PBGC awards $2.3M contract for FOIA and Privacy Act request processing to WITS SOLUTIONS INC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $230,280 ($230.3K)

Contractor: Wits Solutions Inc.

Awarding Agency: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation

Start Date: 2025-09-18

End Date: 2026-09-17

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $633/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE CONTRACTOR SHALL ASSIST THE GENERAL LAW AND OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT (GLOD), OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL (OGC) DISCLOSURE DIVISION WITH TRIAGING AND PROCESSING INCOMING FOIA AND PRIVACY ACT REQUESTS.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20024

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation obligated $230,279.5 to WITS SOLUTIONS INC. for work described as: THE CONTRACTOR SHALL ASSIST THE GENERAL LAW AND OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT (GLOD), OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL (OGC) DISCLOSURE DIVISION WITH TRIAGING AND PROCESSING INCOMING FOIA AND PRIVACY ACT REQUESTS. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential administrative support for legal and operations departments. 2. WITS SOLUTIONS INC. will manage the triaging and processing of FOIA and Privacy Act requests. 3. The contract duration is one year, with a fixed-price structure. 4. This award falls under administrative management and general management consulting services. 5. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 6. The Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) is the awarding agency.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $2.3 million for a one-year period for FOIA and Privacy Act processing appears reasonable given the specialized nature of legal support services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for administrative and legal support services suggests this pricing is within an expected range. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the agency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, with nine bidders participating. This indicates a healthy level of competition, which typically drives better pricing and service quality. The presence of multiple bidders suggests that the market for these services is robust and that the PBGC was able to solicit a range of qualified vendors.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive bidding process likely resulted in a more favorable price for taxpayers compared to a sole-source or limited competition award. It ensures that public funds are used efficiently by selecting the best value offer.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the General Law and Operations Department (GLOD) and the Office of the General Counsel (OGC) at the PBGC, who will receive support in managing their request workload. The services delivered include the critical functions of triaging and processing Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and Privacy Act requests. The geographic impact is centered in the District of Columbia, where the PBGC is headquartered. The contract supports administrative and legal support roles, potentially impacting a specialized workforce in these areas.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if performance is not closely monitored.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical legal support functions.
Ensuring consistent quality and adherence to strict deadlines for FOIA/PA requests.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive market.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides budget certainty.
One-year duration allows for performance review and potential re-competition.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. The market for FOIA and Privacy Act support services is specialized, often involving firms with expertise in legal compliance, document management, and government procedures. Comparable spending benchmarks in this niche are difficult to establish without more specific service details, but agencies frequently contract for such support to manage increasing request volumes.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. This suggests that the primary award went to a larger entity or that small businesses were not specifically targeted for this particular solicitation. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses are participating in the supply chain.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be provided by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation's General Law and Operations Department and Office of the General Counsel. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract, requiring WITS SOLUTIONS INC. to deliver specified services within the agreed-upon budget. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of FOIA and Privacy Act requests themselves, though the internal processing details may be less visible.

Related Government Programs

Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Administration
Privacy Act Administration
Legal Support Services
Administrative Management Consulting
Government Records Management

Risk Flags

Potential for performance issues if contractor lacks specialized expertise.
Risk of data security and privacy breaches.
Dependency on contractor for critical legal support functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation awarded $230,279.5 to WITS SOLUTIONS INC.. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL ASSIST THE GENERAL LAW AND OPERATIONS DEPARTMENT (GLOD), OFFICE OF THE GENERAL COUNSEL (OGC) DISCLOSURE DIVISION WITH TRIAGING AND PROCESSING INCOMING FOIA AND PRIVACY ACT REQUESTS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WITS SOLUTIONS INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $230,279.5.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-18. End: 2026-09-17.

What is the track record of WITS SOLUTIONS INC. in handling FOIA and Privacy Act requests for federal agencies?

Information regarding WITS SOLUTIONS INC.'s specific track record in handling FOIA and Privacy Act requests for federal agencies is not detailed in the provided data. However, their classification under NAICS code 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services) suggests they offer services relevant to government operations. To assess their track record thoroughly, one would need to review past performance evaluations, contract history with similar agencies, and any publicly available client testimonials or case studies related to their experience with legal compliance and information management.

How does the value of this contract compare to similar FOIA processing contracts awarded by other federal agencies?

Direct comparison of this $2.3 million contract for a one-year period is challenging without specific details on the volume and complexity of requests handled. However, agencies often allocate significant resources to FOIA and Privacy Act processing due to legal mandates and increasing public demand. Contracts for similar administrative and legal support services can range from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars annually, depending on the agency's size, the nature of its operations, and the expected request volume. The firm-fixed-price nature of this award provides a clear benchmark for the PBGC's investment in this specific function for the contract period.

What are the primary risks associated with outsourcing FOIA and Privacy Act processing, and how are they mitigated in this contract?

Key risks in outsourcing FOIA and Privacy Act processing include potential delays, inconsistent quality, data security breaches, and loss of institutional knowledge. Mitigation strategies in this contract likely involve clear performance standards and deliverables outlined in the contract statement of work, regular performance reviews by the PBGC, and adherence to strict data handling and security protocols. The firm-fixed-price structure incentivizes the contractor to meet requirements efficiently. However, ongoing vigilance and robust oversight by the PBGC are crucial to ensure compliance and maintain the integrity of the process.

What is the expected impact of this contract on the PBGC's ability to meet its FOIA and Privacy Act obligations?

This contract is expected to significantly enhance the PBGC's capacity to meet its FOIA and Privacy Act obligations by providing dedicated resources for triaging and processing requests. By outsourcing these functions to WITS SOLUTIONS INC., the PBGC's internal legal and operations staff can focus on more complex legal matters and strategic initiatives. This should lead to more timely and efficient processing of incoming requests, improving responsiveness to the public and ensuring compliance with statutory deadlines.

What has been the historical spending pattern of the PBGC on FOIA and Privacy Act processing services over the past five years?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for the PBGC on FOIA and Privacy Act processing services. To determine this, one would need to access historical contract databases (like FPDS or USASpending.gov) and search for contracts awarded by the PBGC related to these services over the past five fiscal years. Analyzing this data would reveal trends in spending, the types of contractors utilized, and whether this $2.3 million award represents an increase or decrease in investment in these functions.

How does the number of bidders (9) in this full and open competition reflect the availability of qualified contractors for FOIA processing services?

The participation of nine bidders in this full and open competition suggests a healthy and competitive market for FOIA and Privacy Act processing services. This number indicates that there are multiple firms capable of performing these specialized administrative and legal support functions for federal agencies. A robust competition typically benefits the government by driving down prices, encouraging innovation, and ensuring that the agency can select a contractor offering the best combination of price, technical capability, and past performance.

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) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 16PBGC25Q0063

Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 44790 MAYNARD SQ STE 340, ASHBURN, VA, 20147

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $1,186,478

Exercised Options: $230,280

Current Obligation: $230,280

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA19D003H

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline