DOJ's $33.2M IT contract for JABS project management awarded to CACI-ISS, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $33,257,394 ($33.3M)

Contractor: Caci-Iss, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2013-06-19

End Date: 2021-09-30

Contract Duration: 3,025 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF JOINT AUTOMATED BOOKING SYSTEM PROJECT MANAGEMENT&COMPONENT LIAISON SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: CHANTILLY, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20151

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $33.3 million to CACI-ISS, LLC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF JOINT AUTOMATED BOOKING SYSTEM PROJECT MANAGEMENT&COMPONENT LIAISON SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 3025 days (over 8 years) indicates a long-term need for these services. 3. Services provided fall under Computer Systems Design, a critical area for federal IT infrastructure. 4. The contract was awarded as a Delivery Order, implying it's part of a larger Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) vehicle. 5. The use of Time and Materials pricing can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely managed. 6. The contractor, CACI-ISS, LLC, is a significant player in the federal IT services market.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without knowing the specific services and deliverables under the JABS project. However, the duration and total value suggest a substantial investment. The use of Time and Materials (T&M) pricing, while flexible, carries inherent risks of cost escalation compared to fixed-price contracts. Without detailed performance metrics or comparisons to similar project management and component liaison support contracts, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. The contract's value of approximately $33.2 million over 8 years averages to roughly $4.15 million per year, which needs to be evaluated against the scope and complexity of the JABS system.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This suggests a robust bidding process where multiple companies likely vied for the contract. The level of competition is not explicitly stated in terms of the number of bidders, but the designation implies a market where interested parties could participate, which generally promotes price discovery and potentially better pricing for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to more favorable pricing and a wider selection of qualified contractors, ultimately aiming for better value.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice benefits from enhanced project management and liaison support for its Joint Automated Booking System (JABS). This contract ensures the continued development, maintenance, and operational effectiveness of a critical IT system within the DOJ. The services delivered support the DOJ's mission by improving the efficiency and reliability of its booking and information management processes. The geographic impact is primarily national, supporting DOJ operations across various locations. Workforce implications include the employment of IT professionals and project managers by CACI-ISS, LLC to fulfill the contract requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure can lead to cost overruns if not meticulously monitored and controlled.
The long contract duration (over 8 years) increases the risk of scope creep and potential misalignment with evolving technological needs.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the contractor's efficiency and effectiveness.
The contract is a Delivery Order, suggesting it's part of a larger IDIQ, which might obscure the full scope and total value of the underlying program.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process that should yield qualified bidders.
The contractor, CACI-ISS, LLC, is an established entity with experience in federal IT services, suggesting a degree of reliability.
The contract supports a critical DOJ IT system (JABS), implying a well-defined and necessary function.
The long duration suggests a stable, ongoing requirement, allowing for focused expertise development by the contractor.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on computer systems design services. The federal IT services market is vast and highly competitive, with numerous large and small businesses vying for government contracts. Spending in this area is driven by the need to modernize legacy systems, enhance cybersecurity, and implement new digital solutions across agencies. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale IT system development and support contracts within federal agencies, particularly those involving project management and specialized component liaison.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications specifically mandated for small businesses through a set-aside program for this particular award. However, as a large prime contractor, CACI-ISS, LLC may engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill certain aspects of the contract, depending on their own subcontracting plans and the nature of the work required. The absence of a small business set-aside means the primary competition was open to all responsible sources, including large businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of Justice's contracting officers and program managers responsible for the Joint Automated Booking System (JABS). Performance monitoring, adherence to contract terms, and financial oversight are standard procedures. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract were suspected or identified.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice IT Modernization Programs
Federal Case Management Systems
Criminal Justice Information Systems
Law Enforcement Technology Support
IT Project Management Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Risk of technological obsolescence over the 8-year contract duration.
Need for robust oversight to manage scope creep and ensure performance.
Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $33.3 million to CACI-ISS, LLC. IGF::OT::IGF JOINT AUTOMATED BOOKING SYSTEM PROJECT MANAGEMENT&COMPONENT LIAISON SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CACI-ISS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Offices, Boards and Divisions).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $33.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-06-19. End: 2021-09-30.

What is the specific nature of the 'component liaison support' provided under this contract?

The 'component liaison support' likely refers to the contractor's role in facilitating communication and coordination between different IT components, teams, or stakeholders involved in the Joint Automated Booking System (JABS) project. This could involve bridging gaps between software developers, hardware providers, end-users, and other relevant parties within the Department of Justice or external agencies. Effective liaison ensures that all parts of the system work cohesively, requirements are clearly understood across different groups, and potential conflicts or integration issues are proactively addressed. The specific components and liaisons would depend on the JABS architecture and the DOJ's organizational structure.

How does the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure compare to fixed-price contracts for similar IT project management services?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are flexible and suitable when the scope of work is not clearly defined or is expected to change. For IT project management, T&M allows the government to adapt to evolving requirements without formal change orders for every adjustment. However, T&M contracts carry a higher risk of cost overruns for the government because the final price is determined by the actual labor hours and material costs incurred. Fixed-price contracts, conversely, offer greater cost certainty as the price is set upfront. While they require a well-defined scope, they provide better protection against unexpected cost increases. For IT projects where requirements can be volatile, T&M might be chosen for agility, but it necessitates stringent oversight to control costs, whereas fixed-price is preferred when scope is stable and predictability is paramount.

What is CACI-ISS, LLC's track record with similar large-scale IT system support contracts within the federal government?

CACI-ISS, LLC, as part of the larger CACI International Inc., has a significant track record of supporting federal agencies with IT services, including system design, development, integration, and project management. They have held numerous contracts across various departments, including defense, intelligence, and civilian agencies. Their experience often involves complex IT infrastructure, software development, and mission-critical systems. While specific details for this JABS contract's performance are not provided, CACI's general profile suggests they possess the capabilities and experience necessary for managing large IT projects. A deeper dive into their past performance evaluations and contract history would provide more granular insights into their reliability and effectiveness in similar engagements.

What are the potential risks associated with the 8-year duration of this contract for the Department of Justice?

The primary risk of an 8-year contract duration for an IT system like JABS is technological obsolescence. Technology evolves rapidly, and a system designed or managed under the initial terms might become outdated before the contract ends. Another significant risk is scope creep, where the project's objectives expand beyond the original intent, potentially leading to cost overruns, especially with a T&M contract. Furthermore, long-term contracts can sometimes lead to complacency from the contractor or a reduced incentive to innovate if not managed proactively. The government also risks being locked into a specific technology or approach that may not be optimal in the future. Effective contract management, regular reviews, and flexibility are crucial to mitigate these risks.

How does the $33.2 million total value compare to other federal IT system management contracts of similar scope and duration?

Comparing the $33.2 million total value requires context on the specific services, complexity, and number of users supported by the JABS system. On average, federal IT contracts can range widely, but for a system requiring project management and component liaison support over 8 years, this figure represents an annual average of approximately $4.15 million. This is within the typical range for substantial IT support contracts within large federal agencies. For instance, similar contracts for managing and developing large-scale enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, case management systems, or data infrastructure projects within agencies like the FBI, IRS, or other DOJ components could fall within a similar or higher value bracket, depending on the scale and criticality. Without specific benchmarks for JABS's complexity, a precise comparison is difficult, but it appears to be a significant, but not necessarily outlier, investment.

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 › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1100 N GLEBE RD, ARLINGTON, VA, 22201

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $33,257,394

Exercised Options: $33,257,394

Current Obligation: $33,257,394

Actual Outlays: $17,299,918

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $1,412,835

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DJJ11C2153

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline