USDA Awards $2.4M BPA Call for Strategic Management Advisement Support to J3 Consulting LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,440,448 ($2.4M)

Contractor: J3 Consulting LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2026-01-20

End Date: 2028-01-19

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) OFFICE OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (OCIO) DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES CENTER (DISC)STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT, ARCHITECTURE RESOURCING AND TECHNICAL (SMART) ADVISEMENT SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: RESTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20190

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $2.4 million to J3 CONSULTING LLC for work described as: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) OFFICE OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (OCIO) DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES CENTER (DISC)STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT, ARCHITECTURE RESOURCING AND TECHNICAL (SMART) ADVISEMENT SUPPORT Key points: 1. The contract supports the USDA OCIO with strategic management and technical advisement. 2. J3 Consulting LLC is the awardee under a full and open competition. 3. The contract duration is 729 days, ending January 19, 2028. 4. The award is a Firm Fixed Price BPA Call, indicating predictable costs. 5. The NAICS code 611430 suggests professional development training services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract is a Firm Fixed Price BPA Call, which typically offers good value by locking in costs. The total award amount of $2.44 million over two years suggests a reasonable investment for specialized advisement services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, allowing all eligible vendors to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the government receives the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award is expected to yield fair pricing, benefiting taxpayers by ensuring funds are used efficiently for necessary advisement services.

Public Impact

Enhances USDA's digital infrastructure management capabilities. Supports strategic planning and technical resource management within OCIO. Ensures continuity of essential advisement services through a competitive award. Potential for improved efficiency and effectiveness in USDA's IT operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited information on specific deliverables and performance metrics.
Potential for scope creep if advisement needs are not clearly defined.
Reliance on a single awardee for critical advisement functions.

Positive Signals

Awarded via full and open competition.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty.
Long-term contract duration allows for sustained support.
Supports a critical function within USDA's OCIO.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector, particularly professional and management development training (NAICS 611430), is crucial for government agencies to maintain and modernize their technological capabilities. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on the specific nature of advisement and training required.

Small Business Impact

While this contract was awarded through full and open competition, there is no explicit indication of small business participation or subcontracting goals. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved in the bidding process or as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The award is managed by the USDA OCIO, which is responsible for overseeing IT strategy and operations. The BPA Call mechanism allows for task orders to be issued, providing a framework for oversight of specific services rendered.

Related Government Programs

Professional and Management Development Training
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Office of the Chief Financial Officer Programs

Risk Flags

Contract duration extends beyond the current fiscal year.
Awarded to a single entity (J3 Consulting LLC).
NAICS code suggests training/development, but description is broad advisement.
No explicit mention of small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $2.4 million to J3 CONSULTING LLC. UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) OFFICE OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (OCIO) DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES CENTER (DISC)STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT, ARCHITECTURE RESOURCING AND TECHNICAL (SMART) ADVISEMENT SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is J3 CONSULTING LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Office of the Chief Financial Officer).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-01-20. End: 2028-01-19.

What specific strategic management and technical advisement services are included in this BPA Call, and how do they align with USDA's current IT modernization goals?

The BPA Call is for "Strategic Management, Architecture Resourcing and Technical (SMART) Advisement Support." While the data doesn't detail specific services, it implies support for planning, resource allocation, and technical strategy within the USDA OCIO. Alignment with modernization goals would depend on the specific task orders issued under this BPA Call, focusing on areas like cloud migration, cybersecurity enhancements, or data management strategies.

What is the potential risk associated with the Firm Fixed Price contract type for advisement services, and how is it mitigated?

The primary risk with Firm Fixed Price for advisement is that if the scope of work is not precisely defined, the contractor may either over-deliver at a loss or under-deliver to meet the fixed price. Mitigation involves clear Statements of Work (SOWs) in each BPA Call task order, robust performance monitoring by USDA, and potentially incorporating change control processes to adjust scope and price if unforeseen requirements emerge.

How effective is the full and open competition process in ensuring the best value for taxpayer money in specialized IT advisement contracts like this one?

Full and open competition is generally effective in ensuring best value by fostering a competitive environment where multiple vendors vie for the contract, driving down prices and encouraging innovation. For specialized IT advisement, its effectiveness hinges on the clarity of the solicitation, the ability of a diverse range of qualified firms to understand and bid on the requirements, and the agency's ability to objectively evaluate proposals beyond just price.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Business Schools and Computer and Management Training › Professional and Management Development Training

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 12314426Q0023

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1725 I ST NW STE 300, WASHINGTON, DC, 20006

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, HUBZone Firm, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $7,281,344

Exercised Options: $2,440,448

Current Obligation: $2,440,448

Actual Outlays: $100,852

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12314424A0027

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline