DOJ's $2.58M contract for cloud forensics and malware analysis renewed for a year

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $25,785 ($25.8K)

Contractor: Ogis Communication Group Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2020-06-10

End Date: 2021-06-09

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $71/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: METAFLOWS IDS, CLOUD FORENSICS, ADVANCE MALWARE ANALYSIS FOR THE CLOUD - NETWORK FORENSICS AND INCIDENT RESPONSE (FY20 RENEWAL)

Place of Performance

Location: CINCINNATI, HAMILTON County, OHIO, 45215

State: Ohio Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $25,785 to OGIS COMMUNICATION GROUP INC for work described as: METAFLOWS IDS, CLOUD FORENSICS, ADVANCE MALWARE ANALYSIS FOR THE CLOUD - NETWORK FORENSICS AND INCIDENT RESPONSE (FY20 RENEWAL) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to OGIS Communication Group Inc. for cloud-based digital forensics and incident response. 2. The contract is a renewal, indicating a continued need for these specialized services. 3. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources, suggesting a deliberate process to ensure fair pricing. 4. The firm-fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541519 points to a niche service within computer-related services. 6. The contract duration of 364 days aligns with typical annual service agreements. 7. The award was made by the Office of Justice Programs within the Department of Justice.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $2.58 million for a one-year period for specialized cloud forensics and malware analysis appears reasonable given the niche nature of the services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for advanced cybersecurity and incident response services would provide a more precise assessment, but the firm-fixed-price structure offers cost control. The renewal suggests the services met expectations and provided value.

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.' This indicates that while the competition was open, there might have been specific reasons for excluding certain sources, possibly related to specialized capabilities or prior performance. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a moderate level of competition, which is generally positive for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process, even with exclusions, helps ensure that taxpayer funds are used efficiently by driving down prices and encouraging providers to offer their best value.

Public Impact

The Department of Justice benefits from enhanced capabilities in cloud security, digital forensics, and incident response. Services delivered include advanced malware analysis and network forensics, crucial for protecting sensitive government data. The geographic impact is national, supporting the Department of Justice's nationwide operations. Workforce implications include the need for highly specialized cybersecurity professionals within the contractor organization.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if specialized knowledge is not transferable.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical cybersecurity functions could pose a risk if performance degrades.

Positive Signals

Renewal indicates satisfaction with contractor performance and service quality.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides budget certainty.
Open competition, even with exclusions, suggests an effort to secure competitive pricing.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on cybersecurity, digital forensics, and incident response. The market for these services is highly specialized and growing rapidly due to increasing cyber threats. Comparable spending benchmarks would likely be found within government contracts for advanced cybersecurity solutions and specialized IT support for law enforcement and intelligence agencies. The market is characterized by a mix of large defense contractors and smaller, highly specialized firms.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. The contractor, OGIS Communication Group Inc., is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data. Therefore, this award does not appear to directly benefit the small business ecosystem through set-asides or mandated subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Justice's Office of Justice Programs, which is responsible for ensuring contract compliance and performance. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract type, which ties payment to deliverables. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though specific performance metrics and oversight reports may not be publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Cybersecurity Services
Digital Forensics
Incident Response
Malware Analysis
Cloud Security
IT Professional Services

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Reliance on specialized expertise
Evolving threat landscape requires continuous adaptation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $25,785 to OGIS COMMUNICATION GROUP INC. METAFLOWS IDS, CLOUD FORENSICS, ADVANCE MALWARE ANALYSIS FOR THE CLOUD - NETWORK FORENSICS AND INCIDENT RESPONSE (FY20 RENEWAL)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is OGIS COMMUNICATION GROUP INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Office of Justice Programs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $25,785.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-06-10. End: 2021-06-09.

What is the track record of OGIS Communication Group Inc. with federal contracts, particularly in cybersecurity?

OGIS Communication Group Inc. has a history of federal contracting, though specific details on their cybersecurity track record require deeper investigation into contract databases like FPDS or SAM.gov. The renewal of this contract by the Department of Justice suggests a positive past performance and a level of trust in their capabilities for cloud forensics and malware analysis. Further analysis would involve examining past performance reviews, any contract modifications, and the types of agencies they have served to gauge their experience and reliability in this specialized field.

How does the $2.58 million value compare to similar cloud forensics and incident response contracts?

The $2.58 million value for a one-year contract for specialized cloud forensics and incident response is within a reasonable range for niche cybersecurity services. However, a precise comparison requires benchmarking against contracts with similar scopes of work, duration, and complexity, awarded to comparable contractors. Factors such as the specific technologies used, the level of expertise required, and the number of bidders can influence pricing. Without access to a detailed database of comparable contracts, it's difficult to definitively state if this represents excellent or fair value, but it does not appear to be an outlier for specialized government IT services.

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

Primary risks include potential performance issues if the contractor's expertise doesn't keep pace with evolving cyber threats, or if key personnel depart. Vendor lock-in is another risk, where the government becomes overly reliant on a single provider's proprietary tools or knowledge. Mitigation strategies include clear performance standards in the contract, regular performance reviews, and potentially requiring knowledge transfer clauses. The firm-fixed-price nature also mitigates financial risk for the government, ensuring costs are predictable. The renewal itself suggests that past performance has met expectations, reducing the risk of immediate performance failure.

How effective are the services provided in enhancing the Department of Justice's cloud security posture?

The effectiveness of the services is primarily measured by the Department of Justice's internal assessments of their cloud security posture and incident response capabilities. The renewal of the contract indicates that the DOJ perceives these services as effective and valuable in addressing their needs for cloud forensics and malware analysis. Specific metrics for effectiveness might include reduced incident response times, successful identification and mitigation of threats, and improved compliance with cloud security regulations. Without access to internal DOJ evaluations, a definitive statement on effectiveness is limited, but the contract continuation is a strong positive signal.

What are the historical spending patterns for cloud forensics and incident response services within the Department of Justice?

Historical spending patterns for cloud forensics and incident response within the Department of Justice would likely show an increasing trend over the years, mirroring the broader government-wide emphasis on cybersecurity and the migration of services to the cloud. This specific contract represents a renewal, suggesting a consistent allocation of funds for these capabilities. Analyzing prior years' spending on similar contracts, including those awarded to OGIS Communication Group Inc. or other vendors, would reveal the scale and evolution of the DOJ's investment in this critical area.

What is the significance of the 'after exclusion of sources' clause in the competition type?

The 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' clause indicates that the solicitation was publicly advertised, allowing any responsible source to submit an offer. However, specific sources may have been excluded from consideration based on pre-defined criteria, such as specific technical capabilities, security clearances, or past performance requirements that only a limited number of vendors could meet. This approach aims to ensure that the competition is relevant and that the selected contractor possesses the highly specialized skills needed, while still maintaining a degree of openness to encourage competitive pricing among qualified bidders.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 15PTDE20Q00000018

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 110 BOGGS LN STE 175, CINCINNATI, OH, 45246

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, 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, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $25,785

Exercised Options: $25,785

Current Obligation: $25,785

Actual Outlays: $25,785

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: NNG15SD13B

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline