Commerce Dept. awards $3.15M for AWS-native data lake to replace siloed systems

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,148,027 ($3.1M)

Contractor: Technology & Business Management Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2026-01-15

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 258 days

Daily Burn Rate: $12.2K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES FOR THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEPLOYMENT OF A SCALABLE, AUTOMATED, AND SECURE ENTERPRISE DATA LAKE (EDL) PLATFORM BUILT ENTIRELY ON AWS-NATIVE SERVICES. THE EDL WILL REPLACE SILOED, ON-PREMISE SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT DATA CONSOL

Place of Performance

Location: SUITLAND, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20746

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $3.1 million to TECHNOLOGY & BUSINESS MANAGEMENT INC. for work described as: THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES FOR THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEPLOYMENT OF A SCALABLE, AUTOMATED, AND SECURE ENTERPRISE DATA LAKE (EDL) PLATFORM BUILT ENTIRELY ON AWS-NATIVE SERVICES. THE EDL WILL REPLACE SILOED, ON-PREMISE SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT DATA CONSOL Key points: 1. Focus on modernizing data infrastructure by replacing legacy on-premise systems. 2. Leverages cloud-native AWS services for scalability and security. 3. Aims to improve data accessibility and support for advanced analytics. 4. Contract awarded to Technology & Business Management Inc. 5. Firm Fixed Price contract type suggests predictable cost outcomes. 6. Performance period spans approximately 9 months.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $3.15 million for designing, developing, and deploying an enterprise data lake on AWS appears reasonable given the scope. While direct comparisons are difficult without more granular data on platform complexity and specific AWS services utilized, the cost aligns with typical IT modernization projects of this nature. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government, mitigating risks associated with scope creep or unforeseen technical challenges during development.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. The specific justification for this approach is not detailed in the provided data. Sole-source awards can sometimes lead to higher prices due to a lack of competitive pressure. However, they may be justified if the contractor possesses unique capabilities or if the project requires specialized expertise that cannot be readily obtained through a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition means taxpayers may not have benefited from the potentially lower prices that a competitive bidding process could have generated.

Public Impact

Benefits the U.S. Census Bureau by providing a modern data platform. Delivers services for the design, development, and deployment of an enterprise data lake. Geographic impact is primarily within the U.S. Census Bureau's operational centers. Workforce implications include potential upskilling for personnel managing the new platform.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to suboptimal pricing.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical data infrastructure development.
Potential for vendor lock-in with AWS-native services.

Positive Signals

Utilizes modern cloud-native technologies for enhanced performance.
Addresses a clear need to replace outdated and siloed data systems.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost predictability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on computer systems design and cloud-based data solutions. The market for enterprise data lakes, particularly those built on cloud platforms like AWS, is robust and growing as organizations increasingly prioritize data-driven decision-making. Spending benchmarks for similar cloud migration and data platform development projects can vary widely based on scope, complexity, and the specific cloud services employed, but a $3.15 million investment for a comprehensive platform is within a common range for federal agencies.

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 for small businesses arising from a small business set-aside. The prime contractor, Technology & Business Management Inc., is responsible for its own subcontracting strategy if any is required for project execution.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the U.S. Census Bureau's contracting officers and program managers. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases and reporting requirements. While no specific Inspector General jurisdiction is mentioned, the Department of Commerce's Office of Inspector General would likely have oversight authority over significant federal contracts to ensure proper use of funds and adherence to regulations.

Related Government Programs

Enterprise Data Management
Cloud Computing Services
Data Warehousing Solutions
IT Modernization Projects
Big Data Analytics Platforms

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive justification.
Potential for cost overruns if scope is not tightly managed.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $3.1 million to TECHNOLOGY & BUSINESS MANAGEMENT INC.. THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES FOR THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, AND DEPLOYMENT OF A SCALABLE, AUTOMATED, AND SECURE ENTERPRISE DATA LAKE (EDL) PLATFORM BUILT ENTIRELY ON AWS-NATIVE SERVICES. THE EDL WILL REPLACE SILOED, ON-PREMISE SYSTEMS AND SUPPORT DATA CONSOL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TECHNOLOGY & BUSINESS MANAGEMENT INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (U.S. Census Bureau).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-01-15. End: 2026-09-30.

What specific AWS-native services will be utilized in the development of the Enterprise Data Lake (EDL)?

The provided data indicates the Enterprise Data Lake (EDL) will be built 'entirely on AWS-native services.' While specific services are not enumerated, common AWS services for such a platform typically include Amazon S3 for data storage, AWS Glue for data cataloging and ETL (Extract, Transform, Load), Amazon EMR (Elastic MapReduce) or AWS Lake Formation for data processing and governance, and potentially Amazon Redshift or Athena for data warehousing and querying. The exact suite of services will depend on the specific requirements for scalability, security, data processing needs, and analytical capabilities defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

How does the $3.15 million cost compare to similar federal data lake projects?

Benchmarking the $3.15 million cost for this data lake project against similar federal contracts is challenging without detailed scope and complexity comparisons. However, for a project involving the design, development, and deployment of a scalable, secure enterprise data lake on a cloud platform like AWS, this figure is within a reasonable range. Larger, more complex data migrations or platforms supporting a wider array of advanced analytics might cost significantly more, while smaller, more focused data repositories could be less expensive. The firm fixed-price nature provides cost certainty, which is a positive indicator for value, assuming the scope is well-defined.

What are the primary risks associated with a sole-source award for this data lake project?

The primary risks associated with a sole-source award for this data lake project stem from the lack of competitive pressure. This can potentially lead to higher costs for the government compared to a competed contract, as the contractor may not feel compelled to offer the most aggressive pricing. There's also a risk of vendor lock-in, particularly if the platform becomes heavily reliant on proprietary aspects of the chosen cloud provider (AWS in this case) or the specific implementation by Technology & Business Management Inc. Furthermore, without competition, there's a reduced opportunity to explore alternative technical solutions or innovative approaches that other vendors might offer.

What is the expected impact of this data lake on the U.S. Census Bureau's data processing and analytical capabilities?

The new Enterprise Data Lake (EDL) is expected to significantly enhance the U.S. Census Bureau's data processing and analytical capabilities by replacing siloed, on-premise systems. The move to a scalable, automated, and secure platform built on AWS aims to break down data silos, making data more accessible and integrated. This improved data accessibility should facilitate more efficient data processing workflows and enable more sophisticated analytical techniques, ultimately supporting better data-driven insights and decision-making for the Bureau's various statistical programs and operations.

What is the historical spending pattern for computer systems design services at the U.S. Census Bureau?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for computer systems design services at the U.S. Census Bureau requires access to comprehensive federal procurement data. While this specific contract is for $3.15 million, understanding the Bureau's broader IT investment trends, including previous expenditures on similar data infrastructure projects, cloud migrations, or system modernizations, would provide valuable context. Without that historical data, it's difficult to ascertain if this award represents a significant increase or decrease in spending for this category of service, or how it aligns with long-term IT modernization strategies.

What are the performance metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract?

The provided contract data does not explicitly detail the performance metrics or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this Enterprise Data Lake (EDL) development project. Typically, such metrics would be defined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and could include aspects like platform uptime, data ingestion speed, query performance, security compliance levels, successful deployment within the timeline, and user adoption rates. The firm fixed-price nature suggests that meeting these defined performance standards is crucial for the contractor to receive full payment.

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: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5651 BENGAL PL, HAYMARKET, VA, 20169

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,148,027

Exercised Options: $3,148,027

Current Obligation: $3,148,027

Actual Outlays: $185,178

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline