracking, monitoring, and remote management. For the DEA, this could encompass a range of applications such as fleet tracking for vehicles, secure data transmission from field agents' devices, or monitoring of sensitive equipment. The $14.96 million award over approximately one year suggests a substantial volume or complexity of these M2M data services required to support the agency's widespread and critical operations.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar wireless telecommunications contracts awarded by other federal agencies?

Benchmarking the pricing of this $14.96 million contract requires access to detailed per-unit cost data for the specific M2M services provided by AT&T Mobility LLC. Without this granular information, a direct comparison to similar contracts is challenging. However, given that AT&T is a major provider and the contract was awarded under full and open competition, it suggests that the pricing is likely competitive within the market for large-scale enterprise wireless solutions. To perform a robust comparison, one would need to analyze the cost per gigabyte of data, per device connection, or per service feature against other government contracts for similar M2M or general wireless data services.

What is the track record of AT&T Mobility LLC in fulfilling government contracts, particularly for wireless telecommunications services?

AT&T Mobility LLC, as a subsidiary of AT&T Inc., has a long and extensive history of providing telecommunications services to the U.S. government across various agencies. They are a primary vendor for federal wireless needs, including voice, data, and M2M services. Their track record generally includes the successful execution of large-scale contracts, often leveraging their extensive network infrastructure. While specific performance metrics for this particular contract are not yet available due to its recent award, AT&T's established presence and experience in the federal sector suggest a high likelihood of meeting contractual obligations. Government contract databases often contain past performance information that can be reviewed for more detailed insights.

What are the potential risks associated with this contract, and what mitigation strategies are in place?

Potential risks for this wireless telecommunications contract include service disruptions due to network outages or technical failures, cybersecurity threats to data transmission, and potential cost overruns if usage exceeds projections (though less likely with fixed-price). The reliance on a single provider, even a large one, can also pose a risk. Mitigation strategies typically involve service level agreements (SLAs) with penalties for downtime, robust cybersecurity protocols mandated by the contract, and continuous monitoring of service usage and performance by the DEA. The firm fixed-price nature helps mitigate budget risks. Furthermore, the government often has contingency plans or alternative providers in mind for critical services.

How does this contract fit into the broader landscape of federal spending on telecommunications and wireless services?

This $14.96 million contract represents a segment of the significant federal spending on telecommunications and wireless services, which are essential for modern government operations. Agencies across the DoD, civilian departments, and intelligence communities rely heavily on these services for everything from basic communication to advanced data analytics and mission-critical applications. The total federal spending on wireless services runs into billions of dollars annually. This specific award to the DEA for M2M services highlights the increasing importance of data-driven connectivity for law enforcement and intelligence gathering, reflecting a trend towards leveraging technology for enhanced operational capabilities.

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 - END USER

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: $14,963

Exercised Options: $14,963

Current Obligation: $14,963

Actual Outlays: $14,980

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15F06720A0001516

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline