EPA awards $2.3M task order for IT systems support to Lintech Global Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,333,664 ($2.3M)

Contractor: Lintech Global Inc

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2023-10-24

End Date: 2026-10-23

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: EPA BPA OECA OC IT SYSTEMS SUPPORT SERVICES ICIS CORE IT SYSTEMS SUPPORT SERVICES TASK ORDER BASE AWARD

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20460

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $2.3 million to LINTECH GLOBAL INC for work described as: EPA BPA OECA OC IT SYSTEMS SUPPORT SERVICES ICIS CORE IT SYSTEMS SUPPORT SERVICES TASK ORDER BASE AWARD Key points: 1. Task order awarded under a broader BPA for IT systems support. 2. Contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control risks. 3. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The contract duration is three years, aligning with typical IT support lifecycles. 5. The awardee, Lintech Global Inc., is a small business. 6. The contract is for IT systems support services for the OECA OC ICIS Core. 7. The base award amount is $2,333,664.15. 8. The contract is managed by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The base award amount of $2.3 million for three years of IT support appears reasonable for the scope of services. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure warrants close monitoring to ensure costs do not escalate beyond initial projections. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts within the EPA or other federal agencies would provide a clearer picture of value for money, especially considering the specific nature of the ICIS Core systems.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This task order was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that all eligible responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the full and open nature suggests a potentially robust competition, which generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition is favorable for taxpayers as it maximizes the pool of potential offerors, increasing the likelihood of receiving competitive pricing and innovative solutions, thereby ensuring efficient use of public funds.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), which relies on the ICIS Core IT systems for its operations. The services delivered will ensure the continued functionality and support of critical IT systems essential for environmental compliance and enforcement. The geographic impact is primarily within the District of Columbia, where the EPA headquarters is located. The contract supports IT professionals and potentially impacts the broader IT services sector through the award to a small business.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed, as it pays for direct labor hours and indirect costs at cost plus a percentage or fixed fee, rather than a fixed price for a defined outcome.
Lack of specific performance metrics or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in the provided data could make it difficult to objectively assess contractor performance and value.
The limited information on the number of bidders in the full and open competition makes it hard to definitively assess the strength of the competition and its impact on pricing.
The specific nature of 'ICIS Core IT Systems Support Services' implies a specialized need, and the availability of comparable market data for benchmarking may be limited.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a Best Practices Acquisition (BPA) Call, which often streamlines the procurement process for recurring needs.
The contract was awarded through a full and open competition, indicating a commitment to maximizing market participation and achieving competitive pricing.
The awardee, Lintech Global Inc., is identified as a small business, potentially supporting federal small business contracting goals.
The contract duration of three years provides stability for essential IT support services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on computer systems design and related services. The market for federal IT support is substantial, with agencies increasingly relying on specialized contractors to maintain and upgrade complex systems. Benchmarking this contract's value would involve comparing its per-year cost against similar IT support task orders for agencies like the EPA, considering factors like system complexity and service level requirements.

Small Business Impact

Lintech Global Inc. is identified as the awardee, and while the data indicates they are a small business, it does not specify if this contract was a small business set-aside. If it was competed full and open, it implies other large businesses could have bid. The implications for the broader small business ecosystem depend on Lintech's subcontracting plans, which are not detailed here. However, awarding to a small business aligns with federal goals to promote small business participation in government contracting.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the EPA's OECA. The Time and Materials nature of the contract necessitates rigorous oversight of labor hours and costs incurred. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

EPA IT Support Services
OECA IT Modernization
Environmental Information Systems
Federal IT Services Contracts
BPA Call Awards

Risk Flags

Time and Materials Contract Type
Potential for Cost Overruns
Limited Performance Data Provided
Need for Robust Oversight

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $2.3 million to LINTECH GLOBAL INC. EPA BPA OECA OC IT SYSTEMS SUPPORT SERVICES ICIS CORE IT SYSTEMS SUPPORT SERVICES TASK ORDER BASE AWARD

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LINTECH GLOBAL INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-10-24. End: 2026-10-23.

What is the specific nature of the 'ICIS Core IT Systems Support Services' and why are they critical to the EPA's mission?

The Integrated Compliance Information System (ICIS) is a cornerstone of the EPA's environmental compliance and enforcement efforts. The 'ICIS Core' likely refers to the foundational IT infrastructure and applications that support this system. These services are critical because ICIS collects, manages, and reports data on environmental permits, inspections, violations, and enforcement actions across various environmental statutes (e.g., Clean Water Act, Clean Air Act). Reliable IT support ensures the integrity, availability, and security of this vital data, enabling the EPA to track compliance, identify trends, enforce regulations, and report on environmental performance to Congress and the public. Without robust support, the system's functionality could degrade, impacting the EPA's ability to carry out its core mission.

How does the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type compare to other contract types for IT support, and what are the associated risks?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are used when the level of effort or the type of work cannot be estimated in advance. They reimburse the contractor for the cost of direct labor (at specified hourly rates) and materials, plus a percentage or fixed amount for overhead and profit. This contrasts with Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contracts, which offer a set price for a defined scope, or Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contracts, where costs are reimbursed up to a ceiling, and a fixed fee is paid. The primary risk with T&M for IT support is the potential for cost overruns, as the government pays for actual hours worked and materials used, rather than a pre-defined outcome. This necessitates stringent oversight, detailed tracking of labor hours, and clear definitions of what constitutes billable time and materials to prevent inefficiencies and ensure value for money.

What is Lintech Global Inc.'s track record with the EPA or similar federal agencies for IT support services?

Information regarding Lintech Global Inc.'s specific track record with the EPA or similar federal agencies for IT support services is not detailed in the provided data. As a small business, their experience may vary. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing their past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), previous contract awards, and any relevant project histories. Understanding their experience with systems similar to ICIS Core, their ability to manage T&M contracts effectively, and their overall performance ratings would be crucial for evaluating their suitability and the potential risks associated with this award.

Can the $2.3 million award be benchmarked against similar IT support contracts to assess value for money?

Benchmarking the $2.3 million award requires comparing it against similar IT support contracts, considering factors such as the scope of services, complexity of the systems supported, duration, contract type (T&M), and the specific agency. Without access to detailed comparative data on IT support for environmental compliance systems or similar complex databases within the federal government, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, for a three-year contract supporting critical core IT systems, the amount appears within a plausible range for specialized federal IT services. A more thorough analysis would involve examining per-year costs, labor categories and rates, and comparing them to industry standards and other government contracts for comparable services.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding an IT support contract through a BPA Call versus a direct solicitation?

Awarding through a BPA Call leverages a pre-competed Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA) or Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), which can expedite the procurement process for specific needs. The primary advantage is speed and efficiency, as much of the foundational competition and vetting has already occurred. However, the risks can include potentially less robust competition at the task order level compared to a full and open solicitation for a specific requirement, depending on the BPA's structure and the number of BPA holders. There's also a risk that the BPA itself may not have captured the most competitive pricing or the best solutions available in the current market if it was established some time ago. For this specific contract, since it was a 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' BPA Call, the competition at the task order level should still be robust among eligible offerors.

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 - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8270 GREENSBORO DR STE 1000, MCLEAN, VA, 22102

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,451,067

Exercised Options: $3,448,930

Current Obligation: $2,333,664

Actual Outlays: $1,286,895

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HERD22A0003

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline