GSA awards $115M+ for cyber training to Amentum Technology, Inc., spanning over 5 years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $115,319,985 ($115.3M)
Contractor: Amentum Technology, Inc.
Awarding Agency: General Services Administration
Start Date: 2019-09-24
End Date: 2025-03-23
Contract Duration: 2,007 days
Daily Burn Rate: $57.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: IT
Official Description: THIS EFFORT INCLUDES PROVIDING PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, ACADEMY OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION, COURSE AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING ENVIRONMENT AND CAPABILITIES, CYBER TRAINING DELIVERY, MTTS, AND ON-DEMAND CYBER TRAINING.
Place of Performance
Location: LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, ANNE ARUNDEL County, MARYLAND, 21090
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
General Services Administration obligated $115.3 million to AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC. for work described as: THIS EFFORT INCLUDES PROVIDING PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, ACADEMY OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION, COURSE AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING ENVIRONMENT AND CAPABILITIES, CYBER TRAINING DELIVERY, MTTS, AND ON-DEMAND CYBER TRAINING. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on comprehensive cyber training, including program management, curriculum development, and delivery. 2. Amentum Technology, Inc. is the sole awardee for this delivery order. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, indicating performance-based incentives. 4. The duration extends to March 2025, covering a significant period of cyber workforce development. 5. This award falls under Computer Systems Design Services, a key area for federal IT support. 6. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a broad search for qualified vendors.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total award value of over $115 million for a period of approximately 5.75 years suggests a substantial investment in cyber training capabilities. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale training and program management contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the Cost Plus Award Fee structure implies that the government aims to incentivize efficient and effective performance, potentially leading to better value than fixed-price contracts if managed well. The pricing will be heavily influenced by the actual costs incurred and the award fees earned based on performance metrics.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through 'full and open competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The data does not specify the number of bidders, but this approach generally fosters a competitive environment. A competitive process is expected to drive better pricing and service offerings as vendors vie for the award. The government's ability to select from a wide pool of potential contractors suggests a robust market for these specialized cyber training services.
Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of securing services at competitive prices and encourages innovation among contractors seeking to win these significant awards.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are federal agencies requiring advanced cyber training for their personnel. Services delivered include program management, academy operations, curriculum development, and direct cyber training. The contract is geographically focused on Maryland (MD), indicating a primary operational base. This contract will likely impact the cybersecurity workforce by enhancing skills and readiness across various federal departments.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- The Cost Plus Award Fee structure requires careful monitoring to ensure award fees are justified by performance and do not inflate costs unnecessarily.
- Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to independently assess the 'award' component of the fee.
- The duration of the contract (over 5 years) necessitates ongoing evaluation to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness of training content in the rapidly evolving cyber landscape.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process that likely yielded a qualified contractor.
- The contract's focus on critical cyber training addresses a significant national security need.
- The Cost Plus Award Fee structure, if managed effectively, can incentivize high performance and quality outcomes.
- Amentum Technology, Inc. is a known entity in government contracting, potentially bringing established expertise.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the broader Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on IT services related to training and education. The market for cybersecurity training is substantial and growing, driven by increasing cyber threats and the need for a skilled federal workforce. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other large federal contracts for IT training, program management, and specialized technical education. The size of this award suggests it is a significant contract within its niche.
Small Business Impact
The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (sb: false) and does not explicitly mention subcontracting goals for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem appears limited for this specific award. However, the prime contractor, Amentum Technology, Inc., may engage small businesses as subcontractors, which would indirectly benefit them. Further analysis of the subcontracting plan would be needed to fully assess the impact.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Federal Acquisition Service. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure necessitates robust oversight to monitor costs, evaluate performance against award criteria, and ensure the government receives fair value. Transparency is typically managed through contract reporting mechanisms and potentially through GSA's internal review processes. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.
Related Government Programs
- Federal Cybersecurity Training Programs
- IT Program Management Services
- Computer Systems Design Services
- Defense Cyber Training Initiatives
- Government IT Services Contracts
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns in CPAF contracts if not closely monitored.
- Risk of training curriculum becoming outdated in a rapidly evolving cyber field.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical cyber training needs.
- Need for robust performance metrics to justify award fees.
Tags
it-services, cyber-security, training-and-education, program-management, cost-plus-award-fee, full-and-open-competition, general-services-administration, federal-acquisition-service, computer-systems-design-services, maryland, large-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
General Services Administration awarded $115.3 million to AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC.. THIS EFFORT INCLUDES PROVIDING PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, ACADEMY OPERATIONS AND ADMINISTRATION, COURSE AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT, TRAINING ENVIRONMENT AND CAPABILITIES, CYBER TRAINING DELIVERY, MTTS, AND ON-DEMAND CYBER TRAINING.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $115.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-09-24. End: 2025-03-23.
What is Amentum Technology, Inc.'s track record with similar large-scale federal training contracts?
Amentum Technology, Inc. has a significant presence in federal contracting, often handling complex IT, engineering, and mission support services. While specific details on their past cyber training contracts of this magnitude are not provided here, their general experience suggests a capability to manage large programs. A deeper dive into their contract history with agencies like the Department of Defense or other intelligence community components would reveal their specific performance on comparable training and program management efforts. Reviewing past performance evaluations and any reported issues would provide a clearer picture of their reliability and effectiveness in delivering similar services.
How does the $115M+ award value compare to other federal cyber training contracts?
The $115 million award value for over five years positions this contract as a significant investment in federal cyber training. To benchmark effectively, one would need to compare it against other large, comprehensive cyber training and readiness programs across federal agencies. For instance, major defense or intelligence agencies often award multi-year contracts in the hundreds of millions for specialized training. Without specific details on the scope and duration of comparable contracts, it's difficult to definitively state if this represents a higher or lower cost per year or per trainee. However, the award size indicates a substantial requirement for advanced cyber skill development within the government.
What are the primary risks associated with a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract for cyber training?
The primary risks with a CPAF contract for cyber training revolve around cost control and performance definition. For the government, there's a risk that costs could escalate beyond initial projections if not managed diligently, and the 'award fee' component requires clearly defined, measurable, and achievable performance metrics. If these metrics are poorly defined or subjective, it can lead to disputes or unjustified fee payments. For the contractor, the risk lies in not meeting the performance standards required to earn the maximum award fee, potentially impacting profitability. Effective oversight and robust performance monitoring are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure value for taxpayer money.
How effective is the current cyber training curriculum likely to be given the contract's duration?
The effectiveness of the cyber training curriculum over the contract's duration (ending March 2025) hinges on the contractor's ability to adapt to the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape. While the contract includes 'course and curriculum development,' the inherent challenge is keeping training relevant. The CPAF structure incentivizes performance, which should ideally include updating content. However, without insight into the specific curriculum development process and update frequency, it's difficult to guarantee its long-term effectiveness. Continuous government oversight and feedback mechanisms will be critical to ensure the training remains cutting-edge and addresses current and emerging cyber threats faced by federal personnel.
What is the historical spending trend for cyber training services by the GSA?
Historical spending data for cyber training services specifically by the GSA's Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) is not directly available in this data snippet. GSA's role often involves providing acquisition support and shared services across agencies. Therefore, this contract likely represents a specific requirement fulfilled through GSA's contracting vehicles. To understand GSA's historical spending trends in this area, one would need to analyze broader GSA IT services spending reports or specific contract vehicles used for training and professional development. Trends across the federal government show a consistent increase in cybersecurity spending, including training, reflecting the growing importance of cyber defense.
What are the implications of awarding this contract to a single vendor, Amentum Technology, Inc.?
Awarding this contract to a single vendor, Amentum Technology, Inc., implies that they were deemed the most capable or offered the best value through the full and open competition process. While this can lead to streamlined communication and a dedicated focus from the contractor, it also concentrates risk. If Amentum faces performance issues or financial instability, the government has fewer immediate alternatives. The government's ability to manage this single-vendor relationship effectively through strong contract oversight and performance management is crucial to ensure the continuity and quality of the cyber training services.
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 › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Pae-Parsons Global Logistics Services, LLC
Address: 600 WILLIAM NORTHERN BLVD, TULLAHOMA, TN, 37388
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $239,036,924
Exercised Options: $239,036,924
Current Obligation: $115,319,985
Actual Outlays: $69,871,231
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 21
Total Subaward Amount: $1,861,853
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 47QTCK18D0056
IDV Type: GWAC
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-09-24
Current End Date: 2025-03-23
Potential End Date: 2025-03-23 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-05-20
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