Treasury's $293K FOIAXpress Support Contract Awarded to AINS, LLC Under GSA Schedule

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $293,329 ($293.3K)

Contractor: Ains, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Treasury

Start Date: 2026-03-27

End Date: 2027-03-26

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $806/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: FOIAXPRESS SUPPORT BRIDGE ORDER UNDER GSA SCHEDULE MAS (GS-35F-576GA)

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20220

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Treasury obligated $293,329.15 to AINS, LLC for work described as: FOIAXPRESS SUPPORT BRIDGE ORDER UNDER GSA SCHEDULE MAS (GS-35F-576GA) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to AINS, LLC, a known entity in government IT services. 2. Utilizes GSA Schedule MAS, suggesting a pre-competed and potentially efficient procurement vehicle. 3. The contract duration of one year with a firm-fixed-price structure indicates defined scope and cost control. 4. Awarded under full and open competition, implying a broad market solicitation. 5. The service category 'Other Computer Related Services' is broad and requires further definition of specific deliverables. 6. Focus on FOIAXpress support suggests a critical function for agency transparency and public information access.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $293,329 for a one-year period for IT support services appears reasonable, especially when procured through a GSA Schedule. This method typically involves pre-negotiated rates, which can offer better value than ad-hoc procurements. Benchmarking against similar GSA Schedule IT support contracts would provide a more precise value assessment, but the price point does not immediately raise significant concerns for the stated duration and service type.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This suggests a competitive process was followed, which is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the designation implies a robust solicitation process.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the pool of potential offerors, thereby increasing the likelihood of receiving competitive pricing and innovative solutions, ultimately leading to better value for public funds.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Department of the Treasury, which will receive continued support for its FOIAXpress system. Services delivered include support for the FOIAXpress software, crucial for managing Freedom of Information Act requests. The geographic impact is primarily within the District of Columbia, where the Treasury Department is headquartered. Workforce implications are likely minimal, as this appears to be a contract for specialized IT support rather than a large-scale service delivery.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) in the provided data could hinder objective performance evaluation.
The broad 'Other Computer Related Services' classification may obscure the exact nature and criticality of the support being provided.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical FOIA support could pose a risk if the vendor experiences performance issues or financial instability.

Positive Signals

Procurement through GSA Schedule MAS suggests adherence to established government procurement standards and potentially pre-vetted vendors.
The firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government, mitigating the risk of cost overruns.
The award to AINS, LLC, a company with existing government contracts, may indicate a level of established performance and familiarity with federal requirements.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on software support and maintenance. The government's IT services market is vast, with significant spending on maintaining and upgrading legacy systems as well as implementing new technologies. Contracts like this, often procured through GSA Schedules, are common for specialized support functions, ensuring agencies can access necessary expertise without lengthy, individual procurement processes. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically look at the average cost of similar IT support contracts under GSA MAS for agencies of similar size and complexity.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific benefits for the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The focus remains on larger, established providers capable of meeting the contract's requirements, likely through direct award rather than small business set-aside mechanisms.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the Department of the Treasury's Departmental Offices. As a GSA Schedule contract, it benefits from the oversight inherent in the GSA Schedule program itself, which includes vendor vetting and contract administration. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of contract awards, though detailed performance metrics and specific deliverables may not be publicly disclosed. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

GSA Federal Supply Schedule
IT Professional Services
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Technology
Department of the Treasury IT Support Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential lack of detailed performance metrics in public data.
Broad service category may obscure specific support functions.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical system support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Treasury awarded $293,329.15 to AINS, LLC. FOIAXPRESS SUPPORT BRIDGE ORDER UNDER GSA SCHEDULE MAS (GS-35F-576GA)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AINS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Treasury (Departmental Offices).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $293,329.15.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-03-27. End: 2027-03-26.

What is the track record of AINS, LLC in supporting government IT systems, particularly FOIA-related software?

AINS, LLC has a history of providing IT services to various federal agencies, including support for case management and records management systems. While specific details on their FOIAXpress support experience require deeper investigation into past performance reports and contract vehicles, their presence on the GSA Schedule suggests they meet certain government standards. Their broader experience in similar software support roles indicates a foundational capability. However, a thorough assessment would involve reviewing past performance evaluations, any past issues encountered on similar contracts, and their specific expertise with the FOIAXpress platform's intricacies and any associated compliance requirements.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar FOIAXpress support contracts or other IT support services under GSA Schedule MAS?

Without access to the specific labor categories, rates, and hours proposed by AINS, LLC, a direct price comparison is challenging. However, the total contract value of approximately $293,329 for a one-year period for specialized IT support is within a common range for such services procured via GSA Schedule. GSA Schedules are designed to offer competitive pricing through pre-negotiated rates. To benchmark effectively, one would need to compare the blended hourly rate or specific task order costs against similar contracts for IT support services (NAICS 541519) awarded to companies of similar size and capability under the same or comparable GSA MAS contract vehicles. The firm-fixed-price nature also implies that the risk of cost escalation is borne by the contractor, which is a positive factor for value.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract to ensure effective FOIAXpress support?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) for this contract. Effective FOIA support relies heavily on timely response, system availability, and data integrity. Typical SLAs for such contracts might include metrics like system uptime percentage, response times for technical issues (categorized by severity), resolution times for bugs or defects, and adherence to data security protocols. The absence of this information in the public award notice suggests these details are likely outlined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS). Without these defined metrics, objectively assessing the contractor's performance and ensuring optimal value for taxpayers becomes more difficult.

What is the historical spending pattern for FOIAXpress support at the Department of the Treasury?

Historical spending data for FOIAXpress support at the Department of the Treasury is not provided in the current data set. To analyze this, one would need to examine previous contract awards for similar services, potentially looking at contracts awarded to AINS, LLC or other vendors for FOIA management systems or related IT support over the past several fiscal years. Understanding historical spending would reveal trends in contract values, duration, and the number of competitive actions, providing context for the current award's value and procurement method. It could also highlight any significant increases or decreases in spending related to FOIA support functions.

Are there any identified risks associated with AINS, LLC's performance on this specific contract or similar government contracts?

The provided data does not explicitly list any performance risks associated with AINS, LLC for this specific contract. However, general risks for IT support contracts include potential delays in issue resolution, system downtime, security vulnerabilities, or failure to meet evolving technological requirements. A comprehensive risk assessment would involve reviewing past performance evaluations (CPARS), any contract disputes or terminations, and the company's financial stability. Given the contract is under a GSA Schedule and awarded via full and open competition, it implies a baseline level of vetting, but ongoing monitoring and proactive risk management by the Treasury Department remain crucial.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1101 17TH ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20036

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $398,937

Exercised Options: $293,329

Current Obligation: $293,329

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F576GA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline