DOJ awards $11M IT support contract to ManTech, facing delays due to CWS issues

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $10,979,748 ($11.0M)

Contractor: Mantech Advanced Systems International, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2022-04-01

End Date: 2022-09-30

Contract Duration: 182 days

Daily Burn Rate: $60.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: EOIR ENTERPRISE IT SUPPORT SERVICES EITSS. ATP ISSUED ON 04/01/2022. DELAYS DUE TO CWS ISSUES.

Place of Performance

Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $11.0 million to MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: EOIR ENTERPRISE IT SUPPORT SERVICES EITSS. ATP ISSUED ON 04/01/2022. DELAYS DUE TO CWS ISSUES. Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for enterprise IT support services. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process. 3. Potential risks include project delays attributed to CWS issues. 4. Performance context is limited by the short duration and recent award date. 5. This contract positions the DOJ within the broader federal IT services sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $11 million for enterprise IT support services seems within a reasonable range for a federal agency of the Department of Justice's size. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts across federal agencies would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while common for IT services, can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely managed. However, the relatively short duration of the contract (182 days) may mitigate some of these risks.

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 typically leads to a more robust selection process and potentially better pricing due to market forces. The data does not specify the number of bidders, but the competitive nature of the award suggests multiple interested parties vied for this contract.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can drive down costs and improve service quality.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice benefits from enhanced enterprise IT support. Essential IT services are delivered to support the agency's mission. The primary geographic impact is within the agency's operational locations. The contract supports IT professionals and potentially related technical roles.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Delays due to CWS issues could impact service delivery timelines and potentially increase costs if not resolved efficiently.
The Time and Materials pricing model requires diligent oversight to prevent scope creep and ensure cost control.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process that likely yielded fair market pricing.
The contract aims to provide critical IT support, essential for the functioning of a large federal agency like the DOJ.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Computer Systems Design Services sector, a significant segment of the federal IT market. Federal spending on IT services is consistently high, with agencies like the Department of Justice relying heavily on these services for operations. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar IT support contracts within federal agencies can range from a few million to tens of millions of dollars annually, depending on scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, and there is no explicit indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that the primary focus was on securing the best technical solution and price through open competition, rather than specifically promoting small business participation in this particular award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Justice's contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract terms, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though specific performance details may be internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice IT Modernization Efforts
Federal Enterprise IT Support Services
Computer Systems Design Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Project Delays
Time and Materials Pricing Risk

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $11.0 million to MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.. EOIR ENTERPRISE IT SUPPORT SERVICES EITSS. ATP ISSUED ON 04/01/2022. DELAYS DUE TO CWS ISSUES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Offices, Boards and Divisions).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-04-01. End: 2022-09-30.

What is the track record of ManTech Advanced Systems International, Inc. with federal IT support contracts?

ManTech Advanced Systems International, Inc. has a significant history of performing federal IT support contracts across various agencies. Their experience often includes areas such as systems integration, cybersecurity, software development, and enterprise IT infrastructure management. While specific performance metrics for this particular contract are not yet available due to its recent award and reported delays, ManTech's broader federal contracting history generally indicates a capacity to handle complex IT requirements. A detailed review of past performance evaluations and contract close-outs would provide a more granular understanding of their reliability and effectiveness in similar engagements.

How does the $11 million contract value compare to similar federal IT support contracts?

The $11 million contract value for 182 days of enterprise IT support services for the DOJ is substantial for its duration. When compared to similar federal IT support contracts, this value suggests a significant scope of work or a high level of specialized support required. For instance, longer-term, multi-year enterprise IT support contracts for agencies of similar size can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. However, on a daily or monthly basis, this contract's value appears to reflect a high-intensity support requirement. A precise comparison would necessitate analyzing contracts with identical service descriptions, agency size, and service level agreements.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, beyond the mentioned CWS issues?

Beyond the stated CWS issues causing delays, primary risks associated with this Time and Materials (T&M) contract include potential cost overruns if the scope of work expands beyond initial estimates or if labor hours are not efficiently utilized. Scope creep is a common risk with T&M contracts, where requirements may evolve, leading to increased costs without a corresponding increase in contract value. Another risk is the potential for performance degradation if the contractor's personnel lack the necessary expertise or if there are challenges in knowledge transfer, especially given the short contract duration. Ensuring adequate government oversight to monitor labor hours and task completion is crucial to mitigate these risks.

How effective is the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for ensuring program effectiveness in IT support?

The Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can be effective for IT support services when the scope of work is not clearly defined at the outset or is expected to evolve. It allows for flexibility in adapting to changing requirements, which is common in IT environments. However, its effectiveness hinges heavily on robust government oversight to manage costs and ensure that the labor hours billed are reasonable and directly related to the work performed. Without stringent monitoring, T&M contracts can lead to inefficiencies and cost overruns, potentially impacting program effectiveness if budget constraints are exceeded. For this DOJ contract, the effectiveness will depend on how well the agency manages the T&M aspects and addresses the CWS-related delays.

What are the historical spending patterns for enterprise IT support services within the Department of Justice?

Historical spending patterns for enterprise IT support services within the Department of Justice (DOJ) are generally substantial, reflecting the agency's complex and extensive IT needs. The DOJ, like many large federal agencies, consistently allocates significant portions of its budget to IT infrastructure, software, and support services. Annual spending can run into hundreds of millions of dollars across various IT contracts, encompassing everything from network maintenance and cybersecurity to application development and end-user support. This specific $11 million award represents a component of that broader IT expenditure, likely focused on a particular set of enterprise support functions or a specific project phase.

What is the significance of the contract being a Delivery Order (DO) under an existing contract vehicle?

The fact that this award is a Delivery Order (DO) signifies that it was issued under a pre-existing Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract or similar contract vehicle. This implies that the foundational contract terms, including pricing structures, labor categories, and general scope of services, were already established and competed previously. Issuing a DO allows agencies to procure specific quantities of goods or services as needed, streamlining the acquisition process compared to awarding a brand new contract. For taxpayers, this can mean faster delivery of services and potentially better pricing if the underlying IDIQ contract was competitively awarded and well-managed.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Mantech International Corporation

Address: 2251 CORPORATE PARK DRIVE, HERNDON, VA, 20171

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $19,716,127

Exercised Options: $19,716,127

Current Obligation: $10,979,748

Actual Outlays: $10,984,460

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $4,761,470

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCK18D0031

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline