Interior Department's $6.3M contract for project support services awarded to AKICITA CYBER LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,286,614 ($6.3M)

Contractor: Akicita Cyber LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2023-11-02

End Date: 2026-11-02

Contract Duration: 1,096 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROJECT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE OF FACILITIES PROPERTY AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT, DIVISION OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION (DFMC) BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (BSS) IDIQ

Place of Performance

Location: ALBUQUERQUE, BERNALILLO County, NEW MEXICO, 87104

State: New Mexico Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $6.3 million to AKICITA CYBER LLC for work described as: PROJECT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE OF FACILITIES PROPERTY AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT, DIVISION OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION (DFMC) BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (BSS) IDIQ Key points: 1. The contract aims to provide essential business support services for facilities management and construction. 2. Awarded to AKICITA CYBER LLC, a company with a focus on cyber and administrative services. 3. The contract duration is approximately three years, indicating a medium-term need for these services. 4. The scope includes administrative management and general management consulting, crucial for operational efficiency. 5. The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, suggesting a specific justification for the procurement method. 6. The contract value is $6,286,614.08, representing a significant investment in support functions.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more detailed cost breakdowns or comparisons to similar IDIQ contracts for administrative support services. The total award amount of $6.3 million over three years suggests an average annual spend of approximately $2.1 million. This figure needs to be assessed against the specific deliverables and the complexity of the support required by the Office of Facilities Management and Construction. Without comparative data on the cost of similar services provided to other federal agencies or within the private sector, it's difficult to definitively assess if this represents excellent value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This procurement method implies that while the competition was intended to be open, specific sources were excluded, likely due to pre-qualification requirements or specific capabilities needed for the task. The number of bidders is not explicitly stated, but the 'exclusion of sources' suggests a potentially narrowed field compared to a truly unrestricted full and open competition. This could impact price discovery if fewer qualified vendors were able to participate.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process, even if limited, as it aims to secure services at a reasonable price. However, the exclusion of certain sources warrants scrutiny to ensure it was justified and did not unduly restrict competition, potentially leading to higher costs than a broader competition might have achieved.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, which will receive enhanced operational support. Services delivered include administrative management and general management consulting, aimed at improving the efficiency of facilities management and construction operations. The geographic impact is primarily within New Mexico, where the contractor is based, but the services support national-level functions of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Workforce implications may include the creation or sustainment of jobs within AKICITA CYBER LLC and potentially its subcontractors, contributing to the local economy in New Mexico.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The 'exclusion of sources' in the competition method requires further investigation to ensure it was fully justified and did not limit potential cost savings.
Lack of detailed performance metrics or specific deliverables in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the true value and effectiveness of the services.
The contract's reliance on labor hours (PT) can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly, compared to fixed-price contracts.

Positive Signals

The contract is awarded to a small business (AKICITA CYBER LLC), potentially aligning with federal goals to support small business growth.
The duration of the contract (nearly 3 years) suggests a stable, ongoing need for these critical support services.
The contract falls under administrative management and general management consulting, which are essential functions for efficient government operations.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative and management consulting. This sector is a significant component of federal contracting, supporting a wide array of agency functions. The market for these services is competitive, with numerous firms offering expertise in areas like operational efficiency, strategic planning, and business process improvement. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing the average cost of similar IDIQ contracts for management support services across various federal agencies, considering factors like contract size, duration, and the specific agency's mission.

Small Business Impact

AKICITA CYBER LLC is identified as a small business, and this contract award aligns with federal initiatives to award a portion of government contracts to small businesses. The contract does not explicitly state small business set-aside provisions, but the award to a small business itself contributes to the small business ecosystem. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities are mandated or encouraged for other small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be defined within the contract's statement of work and performance standards. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, which provide public access to award details. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Facilities Management Support Contracts
Bureau of Indian Affairs Operations Support
Department of the Interior IT and Management Services

Risk Flags

Competition Method Justification
Performance Monitoring and Evaluation
Cost Control for Labor Hour Contracts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $6.3 million to AKICITA CYBER LLC. PROJECT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE OF FACILITIES PROPERTY AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT, DIVISION OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION (DFMC) BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (BSS) IDIQ

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AKICITA CYBER LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-11-02. End: 2026-11-02.

What is the track record of AKICITA CYBER LLC in performing similar federal contracts?

Assessing AKICITA CYBER LLC's track record requires a deep dive into their past performance on federal contracts. While the provided data indicates they are the awardee of this specific contract, information regarding their history with similar administrative management and general management consulting services is not detailed here. A thorough review would involve examining their contract history in the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or other relevant databases to identify previous awards, their values, durations, and any reported performance evaluations. Understanding their experience with the Department of the Interior or similar agencies would also be crucial. Without this historical data, it's difficult to gauge their capacity, reliability, and past success in delivering comparable services, which is a key indicator of future performance.

How does the pricing structure of this contract compare to market rates for similar services?

The provided data indicates the contract is based on 'LABOR HOURS' (PT), which means the total cost is determined by the hours worked by contractor personnel multiplied by their agreed-upon hourly rates. To compare this pricing to market rates, one would need to benchmark the specific labor categories and their associated hourly rates against industry standards and government-wide acquisition contracts (GWACs) or other IDIQs offering similar services. Factors such as the experience level of the personnel, geographic location, and the specific skill sets required would influence these rates. Without access to the detailed rate structure within the contract, a precise comparison is not possible. However, the total award value of $6.3 million over nearly three years suggests an average annual spend that can be roughly divided by the estimated number of labor hours to get an approximate blended hourly rate for comparison.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Primary risks associated with this contract could include performance risk (contractor failing to deliver services as required), cost risk (expenditures exceeding the anticipated budget, especially with labor hour contracts), and schedule risk (delays in service delivery impacting agency operations). Mitigation strategies typically involve robust contract oversight by the government, clearly defined performance standards and metrics, regular progress reviews, and potentially the use of award fees or penalties tied to performance. The 'exclusion of sources' in the procurement method might also represent a risk if it inadvertently limited the pool of highly qualified vendors, potentially impacting price or innovation. The government's mitigation would involve ensuring the exclusion was justified and that the selected contractor has a proven ability to meet the requirements.

What is the expected effectiveness of the services provided under this contract in achieving the Bureau of Indian Affairs' goals?

The effectiveness of the services hinges on how well they support the 'PROJECT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR INDIAN AFFAIRS OFFICE OF FACILITIES PROPERTY AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT, DIVISION OF FACILITIES MANAGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION (DFMC) BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES (BSS) IDIQ'. These services are intended to enhance the operational efficiency and management of facilities and construction projects. If AKICITA CYBER LLC provides timely, accurate, and comprehensive administrative and management consulting, it should lead to better project planning, execution, and oversight within the DFMC. This, in turn, should contribute to the Bureau of Indian Affairs' broader goals related to infrastructure development and maintenance for Native American communities. Measuring effectiveness would require tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) related to project timelines, budget adherence, and stakeholder satisfaction.

How does historical spending on similar support services by the Bureau of Indian Affairs compare to this award?

To assess historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze past contracts awarded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or the Department of the Interior for similar 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' or 'Business Support Services' for facilities management. This analysis would involve looking at the total dollar amounts awarded, the number of contracts, the types of services procured, and the duration of those contracts over several fiscal years. Comparing the current $6.3 million award to historical data would reveal whether this represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of investment in such support functions. It would also help identify trends in contractor selection and pricing within the BIA for these types of services.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 140A1623Q0082

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 187 OYATE CIRCLE, LOWER BRULE, SD, 57548

Business Categories: American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Government, Native American Tribal Government, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $10,665,606

Exercised Options: $6,291,614

Current Obligation: $6,286,614

Actual Outlays: $3,239,410

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 140A1623D0004

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline