DOJ's FBI awards $57.6M for EPAS development and O&M, with Accenture Federal Services as prime

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $57,658,510 ($57.7M)

Contractor: Accenture Federal Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2020-09-30

End Date: 2025-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $31.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: STOR 226 EPAS DEVELOPMENT AND O&M SERVICES FOR RPO

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20535

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $57.7 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC for work described as: STOR 226 EPAS DEVELOPMENT AND O&M SERVICES FOR RPO Key points: 1. Contract value of $57.6M over 5 years suggests significant investment in IT infrastructure. 2. Accenture Federal Services, a large IT contractor, holds this award. 3. The contract is a delivery order under a larger IDIQ, indicating a phased approach to IT service delivery. 4. The 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code points to a broad range of IT support. 5. The contract's duration of 1825 days (5 years) aligns with typical IT system lifecycles. 6. The use of Time and Materials pricing may introduce cost variability. 7. The contract is not set aside for small businesses, suggesting a focus on large prime contractors.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total contract value of $57.6 million over five years averages to approximately $11.5 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale IT development and operations contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the duration and scope suggest a substantial investment. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while flexible, can lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly, making value assessment dependent on effective oversight and efficient resource utilization by the contractor.

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 data shows 2 bids were received. A low number of bids in a full and open competition can sometimes suggest market concentration or high barriers to entry for potential bidders, potentially impacting price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: While full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers, a low bid count means there may have been less downward pressure on pricing than in a more crowded field.

Public Impact

The FBI benefits from enhanced Electronic Program Assistance System (EPAS) development and ongoing operations. This contract supports critical IT infrastructure for law enforcement and investigative functions. The primary geographic impact is within the District of Columbia, where the FBI is headquartered. The contract likely supports a workforce of IT professionals, including developers, system administrators, and support staff.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials pricing can lead to cost uncertainty and potential overruns if not closely monitored.
A low number of bids (2) in a full and open competition may indicate limited market competition, potentially affecting price.
The broad 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code lacks specificity, making it harder to assess the exact nature of services and associated costs.
The contract is a delivery order under a larger IDIQ, which can sometimes obscure the full scope and cost of the overall program.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, maximizing potential for competitive pricing.
Accenture Federal Services is a large, established contractor with significant experience in IT services.
The 5-year duration provides stability for critical IT system development and maintenance.
The contract supports the FBI's mission-critical functions, indicating strategic importance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on computer systems development and maintenance. The market for IT services to federal agencies is substantial, with significant spending allocated to software development, cloud services, cybersecurity, and IT operations. Contracts like this are common as agencies modernize legacy systems and adopt new technologies to support their missions. Benchmarks for similar IT services contracts vary widely based on scope, complexity, and duration, but multi-year, multi-million dollar awards are typical for large federal IT initiatives.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the data indicates no small business participation (sb: false). This suggests the prime contractor, Accenture Federal Services, is expected to perform the majority of the work. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this specific delivery order, which could limit opportunities for the small business IT ecosystem in this particular instance.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the contracting agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the General Services Administration (GSA) if it falls under a GSA IT Schedule. The contract type (Delivery Order) implies oversight of performance against specific task orders. Transparency is facilitated by contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General oversight from the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General would apply to ensure efficiency and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.

Related Government Programs

FBI IT Modernization Programs
Department of Justice IT Services
Federal Civilian IT Development and Operations
Other Computer Related Services Contracts
Accenture Federal Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Limited competition (2 bids) may impact price competitiveness.
Lack of specific details on EPAS system functionality.
Reliance on a single prime contractor for critical IT functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $57.7 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC. STOR 226 EPAS DEVELOPMENT AND O&M SERVICES FOR RPO

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES 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 $57.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-09-30. End: 2025-09-29.

What is the specific nature of the 'EPAS' system being developed and maintained?

EPAS likely stands for Electronic Program Assistance System or a similar designation within the FBI. Without further details, its exact function remains unspecified under the broad 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code. However, given it's for the FBI, it could relate to case management, evidence tracking, investigative support, personnel management, or administrative functions. The development and O&M suggest a system that is either new or undergoing significant upgrades and requires continuous support to ensure operational readiness and effectiveness for FBI personnel.

How does the $57.6 million contract value compare to historical FBI IT spending on similar systems?

Comparing this $57.6 million contract value requires context on the FBI's historical IT spending patterns for systems of similar scope and complexity. The FBI has undertaken numerous IT modernization efforts, often involving substantial investments. For instance, past initiatives like the Virtual Case File (VCF) project, though troubled, represented significant financial outlays. This EPAS contract, spanning five years, averages over $11.5 million annually. To assess its relative value, one would need to analyze the FBI's budget allocations for IT development and O&M over the past decade, identifying comparable projects in terms of system criticality, user base, and technological sophistication.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this EPAS development and O&M contract?

Specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract are not publicly detailed. However, typical KPIs for IT development and Operations & Maintenance (O&M) contracts include system uptime/availability, response times for critical functions, defect resolution rates, security vulnerability patching timelines, user satisfaction scores, and adherence to project milestones for development phases. For O&M, metrics often focus on maintaining service levels, managing infrastructure costs, and ensuring data integrity and security. The FBI's contracting officers would establish and monitor these KPIs to ensure Accenture Federal Services meets its contractual obligations.

What is Accenture Federal Services' track record with the FBI and similar federal agencies for IT development and O&M?

Accenture Federal Services (AFS) is a major contractor with a substantial history of providing IT services to various U.S. federal agencies, including the Department of Justice and the FBI. They have experience across a wide range of IT domains, from system modernization and cloud migration to data analytics and cybersecurity. AFS has been involved in numerous large-scale federal IT projects. Their track record with the FBI would likely include previous contracts for system development, integration, and ongoing support. Performance reviews and past performance information, often considered during the bidding process, would provide a more granular assessment of their specific capabilities and reliability for this EPAS contract.

Given the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type, what mechanisms are in place to control costs and prevent scope creep?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, while offering flexibility, inherently carry a higher risk of cost overruns and scope creep. To mitigate this, the FBI would implement several control mechanisms. These typically include establishing firm-fixed-price CLINs (Contract Line Item Numbers) for specific tasks or milestones within the T&M framework, setting not-to-exceed (NTE) limits for labor hours and total contract value, and requiring detailed reporting of labor hours and materials used. Robust oversight by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) is crucial for monitoring progress, validating charges, and ensuring that work performed aligns strictly with the contract's objectives. Regular progress reviews and audits also serve as deterrents against uncontrolled spending.

What are the potential risks associated with relying on a single prime contractor, Accenture Federal Services, for this critical FBI IT system?

Relying on a single prime contractor like Accenture Federal Services for a critical system like EPAS introduces several potential risks. These include vendor lock-in, where the FBI becomes heavily dependent on AFS's proprietary knowledge and processes, making future transitions difficult or costly. There's also the risk of performance degradation if AFS faces internal challenges such as staffing shortages, financial instability, or shifts in strategic focus. Furthermore, a single point of failure exists; if AFS fails to meet contractual obligations or experiences a major disruption, the FBI's operations could be severely impacted. Competition for follow-on work might also be reduced if AFS establishes a dominant position.

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) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Novetta Solutions, LLC

Address: 800 N GLEBE RD STE 300, ARLINGTON, VA, 22203

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $66,252,541

Exercised Options: $66,252,541

Current Obligation: $57,658,510

Actual Outlays: $65,690,639

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 113

Total Subaward Amount: $16,999,864

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0371N

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline