DOJ's FBI awards $20.4M IT support contract to ECS Federal, LLC for custom programming

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $20,391,703 ($20.4M)

Contractor: ECS Federal, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2020-08-28

End Date: 2025-10-31

Contract Duration: 1,890 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: ITSSS - STOR 221 - CIAU SUPPORT SERVICES - BASE PLUS FOUR OPTION YEARS

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22031

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $20.4 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC for work described as: ITSSS - STOR 221 - CIAU SUPPORT SERVICES - BASE PLUS FOUR OPTION YEARS Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable given the duration and scope of IT support services. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process, potentially leading to better pricing. 3. Risk indicators are low, with a clear scope of work and established contractor. 4. Performance context is within custom computer programming services, a common IT requirement. 5. Sector positioning is within the IT services industry, supporting federal agency operations. 6. The contract's duration of nearly 5 years indicates a long-term need for these services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's total value of approximately $20.4 million over nearly five years suggests a moderate annual spend. Benchmarking against similar custom computer programming services contracts is challenging without more specific details on the exact services rendered. However, the pricing structure (Time and Materials) can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed closely. The number of bids received (3) in a full and open competition provides some assurance of market-based pricing.

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. Three bids were received, suggesting a moderate level of competition for this specific requirement. While three bidders is not a large number, it still provides a basis for price discovery and allows the agency to select the best value offer.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down prices and encouraging innovative solutions from contractors.

Public Impact

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) benefits from enhanced IT support services. Custom computer programming services are delivered to support the agency's operational needs. The geographic impact is primarily within Virginia, where the contract is managed. The contract supports IT professionals and potentially other roles within the contractor's organization.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost creep with Time and Materials pricing if not closely monitored.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical IT support services over a multi-year period.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a fair and transparent process.
Contractor (ECS Federal, LLC) has experience in providing IT services to the federal government.
Clear contract duration and defined scope of work provide predictability.

Sector Analysis

The IT professional services sector is a significant component of federal spending, with agencies relying heavily on contractors for specialized skills in areas like custom software development, cybersecurity, and IT infrastructure management. This contract falls within the custom computer programming services sub-sector, which is characterized by a large number of small and large businesses competing for government work. Federal spending in this area is driven by the need to modernize legacy systems, develop new applications, and maintain secure IT operations.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the awardee, ECS Federal, LLC, is not identified as a small business in this context. There is no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem appears limited for this specific award, though the prime contractor may engage small businesses in their supply chain.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the FBI's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are embedded in the contract terms, including performance standards and delivery schedules. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

FBI IT Support Services
Custom Computer Programming Services
Federal IT Services Contracts
Department of Justice IT Spending

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing structure.
Limited number of bidders (3) in a full and open competition may indicate potential for better price discovery.
Contract duration of nearly 5 years requires sustained oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $20.4 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC. ITSSS - STOR 221 - CIAU SUPPORT SERVICES - BASE PLUS FOUR OPTION YEARS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ECS FEDERAL, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $20.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-08-28. End: 2025-10-31.

What is the track record of ECS Federal, LLC in delivering similar IT support services to the federal government?

ECS Federal, LLC has a history of performing IT services for various federal agencies. While specific details on past performance for this exact type of custom programming are not provided in the summary data, their presence as a contractor suggests they have met federal procurement requirements. A deeper dive into their contract history, past performance reviews, and any reported issues would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment. However, being awarded a multi-year contract by the FBI indicates a level of trust and demonstrated capability in serving government needs.

How does the awarded value of $20.4 million compare to similar custom computer programming services contracts awarded by the FBI or other agencies?

Comparing the $20.4 million value requires context on the scope, duration, and complexity of services. For a nearly five-year contract (August 2020 - October 2025) for custom programming, this annual average spend is roughly $4 million. This figure is within a reasonable range for IT support contracts of this nature, especially considering the specialized skills required for custom development. However, without knowing the specific deliverables, number of personnel, and service level agreements, a precise benchmark is difficult. Similar contracts for large-scale system development or integration could be significantly higher, while smaller, more focused projects would be lower.

What are the primary risks associated with this Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for the FBI?

The primary risk with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts pay the contractor for the direct labor hours at specified hourly rates, plus the actual cost of materials. If the scope of work is not well-defined, or if project management is lax, the contractor could incur more hours or use more resources than initially anticipated, leading to a higher final cost than budgeted. Effective oversight, clear task orders, and diligent monitoring of labor hours and material costs are crucial to mitigate this risk.

How effective is the FBI in managing its IT support contracts to ensure value for money?

The provided data does not offer direct insights into the FBI's effectiveness in managing this specific contract for value for money. However, the use of full and open competition and the receipt of multiple bids suggest an intent to achieve competitive pricing. The FBI, as a major law enforcement and intelligence agency, generally has established procurement and contract management processes. The effectiveness would ultimately depend on the diligence of their contracting officers, program managers, and the performance metrics defined within the contract itself. Regular performance reviews and cost analysis would be key indicators.

What is the historical spending trend for custom computer programming services at the FBI or the Department of Justice?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending trends for custom computer programming services at the FBI or the broader Department of Justice (DOJ). To assess historical trends, one would need to analyze contract data over several fiscal years, looking at the total amount spent on NAICS code 541511 (Custom Computer Programming Services) and similar IT service codes. This would involve examining contract databases to identify patterns in spending, the number and value of contracts awarded, and the types of services procured over time.

What are the implications of awarding this contract to ECS Federal, LLC, given the number of bids received?

Awarding this contract to ECS Federal, LLC, after receiving three bids under full and open competition, suggests that the FBI selected the offer that best met their requirements, likely considering both technical approach and price. While three bidders indicate some level of competition, it is not an exceptionally high number. This means that while the FBI likely secured a competitive price, there might have been other capable vendors who did not bid or were not aware of the opportunity. The agency's evaluation process would have determined if the chosen offer represented the best value and if the competition was sufficient to ensure fair market pricing.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Asgn Incorporated

Address: 2750 PROSPERITY AVE STE 600, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031

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: $29,929,760

Exercised Options: $20,391,703

Current Obligation: $20,391,703

Actual Outlays: $25,389,274

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $4,500,287

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F048DA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline