Treasury Spends $5.6M on Entrust Certificates Maintenance and Support with DH Technologies
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $5,656,334 ($5.7M)
Contractor: DH Technologies, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of the Treasury
Start Date: 2022-12-04
End Date: 2026-12-03
Contract Duration: 1,460 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: ENTRUST CERTIFICATES MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: PARKERSBURG, WOOD County, WEST VIRGINIA, 26106
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Treasury obligated $5.7 million to DH TECHNOLOGIES, INC. for work described as: ENTRUST CERTIFICATES MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to DH Technologies, Inc. for $5.6M. 2. Service category is 'Other Computer Related Services'. 3. Contract duration is 4 years. 4. Awarded under Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources. 5. Firm Fixed Price contract type.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $5.6M over 4 years appears reasonable for specialized certificate maintenance and support services. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts is needed for a definitive assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources', indicating a competitive process. However, the 'Exclusion of Sources' aspect warrants further review to understand if it limited the competitive pool and potentially impacted price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential IT security infrastructure. The competitive nature of the award suggests an effort to secure fair pricing, but the exclusion clause needs scrutiny.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operation of critical digital certificate services for the Treasury. Supports cybersecurity posture by maintaining trusted identity verification mechanisms. Potential for vendor lock-in if specialized knowledge is required for certificate management. Impacts government's ability to conduct secure online transactions and communications.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential impact of 'Exclusion of Sources' on competition.
- Need for clear performance metrics and service level agreements.
- Risk of vendor-specific knowledge becoming a barrier to future competition.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through a competitive process.
- Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
- Long-term contract ensures continuity of essential services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under IT services, specifically related to cybersecurity infrastructure. Spending benchmarks for similar IT maintenance and support contracts vary widely based on complexity and scope, but $5.6M over four years for certificate management is within a typical range for government agencies.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate if small businesses were involved in this procurement. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation or opportunities missed.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight should focus on the justification for 'Exclusion of Sources' and ensure DH Technologies meets all performance requirements and service level agreements throughout the contract duration.
Related Government Programs
- Other Computer Related Services
- Department of the Treasury Contracting
- Bureau of the Fiscal Service Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for limited competition due to 'Exclusion of Sources'.
- Dependence on a single vendor for critical certificate infrastructure.
- Lack of transparency on specific performance metrics and KPIs.
- Risk of cost escalation if contract terms are not tightly managed.
- Need to verify the necessity and justification for excluding potential bidders.
Tags
other-computer-related-services, department-of-the-treasury, wv, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Treasury awarded $5.7 million to DH TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. ENTRUST CERTIFICATES MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is DH TECHNOLOGIES, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Treasury (Bureau of the Fiscal Service).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $5.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-12-04. End: 2026-12-03.
What was the specific justification for excluding other sources in this full and open competition?
The justification for excluding other sources in a 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources' award is critical. Typically, this implies that while the solicitation was open, certain vendors were excluded based on specific criteria, such as proprietary technology, security clearances, or unique capabilities. Understanding this rationale is key to assessing whether the competition was truly maximized or if it inadvertently restricted potential cost savings for taxpayers.
How does the per-unit cost of Entrust certificate maintenance compare to industry benchmarks?
Without specific details on the number and type of certificates covered, a precise per-unit cost benchmark is difficult. However, the total contract value of $5.6M over four years suggests an average annual cost of $1.4M. This figure should be compared against industry rates for similar enterprise-level certificate authority maintenance and support, considering factors like the complexity of the PKI environment and the criticality of the services provided by the Treasury.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how is DH Technologies' performance being measured?
Effective oversight requires clearly defined KPIs for this contract. These might include certificate issuance/revocation times, system uptime, incident response times, and adherence to security protocols. Regular performance reviews and reporting by the Bureau of the Fiscal Service are essential to ensure DH Technologies is meeting its contractual obligations and that taxpayer funds are being used effectively to maintain critical cybersecurity infrastructure.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: RFQ CIO-30130503-23-001
Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 161 FORT EVANS RD NE STE 255, LEESBURG, VA, 20176
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, HUBZone Firm, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $10,267,352
Exercised Options: $5,656,334
Current Obligation: $5,656,334
Actual Outlays: $5,656,334
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNG15SC70B
IDV Type: GWAC
Timeline
Start Date: 2022-12-04
Current End Date: 2026-12-03
Potential End Date: 2027-12-03 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-28
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