FEMA awards $2.9M task order to AttainX Inc. for CBRN responder network support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,938,853 ($2.9M)

Contractor: Attainx Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2024-04-03

End Date: 2027-04-11

Contract Duration: 1,103 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: AWARD A TASK ORDER FOR CBRNRESPONDER NETWORK SUPOORT

Place of Performance

Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $2.9 million to ATTAINX INC. for work described as: AWARD A TASK ORDER FOR CBRNRESPONDER NETWORK SUPOORT Key points: 1. Contract provides essential support for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Responder Network. 2. AttainX Inc. has been awarded a firm-fixed-price task order under a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. 3. The contract duration extends over three years, indicating a need for sustained support. 4. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 5. The task order falls under Computer Systems Design Services, aligning with IT infrastructure needs. 6. The geographic location of the awardee is Virginia, potentially impacting local economic contributions.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The award amount of $2.94 million for three years of support for a CBRN responder network appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the services. Benchmarking against similar IT support contracts for critical infrastructure or emergency response systems would provide further context. Without specific details on the scope of 'network support,' a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the firm-fixed-price structure offers cost certainty.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This task order was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating that multiple vendors were likely considered and competed for the work. The presence of 9 bidders (no) suggests a healthy level of competition for this specific task order, which generally leads to better pricing and service offerings for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The robust competition for this task order is beneficial for taxpayers as it likely drove down costs and ensured the government received competitive proposals for essential CBRN responder network support.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the CBRN responders who rely on a functional and supported network for their critical operations. The services delivered will ensure the continuity and effectiveness of the CBRN Responder Network, crucial for national security and emergency preparedness. The geographic impact is national, as the CBRN Responder Network supports responses across the United States. Workforce implications include the potential for AttainX Inc. to utilize skilled IT professionals, contributing to employment in the technology sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if the network becomes highly specialized to AttainX's solutions.
Dependence on a single task order awardee for critical network support could pose risks if performance issues arise.
The specific details of 'network support' are not fully elaborated, making it difficult to assess the full scope of work and potential challenges.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive process that should yield good value.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost predictability for the government.
The contract duration of over three years suggests a stable and ongoing need for these services, indicating program importance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Computer Systems Design Services sector, a significant segment of the IT industry. The market for supporting critical infrastructure networks, especially those related to national security and emergency response like the CBRN network, is specialized and requires high levels of technical expertise. Spending in this area is driven by the government's need to maintain and upgrade its technological capabilities for various operational demands.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary awardee, AttainX Inc., is likely a larger entity. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this specific task order, which could be an area for further inquiry to understand the broader impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this task order would typically fall under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) contracting officers and program managers. As it's a task order under an IDIQ, the oversight mechanisms of the parent contract would also apply. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

CBRN Preparedness Programs
Emergency Management Support Services
Homeland Security Information Technology
National Response Framework Support
Federal IT Infrastructure Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Dependence on single awardee for critical infrastructure support
Scope of 'network support' not fully detailed

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $2.9 million to ATTAINX INC.. AWARD A TASK ORDER FOR CBRNRESPONDER NETWORK SUPOORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ATTAINX INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-04-03. End: 2027-04-11.

What is the specific nature of the 'CBRN Responder Network Support' being provided by AttainX Inc.?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'CBRNRESPONDER NETWORK SUPOORT' under NAICS code 541512 (Computer Systems Design Services). While the exact technical details are not specified, this suggests AttainX Inc. is likely providing services related to the design, implementation, maintenance, or enhancement of the IT network infrastructure used by CBRN responders. This could encompass network security, data management, communication systems integration, software support, or system administration crucial for the operational readiness and effectiveness of the CBRN Responder Network.

How does the $2.94 million award compare to similar IT support contracts for emergency response networks?

Benchmarking this $2.94 million award requires comparing it to similar contracts for IT network support within emergency response or national security contexts. Contracts for maintaining critical communication and data infrastructure for agencies like FEMA, DHS, or DoD often range from hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars annually, depending on the complexity and scale. Given the specialized nature of CBRN response and the three-year duration, this award appears to be within a reasonable range for sustained, high-level IT support. However, a more precise comparison would necessitate access to data on contracts with identical or closely related scopes of work and service levels.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this task order?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this task order. Typically, for IT support contracts, especially those related to critical networks, SLAs would define metrics such as network uptime, response times for technical support, system availability, and data security compliance. These would be detailed in the task order's statement of work. The absence of this information in the summary data limits a full assessment of performance expectations and accountability.

What is AttainX Inc.'s track record with Department of Homeland Security or similar agencies?

AttainX Inc. has a history of contracting with federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Their contract portfolio often includes IT services, cybersecurity, and program management support. The award of this task order by FEMA, an agency within DHS, suggests a positive past performance evaluation or existing relationship. A deeper dive into their contract history would reveal the specific types of services previously rendered, their performance ratings on those contracts, and their experience with similar critical infrastructure or emergency response systems.

What is the historical spending trend for CBRN Responder Network support by FEMA?

The provided data focuses on a single task order award and does not offer historical spending trends for the CBRN Responder Network support. To analyze historical spending, one would need to examine FEMA's (or DHS's) procurement data over several fiscal years, identifying all contracts and task orders related to the CBRN Responder Network. This would reveal whether spending has been consistent, increasing, or decreasing, and whether AttainX Inc. or other contractors have been consistently awarded this type of work.

What are the potential risks associated with relying on AttainX Inc. for this critical network support?

Potential risks associated with relying on AttainX Inc. for this critical network support include performance failures, security breaches, cost overruns (though mitigated by FFP), and vendor lock-in. If AttainX Inc. fails to meet performance standards or experiences a security incident, the operational readiness of the CBRN Responder Network could be compromised. Furthermore, if the network becomes highly integrated with AttainX's proprietary solutions, transitioning to another vendor in the future could be complex and costly. The government mitigates these risks through contract oversight, performance monitoring, and clear contractual terms.

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 AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 13873 PARK CENTER RD STE 55N, HERNDON, VA, 20171

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,073,144

Exercised Options: $2,938,853

Current Obligation: $2,938,853

Actual Outlays: $2,047,750

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCB21D0128

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline