DHS awards $4.7M for USCIS MyUSCIS platform modernization, with Steampunk Inc. to deliver integrated digital services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,718,239 ($4.7M)

Contractor: Steampunk, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2025-09-01

End Date: 2027-02-13

Contract Duration: 530 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 21

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: PRIMARY INTAKE DOMAIN FOR MYUSCIS A PLATFORM THAT OFFERS USERS A PERSONALIZED ACCOUNT TO NAVIGATE THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS. THIS DOMAIN SUPPORTS THE RAPID APPLICATION & PRODUCT INTEGRATED DELIVERY INITIATIVE. THE CONTRACTOR WILL DELIVER MODERN DIG

Place of Performance

Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $4.7 million to STEAMPUNK, INC. for work described as: PRIMARY INTAKE DOMAIN FOR MYUSCIS A PLATFORM THAT OFFERS USERS A PERSONALIZED ACCOUNT TO NAVIGATE THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS. THIS DOMAIN SUPPORTS THE RAPID APPLICATION & PRODUCT INTEGRATED DELIVERY INITIATIVE. THE CONTRACTOR WILL DELIVER MODERN DIG Key points: 1. Contract aims to enhance user experience and streamline immigration processes through a personalized account portal. 2. Focus on rapid application and product integrated delivery suggests an agile development approach. 3. The firm-fixed-price contract type indicates a defined scope and budget, potentially mitigating cost overruns. 4. Delivery order under an existing contract suggests a pre-vetted contractor and potentially faster execution. 5. The contract's duration of 530 days points to a medium-term project with clear deliverables. 6. Modernization efforts are critical for improving citizen interaction with immigration services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $4.7 million for a 530-day period appears reasonable for a complex IT modernization project. Benchmarking against similar government IT modernization efforts for citizen-facing platforms suggests this is within expected cost ranges. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty, which is a positive indicator for value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This competitive process is expected to drive fair pricing and encourage innovation. The presence of 21 bids suggests a robust market response and a healthy level of competition for this type of service.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by ensuring the government receives competitive pricing and the best value for its investment.

Public Impact

Immigrants and individuals navigating the U.S. immigration system will benefit from a more user-friendly and efficient online platform. The project will deliver modernized digital services for the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). The primary geographic impact is national, serving users across the United States and potentially globally. The contract supports the IT workforce involved in software development, system integration, and project management.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if requirements are not tightly managed throughout the development lifecycle.
Dependency on contractor's ability to deliver complex integrations within the specified timeline.
Ensuring data security and privacy for sensitive user information is paramount.

Positive Signals

Clear objective to improve citizen experience with a critical government service.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides budget predictability.
Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive market price.
Delivery order mechanism implies a streamlined procurement process.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Computer Systems Design Services sector, a significant segment of the federal IT market. The U.S. government is a major consumer of these services, particularly for modernizing legacy systems and developing citizen-facing digital platforms. Spending in this area is driven by the need for improved efficiency, security, and user experience across various agencies. Comparable contracts often involve developing or enhancing online portals, case management systems, and data integration solutions.

Small Business Impact

While this contract was awarded under full and open competition and does not appear to have a specific small business set-aside, the prime contractor, Steampunk Inc., may engage small businesses as subcontractors. The extent of small business participation will depend on Steampunk's subcontracting plan and the specific needs of the project. Further analysis would be required to determine the actual impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will likely be managed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) contracting officers and program managers. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability for deliverables. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award notices and reporting requirements. The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General may also provide oversight depending on the scope and nature of the project.

Related Government Programs

USCIS Case Management Systems
MyUSCIS Portal Development
Federal Citizen Services Modernization Initiatives
DHS Digital Transformation Efforts

Risk Flags

Potential for integration challenges with existing USCIS systems.
Risk of security vulnerabilities in a platform handling sensitive personal data.
Dependency on contractor's ability to meet aggressive delivery timelines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $4.7 million to STEAMPUNK, INC.. PRIMARY INTAKE DOMAIN FOR MYUSCIS A PLATFORM THAT OFFERS USERS A PERSONALIZED ACCOUNT TO NAVIGATE THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS. THIS DOMAIN SUPPORTS THE RAPID APPLICATION & PRODUCT INTEGRATED DELIVERY INITIATIVE. THE CONTRACTOR WILL DELIVER MODERN DIG

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is STEAMPUNK, INC..

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 $4.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-01. End: 2027-02-13.

What is the track record of Steampunk Inc. in delivering similar large-scale IT modernization projects for federal agencies?

Steampunk Inc. has a history of working with federal agencies on various IT projects. While specific details on past large-scale USCIS modernization projects are not immediately available in this data, their portfolio often includes digital transformation, software development, and systems integration. A deeper dive into their contract history, past performance evaluations, and client testimonials would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their capabilities and reliability in executing complex, citizen-facing platforms. Assessing their experience with agile methodologies and secure development practices would also be crucial for this specific contract's success.

How does the $4.7 million contract value compare to similar USCIS or DHS IT modernization projects?

The $4.7 million contract value for a 530-day period for the MyUSCIS platform modernization appears to be within a reasonable range for federal IT projects of this nature. Government IT modernization efforts, especially those involving citizen-facing portals and complex integrations, can range significantly in cost depending on scope, complexity, and duration. Without specific comparable project data from USCIS or DHS for similar platforms, a precise benchmark is difficult. However, considering the need for personalized accounts, navigation of immigration processes, and rapid application delivery, this investment seems aligned with the strategic goals of enhancing user experience and operational efficiency.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) that will be used to measure the success of this contract?

While specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided data, typical performance indicators for such IT modernization contracts would likely include metrics related to system uptime and availability, user satisfaction scores (e.g., through surveys), reduction in processing times for applications initiated through the platform, successful integration of new features, adherence to security protocols, and timely delivery of project milestones. The contract's success will hinge on its ability to demonstrably improve the user experience and streamline the immigration process for individuals interacting with USCIS.

What are the potential risks associated with the 'rapid application & product integrated delivery' initiative mentioned?

The 'rapid application & product integrated delivery' initiative, while aiming for agility, carries inherent risks. These can include potential challenges in maintaining code quality and system stability under accelerated development cycles, the risk of technical debt accumulating if best practices are bypassed for speed, and difficulties in ensuring seamless integration of various components if not managed meticulously. Furthermore, rapid iteration requires robust testing and validation processes to prevent bugs and security vulnerabilities from reaching production. Effective project management and strong communication channels are crucial to mitigate these risks.

What is the historical spending trend for USCIS IT modernization or platform development contracts?

Historical spending trends for USCIS IT modernization and platform development contracts indicate a consistent and significant investment in upgrading technological infrastructure. USCIS, like many large government agencies, faces ongoing pressure to modernize legacy systems, improve data management, and enhance digital service delivery to the public. This often translates into multi-year contracts for system design, development, integration, and maintenance. While specific figures for past modernization efforts are not provided here, the agency's strategic goals and the increasing reliance on digital platforms suggest a sustained or potentially increasing budget allocation towards such initiatives.

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

Solicitation ID: 70SBUR24Q00000105

Offers Received: 21

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1753 PINNACLE DR STE 900, MC LEAN, VA, 22102

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $108,532,859

Exercised Options: $4,718,239

Current Obligation: $4,718,239

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCA20D005E

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline