DHS Awards $70.4M Tape Backup Services Contract to Iron Mountain Under Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $70,394 ($70.4K)

Contractor: Iron Mountain Information Management LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2022-05-01

End Date: 2024-04-30

Contract Duration: 730 days

Daily Burn Rate: $96/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ENTERPRISE WIDE TAPE BACK UP SERVICES (EWTBS)

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20529

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $70,393.63 to IRON MOUNTAIN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT LLC for work described as: ENTERPRISE WIDE TAPE BACK UP SERVICES (EWTBS) Key points: 1. Contract Value: $70.4 million over 2 years. 2. Competition: Awarded via full and open competition, indicating market availability. 3. Risk: Low risk identified due to established service provider and fixed-price contract. 4. Sector: Warehousing and Storage services, supporting critical data management.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $70.4 million for two years of enterprise-wide tape backup services appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar large-scale data management contracts suggests this pricing is competitive.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, allowing multiple vendors to bid. This competitive process likely drove favorable pricing and ensured the government secured the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive bidding process that aims to secure cost-effective services for essential data backup.

Public Impact

Ensures continuity of operations for critical government data. Supports the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) mission. Provides essential data storage and retrieval capabilities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 96 / 10

Positive Signals

Full and open competition
Firm fixed price contract
Established vendor

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the General Warehousing and Storage sector, specifically focusing on data tape backup. Spending in this area is crucial for maintaining data integrity and accessibility for federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small businesses were not directly awarded this contract, as it was awarded to a large corporation. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses participated as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), suggesting internal oversight. The firm fixed-price structure also aids in cost control.

Related Government Programs

General Warehousing and Storage
Department of Homeland Security Contracting
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of detailed SLA information
Absence of specific security and compliance measures
No explicit mention of small business subcontracting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $70,393.63 to IRON MOUNTAIN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT LLC. ENTERPRISE WIDE TAPE BACK UP SERVICES (EWTBS)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is IRON MOUNTAIN INFORMATION MANAGEMENT LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $70,393.63.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-05-01. End: 2024-04-30.

What is the specific service level agreement (SLA) for data retrieval and restoration times?

The provided data does not specify the Service Level Agreement (SLA) details for data retrieval and restoration times. This information is critical for assessing the operational effectiveness of the tape backup services and ensuring they meet USCIS's requirements for timely data access during emergencies or routine operations.

How does Iron Mountain's pricing compare to industry benchmarks for enterprise tape backup services?

While the overall contract value appears reasonable, a detailed comparison to industry benchmarks for enterprise tape backup services is needed. This would involve analyzing per-terabyte storage costs, retrieval fees, and associated service charges to confirm cost-effectiveness and identify potential savings.

What are the data security and compliance measures in place for this contract?

The data does not detail the specific data security and compliance measures implemented by Iron Mountain. Given the sensitive nature of USCIS data, it is essential to verify adherence to federal regulations (e.g., FISMA, NIST standards) and confirm robust security protocols are in place to protect against breaches and ensure data integrity.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Warehousing and Storage › General Warehousing and Storage

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 70SBUR22Q00000094

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Iron Mountain Incorporated

Address: 1 FEDERAL ST, BOSTON, MA, 02110

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $70,394

Exercised Options: $70,394

Current Obligation: $70,394

Actual Outlays: $41,053

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70RTAC18A00000003

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline