DOJ's FBI Awards $31.3M Contract for Tactical Social Media Exploitation Tool Amidst Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $31,287,128 ($31.3M)

Contractor: Panamerica Computers, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2022-03-30

End Date: 2027-03-29

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $17.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 12

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR 5,000 LICENSES TO A TACTICAL SOCIAL MEDIA EXPLOITATION (SOMEX) TOOL.

Place of Performance

Location: LURAY, PAGE County, VIRGINIA, 22835

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $31.3 million to PANAMERICA COMPUTERS, INC. for work described as: REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR 5,000 LICENSES TO A TACTICAL SOCIAL MEDIA EXPLOITATION (SOMEX) TOOL. Key points: 1. The FBI is acquiring a SOMEX tool for $31.3M, indicating a significant investment in digital intelligence capabilities. 2. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources, suggesting a deliberate effort to find the best value. 3. The contract's duration of five years (2022-2027) implies a long-term need for this technology. 4. The NAICS code 519130 points to the Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals sector, relevant for data acquisition and analysis.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $31.3M for 5,000 licenses of a tactical SOMEX tool appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the software and its five-year duration. Benchmarking against similar intelligence-gathering software contracts would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' indicating that while initial solicitations might have been limited, the final award was based on a competitive process. This method aims to ensure fair pricing and access to a wide range of potential vendors.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award suggests that taxpayers are likely receiving fair market value for the acquired technology, preventing inflated costs associated with sole-source procurements.

Public Impact

Enhances FBI's ability to monitor and analyze public social media data for law enforcement and national security purposes. Potential for increased surveillance capabilities, raising privacy concerns among the public. Supports intelligence gathering and threat assessment in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The tool's effectiveness will depend on its ability to adapt to new social media platforms and data formats. Could lead to faster identification and apprehension of individuals involved in criminal or terrorist activities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for misuse of collected data.
Effectiveness dependent on evolving social media landscape.
Privacy implications of widespread social media monitoring.

Positive Signals

Competitive award process.
Long-term investment in critical intelligence capability.
Clear contract duration and defined scope.

Sector Analysis

The acquisition falls within the IT services sector, specifically related to data analysis and intelligence gathering. Spending benchmarks for similar tactical intelligence software can vary widely based on functionality and scale, but this award represents a significant investment for the FBI.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this procurement. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract's 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' suggests a structured procurement process. Oversight will be crucial to ensure the tool is used ethically and effectively, and that data privacy is maintained according to legal and policy guidelines.

Related Government Programs

Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals
Department of Justice Contracting
Federal Bureau of Investigation Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for privacy infringement.
Risk of data misuse.
Technological obsolescence.
Effectiveness dependent on evolving social media platforms.
Ethical considerations of mass data collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $31.3 million to PANAMERICA COMPUTERS, INC.. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR 5,000 LICENSES TO A TACTICAL SOCIAL MEDIA EXPLOITATION (SOMEX) TOOL.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PANAMERICA COMPUTERS, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $31.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-03-30. End: 2027-03-29.

What specific functionalities does the SOMEX tool offer, and how do they align with the FBI's stated mission objectives for digital intelligence?

The SOMEX tool is designed for tactical social media exploitation, likely encompassing capabilities such as data aggregation from various platforms, user behavior analysis, network mapping, and content monitoring. Its alignment with FBI objectives would depend on its ability to support investigations, counter-terrorism efforts, and intelligence gathering by providing actionable insights from publicly available social media data.

What are the primary risks associated with the use of this tactical SOMEX tool, and what mitigation strategies are in place?

Key risks include potential privacy violations, misuse of collected data, and the tool becoming obsolete due to rapid changes in social media platforms. Mitigation strategies should involve strict data handling protocols, clear usage policies, regular audits, and continuous software updates to ensure compliance with legal frameworks and evolving technological needs.

How will the effectiveness of the SOMEX tool be measured throughout its five-year contract period to ensure value for taxpayer money?

Effectiveness will likely be measured through key performance indicators (KPIs) such as the speed and accuracy of data analysis, the number of actionable intelligence leads generated, successful case resolutions attributed to the tool, and user feedback from FBI agents. Regular performance reviews and independent assessments will ensure the tool continues to meet operational requirements and deliver value.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Other Information Services › Internet Publishing and Broadcasting and Web Search Portals

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 15F06722R0000005

Offers Received: 12

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1386 BIG OAK RD, LURAY, VA, 22835

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Hispanic American Owned Business, HUBZone Firm, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $55,394,089

Exercised Options: $33,068,295

Current Obligation: $31,287,128

Actual Outlays: $21,866,139

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline