DOJ's FBI contract for IT support awarded to CSRA LLC for over $41.8M, spanning nearly four years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $41,842,625 ($41.8M)

Contractor: Csra LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2014-02-01

End Date: 2017-12-01

Contract Duration: 1,399 days

Daily Burn Rate: $29.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE INCENTIVE

Sector: IT

Official Description: NEW NICS SUPPORT. IGF::OT::IGF

Place of Performance

Location: CLARKSBURG, HARRISON County, WEST VIRGINIA, 26306

State: West Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $41.8 million to CSRA LLC for work described as: NEW NICS SUPPORT. IGF::OT::IGF Key points: 1. The contract's fixed-price incentive structure aims to align contractor performance with government objectives. 2. Competition was robust, with multiple bidders likely driving a more competitive pricing environment. 3. The contract's duration and value suggest a significant, ongoing need for IT services within the FBI. 4. Performance context is crucial to assess if the achieved outcomes justify the investment. 5. This contract falls within the 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code, indicating a broad scope of IT support. 6. The fixed-price incentive (FPI) contract type carries inherent risks if cost targets are not met or incentives are poorly structured.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without detailed performance metrics and cost breakdowns. The total award of $41.8 million over nearly four years suggests a substantial investment. However, without comparable contract data for similar IT support services at the FBI or other agencies, it's difficult to definitively assess if the pricing was optimal or if the value delivered was excellent. The fixed-price incentive structure implies an attempt to control costs while incentivizing performance, but the ultimate value depends heavily on the execution and achievement of specific targets.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a reasonable level of competition, which is generally favorable for price discovery and potentially achieving better value. However, the specific number of bidders doesn't guarantee the most competitive outcome; factors like the complexity of the requirement and the number of qualified vendors play a role. The full and open nature is a positive indicator for taxpayer value.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally leads to more competitive pricing, which benefits taxpayers by ensuring the government is not overpaying for services. It also promotes a wider pool of potential contractors, fostering innovation and potentially leading to better service delivery.

Public Impact

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the primary beneficiary, receiving essential IT support services. Services delivered likely encompass a range of IT functions, including system maintenance, network support, and potentially software development or integration, as indicated by the NAICS code. The contract's performance location is West Virginia, suggesting a specific geographic focus for these IT services. The contract supports the operational capabilities of a key federal law enforcement agency, indirectly benefiting public safety and national security.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if performance incentives are not met or if the fixed-price component proves insufficient for the scope of work.
Risk associated with the contractor's ability to deliver the full spectrum of 'Other Computer Related Services' effectively over the contract's duration.
Dependency on a single contractor for critical IT infrastructure and support in a specific geographic location (West Virginia).

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a fair and transparent procurement process.
The use of a Fixed Price Incentive (FPI) contract type indicates an effort to manage costs and incentivize contractor performance.
The contract duration of nearly four years suggests a stable, long-term need for these services, potentially leading to efficiencies through contractor expertise.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector is highly dynamic and competitive. This contract for 'Other Computer Related Services' falls under a broad category encompassing IT consulting, systems integration, and support. The federal government is a significant consumer of such services, with spending often concentrated in areas like cybersecurity, cloud computing, and data management. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing IT support contracts across various agencies, looking at metrics like cost per user, cost per service hour, or total contract value for similar scopes of work. The market size for federal IT services is substantial, with numerous large and small businesses vying for these contracts.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a specific small business set-aside component, as indicated by 'sb: false'. Furthermore, the prime contractor, CSRA LLC, is a large business. While there's no direct set-aside, the contract may still offer subcontracting opportunities for small businesses, depending on the prime contractor's subcontracting plan and the nature of the services required. The absence of a set-aside means that small businesses did not have exclusive bidding rights for this specific contract, but they could still participate indirectly through subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the contracting officer and the relevant program officials within the FBI. The contract type (Fixed Price Incentive) includes mechanisms for monitoring performance against established targets and cost ceilings. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General oversight is possible, particularly if performance issues, fraud, or waste are suspected. The Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General would likely have jurisdiction.

Related Government Programs

FBI IT Support Services
Department of Justice IT Modernization Efforts
Federal Law Enforcement Technology Contracts
General Services Administration (GSA) IT Schedule Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to fixed-price incentive structure.
Scope creep risk in 'Other Computer Related Services'.
Dependency on contractor performance for critical IT functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $41.8 million to CSRA LLC. NEW NICS SUPPORT. IGF::OT::IGF

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CSRA LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $41.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2014-02-01. End: 2017-12-01.

What was the specific performance history of CSRA LLC on this contract, and did it meet the incentive targets?

Detailed performance history and achievement of incentive targets for this specific contract are not publicly available in the provided data. The contract type, Fixed Price Incentive (FPI), suggests that both the government and the contractor had agreed-upon targets for cost, performance, and delivery schedules. If the contractor met or exceeded these targets, they could earn an incentive fee. Conversely, if targets were missed, the fee could be reduced, or the contractor might incur penalties depending on the contract's specific terms. A thorough review of contract performance reports, final cost/price adjustments, and any associated contract modifications would be necessary to fully assess CSRA LLC's performance and whether the incentive structure proved effective in delivering value.

How does the per-unit cost or total cost compare to similar IT support contracts awarded by the FBI or other federal agencies?

Direct per-unit cost comparison is not feasible with the provided data, as specific units of service (e.g., hourly rates, cost per ticket, cost per system supported) are not detailed. The total award of $41.8 million over 1399 days (approximately 3.8 years) averages to roughly $10.9 million per year. To benchmark this, one would need to identify comparable contracts for 'Other Computer Related Services' awarded around the same period by agencies with similar IT needs to the FBI. Factors such as contract scope, service level agreements (SLAs), geographic location, and specific technologies supported would need to be closely matched. Without such detailed comparative analysis, it's difficult to definitively state whether this contract represented excellent, fair, or questionable value from a cost perspective.

What were the primary risks identified during the procurement process, and how were they mitigated?

The provided data does not explicitly detail the risks identified during the procurement process for this specific contract. However, common risks associated with IT support contracts of this nature and value include: technical risks (e.g., system integration challenges, obsolescence of technology), performance risks (e.g., failure to meet SLAs, inadequate support levels), cost risks (e.g., budget overruns, unexpected expenses), and schedule risks (e.g., delays in service delivery). The mitigation strategies would typically involve robust contract language, clearly defined performance metrics and SLAs, the chosen contract type (FPI aims to mitigate cost and performance risks), and potentially phased delivery schedules. The full and open competition itself acts as a risk mitigation strategy by ensuring a wide pool of qualified vendors.

What is the overall effectiveness of this contract in supporting the FBI's mission-critical IT functions?

Assessing the overall effectiveness of this contract in supporting the FBI's mission-critical IT functions requires access to performance metrics, user satisfaction surveys, and evidence of the contract's contribution to the FBI's operational goals. The data indicates a significant financial commitment ($41.8M) over a substantial period (nearly 4 years) for 'Other Computer Related Services' in West Virginia. This suggests a critical need. However, effectiveness is not solely determined by contract value or duration but by the quality, reliability, and timeliness of the services provided and how well they enable the FBI's core missions, such as investigations and data analysis. Without specific outcome-based reporting, effectiveness remains an assumption based on the contract's existence and scope.

How has FBI spending on 'Other Computer Related Services' evolved over time, and does this contract represent a significant shift?

The provided data snippet focuses on a single contract award (ID: IGF::OT::IGF) and does not offer historical spending trends for the FBI in the 'Other Computer Related Services' category (NAICS 541519). To analyze the evolution of FBI spending in this sector, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending.gov) for all contracts awarded under NAICS 541519 to the FBI over multiple fiscal years. This would reveal patterns in spending levels, types of services procured, and key contractors. This specific $41.8 million contract, awarded in 2014, represents a significant single award, but whether it signifies a broader shift depends on the overall spending trajectory for these services during that period and subsequent years.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE INCENTIVE (L)

Contractor Details

Address: 3170 FAIRVIEW PARK DR, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 22042

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $41,842,625

Exercised Options: $41,842,625

Current Obligation: $41,842,625

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F4381G

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline