CISA awards $24M IT O&M contract to CACI NSS, LLC for 290 days

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $24,034,946 ($24.0M)

Contractor: CACI NSS, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2025-04-21

End Date: 2026-02-05

Contract Duration: 290 days

Daily Burn Rate: $82.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: IT

Official Description: THIS AWARD IS FOR THE CISA OFFICE OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (OCIO) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SUPPORT SERVICES. SECTION 2(D)

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22201

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $24.0 million to CACI NSS, LLC for work described as: THIS AWARD IS FOR THE CISA OFFICE OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (OCIO) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SUPPORT SERVICES. SECTION 2(D) Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential IT operations and maintenance for CISA's OCIO. 2. Awarded via a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call, indicating a pre-competed framework. 3. The contract duration is relatively short at 290 days, suggesting a specific need or bridge. 4. CACI NSS, LLC is the sole awardee for this specific BPA Call. 5. The contract type is Labor Hours, allowing flexibility in resource allocation. 6. This award represents a portion of CISA's broader IT support spending.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $24 million for a 290-day period indicates a significant investment in IT O&M. Benchmarking this against similar IT support contracts within federal agencies is crucial for a full value assessment. The Labor Hours contract type allows for flexibility but requires careful monitoring to ensure efficient resource utilization and prevent cost overruns. Without specific performance metrics or comparison data, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money, but the amount suggests a substantial service requirement.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, likely through a pre-existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) that was itself competed. While the BPA Call mechanism suggests a competitive process at the BPA level, the specific details of how many entities bid on this particular call are not provided. A full and open competition generally fosters price discovery and encourages multiple vendors to offer competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it aims to secure the best value through market forces, potentially leading to lower prices and higher quality services.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and specifically the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). The services delivered will ensure the continuous operation and maintenance of CISA's critical IT infrastructure. This directly supports CISA's mission to protect the nation's critical infrastructure from cyber and physical threats. The contract's geographic impact is primarily within the United States, supporting CISA's national operations. The workforce implications involve skilled IT professionals employed by CACI NSS, LLC to perform these O&M tasks.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep given the Labor Hours contract type if not managed tightly.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical IT O&M functions could pose a risk if performance falters.
The short duration might indicate a temporary solution, potentially leading to future transition costs.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
CACI NSS, LLC is an established federal contractor with experience in IT services.
The contract supports a critical agency (CISA) in its core mission.
The BPA Call mechanism implies a pre-vetted and potentially cost-effective procurement route.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on IT Operations and Maintenance (O&M) support services. The federal IT services market is vast, with agencies consistently investing in maintaining and upgrading their technological infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks for IT O&M can vary widely based on agency size, complexity of systems, and service level agreements. This contract, valued at approximately $24 million for a short duration, represents a significant but focused investment within CISA's IT budget.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, as indicated by 'ss: false' and 'sb: false'. CACI NSS, LLC is a large business. There is no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within 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 primarily fall under the Department of Homeland Security's contracting and program management offices. The specific agency responsible for day-to-day oversight is CISA's Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). Transparency is facilitated through federal contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any issues of fraud, waste, or abuse arise during contract performance.

Related Government Programs

CISA IT Support Services
DHS IT Operations and Maintenance
Federal IT Services Contracts
Cybersecurity Infrastructure Support
IT Professional Services

Risk Flags

Short contract duration may indicate a bridge or temporary solution.
Labor Hours contract type requires diligent oversight to manage costs and scope.
Sole awardee for this BPA Call warrants scrutiny of the competition process at the BPA level.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $24.0 million to CACI NSS, LLC. THIS AWARD IS FOR THE CISA OFFICE OF THE CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER (OCIO) INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SUPPORT SERVICES. SECTION 2(D)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CACI NSS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Office of Procurement Operations).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $24.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-04-21. End: 2026-02-05.

What is CACI NSS, LLC's track record with similar IT O&M contracts for federal agencies?

CACI NSS, LLC, a subsidiary of CACI International Inc., has a substantial history of performing IT services for various federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. Their portfolio often includes IT operations, maintenance, cybersecurity, and system integration. While specific performance metrics for past contracts are not detailed here, their long-standing presence and numerous awards suggest a capacity to handle complex IT requirements. Analyzing their past performance on similar O&M contracts, particularly those involving critical infrastructure or sensitive data, would provide further insight into their reliability and expertise in this domain. Publicly available contract databases and CACI's own reporting often highlight key contract wins and capabilities relevant to IT O&M.

How does the $24 million value for 290 days compare to similar IT O&M contracts?

The approximate daily burn rate for this contract is around $82,879 ($24,034,946.48 / 290 days). This figure needs to be benchmarked against similar IT O&M contracts awarded by CISA or other agencies of comparable size and mission. Factors influencing this rate include the complexity of the systems supported, the required skill sets (e.g., cybersecurity specialists, network engineers), service level agreements (SLAs), and geographic locations of support. A higher daily rate might be justified for highly specialized support or critical 24/7 operations. Conversely, a lower rate could indicate a more standardized service offering. Without specific details on the scope of services and the criticality of the systems being maintained, a direct comparison is challenging, but the rate provides a starting point for value assessment.

What are the primary risks associated with this IT O&M contract?

Key risks include potential performance issues if CACI NSS, LLC fails to meet service level agreements, leading to disruptions in CISA's IT operations. Given the Labor Hours contract type, there's a risk of inefficient resource allocation or scope creep if not managed diligently by CISA's contracting officers. The short duration (290 days) also presents a risk of discontinuity or the need for costly transition efforts if a follow-on contract is not secured promptly. Furthermore, reliance on a single contractor for critical IT O&M functions can create vendor lock-in and reduce CISA's flexibility. Cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the supported systems, though not directly the contractor's fault, also pose a significant risk that requires constant vigilance and mitigation efforts.

How effective is the full and open competition process in ensuring value for this specific contract?

The full and open competition process is designed to maximize value by encouraging multiple bidders to offer their best prices and technical solutions. For this BPA Call, the effectiveness hinges on how competitive the bidding was at the BPA level and potentially for this specific call, if additional proposals were solicited. If the BPA itself was awarded competitively and this call leveraged that framework effectively, it likely resulted in competitive pricing. However, the 'Labor Hours' contract type can sometimes obscure true value if not meticulously managed, as the final cost is driven by hours worked. The true measure of effectiveness will be CISA's ability to manage the contractor's performance and ensure that the hours billed are necessary and efficient for the services rendered.

What is the historical spending trend for CISA's IT Operations and Maintenance support?

Historical spending data for CISA's IT O&M support is essential for context. While this specific award is for approximately $24 million over 290 days, understanding CISA's annual IT O&M budget and how it has trended over the past several years would reveal patterns. Agencies like CISA typically see consistent or increasing spending on IT O&M due to the growing reliance on technology and the need to maintain aging systems while adopting new ones. Analyzing past awards for similar services, their values, durations, and the contractors involved would help determine if this $24 million award is within the expected range or represents a significant deviation. This context is crucial for assessing whether current spending aligns with historical needs and budget allocations.

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 - END USER

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: CACI International Inc

Address: 14370 NEWBROOK DR, CHANTILLY, VA, 20151

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $24,034,946

Exercised Options: $24,034,946

Current Obligation: $24,034,946

Actual Outlays: $8,028,902

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70RTAC20A00000003

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline