DHS awards $5.86M for IT support, with Thundercat Technology securing a firm-fixed-price contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,863,905 ($5.9M)

Contractor: Thundercat Technology, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2024-06-20

End Date: 2025-06-19

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $16.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: BULK DATA ACQUISITION, ANALYSIS AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22202

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $5.9 million to THUNDERCAT TECHNOLOGY, LLC for work described as: BULK DATA ACQUISITION, ANALYSIS AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract focuses on IT services including data acquisition, analysis, and system integration. 2. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources, indicating a competitive process. 3. The contract is a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, suggesting potential for future work. 4. Firm-fixed-price contract type shifts risk to the contractor, potentially stabilizing costs. 5. The award value is modest, suggesting a focused scope of work. 6. Contract duration of one year aligns with project-based IT support needs.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $5.86 million for one year of IT support appears reasonable for specialized services. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts within DHS or other agencies would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm-fixed-price structure is generally favorable for cost control when requirements are well-defined. Without specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns, a definitive assessment of cost efficiency is challenging, but the award amount does not immediately suggest overpricing for the described services.

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,' which implies that while the competition was broad, specific circumstances led to the exclusion of certain previously considered sources. This suggests a competitive process was initiated, but the final pool of bidders might have been refined. The number of bidders is not specified, but the 'full and open' designation generally promotes price discovery and allows multiple qualified vendors to participate, leading to potentially better pricing for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process helps ensure that taxpayer funds are used efficiently by driving down prices and encouraging high-quality service delivery from multiple potential providers.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within DHS, receiving critical IT support. Services delivered include data acquisition, analysis, and system integration, crucial for operational efficiency. The geographic impact is likely concentrated within the operational areas of ICE, primarily in Virginia where the contractor is located. Workforce implications include the potential for skilled IT professionals to be engaged in supporting national security and immigration enforcement efforts.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if initial data acquisition or analysis requirements are not precisely defined.
Dependence on contractor expertise for critical IT functions could pose a risk if knowledge transfer is insufficient.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract mitigates cost overrun risks for the government.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process, likely yielding a qualified vendor.
The contract is a delivery order, indicating it's part of a pre-competed vehicle, potentially streamlining future procurements.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader Information Technology (IT) services sector, specifically focusing on data management, analysis, and system integration. The IT services market is highly competitive and dynamic, with significant government spending allocated to these areas to support agency operations and modernization efforts. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar IT support contracts within federal agencies often range from a few million to tens of millions of dollars annually, depending on the scope and complexity of services. This award appears to be a mid-tier value within this sector.

Small Business Impact

The contract details indicate that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a primary set-aside criterion for this specific award. This suggests that the competition was likely dominated by larger, established IT service providers. There is no explicit mention of subcontracting goals for small businesses within the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular contract appears minimal, though the prime contractor may engage small businesses in their supply chain.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracting officers and program managers within DHS. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm-fixed-price contract terms, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed-upon price. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, which record award details. The DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) would have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.

Related Government Programs

DHS IT Modernization Programs
ICE Data Analytics Initiatives
Federal Cloud Computing Strategy
Cybersecurity Support Services

Risk Flags

Potential for undefined scope in data acquisition/analysis
Reliance on contractor for specialized IT expertise

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $5.9 million to THUNDERCAT TECHNOLOGY, LLC. BULK DATA ACQUISITION, ANALYSIS AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THUNDERCAT TECHNOLOGY, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-06-20. End: 2025-06-19.

What is the specific nature of the 'BULK DATA ACQUISITION, ANALYSIS AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION SUPPORT' required by ICE?

The contract specifies 'BULK DATA ACQUISITION, ANALYSIS AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION SUPPORT.' This implies a need for services related to gathering large volumes of data from various sources, processing and analyzing this data to extract meaningful insights, and integrating the resulting information or systems with existing ICE infrastructure. This could involve database management, data warehousing, business intelligence, data visualization, and the development or modification of software systems to handle and process this data. The exact nature of the data (e.g., operational, financial, intelligence) and the systems involved would be detailed in the Statement of Work (SOW) not provided here, but it is critical for ICE's operational functions.

How does the $5.86 million award value compare to similar IT support contracts within DHS or ICE?

The $5.86 million award for a one-year contract is a moderate value for specialized IT support. Within DHS, which has a substantial IT budget, contracts for system integration and data analysis can range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars. For instance, similar data analytics or system integration projects supporting large federal agencies often fall within the $1 million to $10 million range for annual task orders or delivery orders. Without knowing the specific deliverables and complexity, it's difficult to provide a precise benchmark, but this award appears aligned with typical project-based IT support needs for a component like ICE.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate Thundercat Technology's performance under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or metrics for evaluating Thundercat Technology's performance. However, under a firm-fixed-price contract, performance is typically measured against the requirements outlined in the Statement of Work (SOW). Common KPIs for data acquisition and analysis contracts include data accuracy rates, timeliness of data delivery, successful integration of systems, quality of analytical reports, and adherence to project milestones. The contracting officer's representative (COR) would monitor these aspects, and formal performance evaluations might be conducted at contract completion or periodically.

What is the track record of Thundercat Technology, LLC in performing similar federal IT support contracts?

Thundercat Technology, LLC has a history of performing IT services for the federal government. While specific details on past performance for 'BULK DATA ACQUISITION, ANALYSIS AND SYSTEM INTEGRATION SUPPORT' are not in the provided snippet, the company's presence in federal contracting suggests experience. A deeper dive into their contract history, past performance reviews (available through sources like the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and the types of agencies they have supported would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment of their track record. Their ability to win this competitive bid indicates they met the qualifications set forth by DHS.

What are the potential risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Potential risks include technical challenges in data acquisition or integration, contractor performance issues, or changes in requirements. Mitigation strategies are inherent in the contract type and process. The firm-fixed-price nature shifts cost overrun risk to the contractor. The 'Full and Open Competition' process aims to select a capable vendor. The one-year duration allows for reassessment of needs and performance. Specific mitigation would also involve clear SOW, regular progress meetings between ICE and Thundercat, and defined deliverables with acceptance criteria managed by the COR.

How does this contract align with broader Department of Homeland Security (DHS) IT modernization or data strategy goals?

This contract directly supports DHS's broader goals related to leveraging data for improved decision-making and operational efficiency, particularly within ICE. Modern federal agencies are increasingly focused on data-driven approaches, requiring robust capabilities in data acquisition, analysis, and integration. By procuring these services, ICE is likely aiming to enhance its ability to process and utilize large datasets for its core missions, which could include law enforcement, border security, or immigration management. This aligns with the general trend across DHS and other agencies towards modernizing IT infrastructure and adopting advanced analytics.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Thundercat Technology LLC

Address: 11190 SUNRISE VALLEY DR STE 200, RESTON, VA, 20191

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $39,758,011

Exercised Options: $5,863,905

Current Obligation: $5,863,905

Actual Outlays: $5,864,219

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: NNG15SD26B

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline