CIGIE awards $2.19M BPA Call to I3 LLC for IT services, raising questions on value and competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,187,264 ($2.2M)

Contractor: I3 LLC

Awarding Agency: Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency

Start Date: 2025-08-20

End Date: 2026-11-19

Contract Duration: 456 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: BPA CALL IS FOR CIGIE TO PROCURE IT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FROM I3 LLC. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS 08/20/2025-10/31/2025

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22031

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency obligated $2.2 million to I3 LLC for work described as: BPA CALL IS FOR CIGIE TO PROCURE IT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FROM I3 LLC. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS 08/20/2025-10/31/2025 Key points: 1. The contract for custom computer programming services is valued at $2.19 million. 2. I3 LLC is the sole awardee under this BPA Call. 3. The contract duration is 456 days, ending October 31, 2025. 4. The award falls under the IT sector, specifically custom computer programming. 5. The contract type is Time and Materials.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The Time and Materials contract type for IT professional services can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed. Benchmarking against similar custom computer programming services is difficult without detailed labor categories and rates.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

While the underlying BPA may have been competed full and open, this specific call awarded to I3 LLC. The impact on price discovery is unclear without knowing the number of bids received for this specific call.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for IT professional services. The value for money depends on the efficiency and effectiveness of the services provided by I3 LLC.

Public Impact

Citizens rely on the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) for oversight and accountability. This contract supports CIGIE's mission by providing necessary IT professional services. The effectiveness of these IT services will directly impact CIGIE's operational capabilities. Transparency in the procurement process ensures public trust in government spending.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type
Potential for cost overruns
Limited visibility into specific task orders under the BPA call

Positive Signals

Supports a critical government oversight agency
Procurement under an existing BPA

Sector Analysis

The IT professional services sector is highly competitive, with numerous firms offering custom computer programming. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on service complexity, labor rates, and contract duration. This contract's value appears moderate for the given duration.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was considered or if opportunities were missed.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight of this contract will be crucial, particularly regarding the management of Time and Materials task orders to ensure cost control and adherence to scope. CIGIE's own integrity mission necessitates robust internal controls for this procurement.

Related Government Programs

Custom Computer Programming Services
Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Contracting
Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to T&M contract type
Lack of detailed performance metrics in the provided data
Limited insight into the competitive landscape for this specific BPA call
No indication of small business subcontracting goals

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency awarded $2.2 million to I3 LLC. BPA CALL IS FOR CIGIE TO PROCURE IT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES FROM I3 LLC. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS 08/20/2025-10/31/2025

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is I3 LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-08-20. End: 2026-11-19.

What specific IT professional services are being procured, and how do they align with CIGIE's core mission objectives?

The contract is for custom computer programming services (NAICS 541511). These services are essential for maintaining and enhancing CIGIE's internal IT infrastructure, supporting its investigative and audit functions. The specific alignment would detail how these programming services contribute to CIGIE's ability to conduct oversight, detect fraud, waste, and abuse, and improve government efficiency.

What is the rationale for using a Time and Materials contract type, and what measures are in place to mitigate cost risks?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are often used when the scope of work is not clearly defined or is expected to change. Mitigation measures typically include establishing ceiling prices, detailed monitoring of labor hours and rates, requiring regular progress reports, and defining specific deliverables or milestones. CIGIE must actively manage the T&M aspects to prevent scope creep and ensure cost-effectiveness.

How was the price of $2.19 million determined to be fair and reasonable for the 456-day period of performance?

Determining fairness and reasonableness for a T&M contract involves comparing proposed labor rates and estimated hours against historical data, market research, and similar government contracts. The contracting officer likely reviewed I3 LLC's proposed rates and provided a cost estimate. Without access to the detailed pricing proposal and benchmark data used, a definitive assessment is challenging.

Industry Classification

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

Solicitation ID: 140D0421A0027

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8280 WILLOW OAKS CORPORATE DR STE 600, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,314,560

Exercised Options: $4,314,560

Current Obligation: $2,187,264

Actual Outlays: $1,304,364

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 9531BL25A0039

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline