DO placed on IT cabling services contract for FBIHQ, valued at $14.86M over 8 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,859,290 ($14.9M)

Contractor: Innovative Management & Technology Approaches Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2017-09-22

End Date: 2025-09-28

Contract Duration: 2,928 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF ITSSS CSTOR 28 - NEW CONTRACTOR BASED SUPPORT TEAM THAT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SURVEYING, INSTALLATION, AND TESTING OF NEW DATA CABLING AT FBIHQ. REPLACES EXISTING

Place of Performance

Location: RESTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20191

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $14.9 million to INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGY APPROACHES INC for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF ITSSS CSTOR 28 - NEW CONTRACTOR BASED SUPPORT TEAM THAT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SURVEYING, INSTALLATION, AND TESTING OF NEW DATA CABLING AT FBIHQ. REPLACES EXISTING Key points: 1. Contract provides essential IT infrastructure support for FBI Headquarters. 2. The contract's duration of over 8 years suggests a long-term need for these services. 3. The use of Time and Materials pricing may present cost control challenges. 4. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating a broad market search. 5. The contractor, Innovative Management & Technology Approaches Inc., is relatively new to this specific service area for the FBI. 6. The contract replaces an existing service, implying a transition in support providers.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $14.86 million over approximately 8 years averages to about $1.86 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar IT infrastructure support contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while flexible, can sometimes lead to higher costs if not closely managed, compared to fixed-price contracts. The number of bids received (2) is low for a full and open competition, which could indicate potential overpricing or a niche market.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. Despite this broad solicitation, only two bids were received. This low number of bidders for a significant IT services contract raises questions about the market's responsiveness or the attractiveness of the contract's terms and conditions. It suggests that either the pool of qualified contractors is small, or other factors may have deterred broader participation.

Taxpayer Impact: While full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers by encouraging a wider range of offers, the low bid count here might limit the downward pressure on pricing. Taxpayers may not have benefited from the full competitive advantage typically seen in such solicitations.

Public Impact

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the primary beneficiary, receiving essential IT infrastructure support. Services include surveying, installation, and testing of new data cabling at FBI Headquarters. The geographic impact is concentrated at FBI Headquarters in Virginia. The contract supports a specialized IT workforce involved in network infrastructure deployment.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Low number of bids (2) in a full and open competition could indicate limited market interest or potential for higher costs.
Time and Materials pricing structure requires diligent oversight to prevent cost overruns.
Contract duration of over 8 years necessitates ongoing performance monitoring to ensure continued value.
The specific nature of 'Other Computer Related Services' can be broad, requiring clear performance metrics.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, adhering to principles of broad market access.
Contract provides critical IT infrastructure support for a key federal law enforcement agency.
The contract replaces an existing service, suggesting a planned upgrade or transition in support.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on computer network infrastructure and related services. The market for IT support services for government agencies is substantial, with significant spending allocated annually. This contract represents a portion of the FBI's investment in maintaining and upgrading its internal data communications network. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing IT infrastructure projects for large federal facilities, considering factors like square footage, complexity of the network, and security requirements.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (sb: false). There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. Given the nature of the services (IT cabling installation and testing), it is possible that specialized subcontractors could be utilized, but this is not detailed in the provided data. The absence of a small business set-aside suggests the primary focus was on securing the most capable large or medium-sized prime contractor.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the FBI's IT division and potentially the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The contract type (Delivery Order under an IDIQ, implied) and the Time and Materials pricing necessitate robust oversight to ensure adherence to scope, labor rates, and overall cost ceilings. Transparency would be facilitated through contract reporting mechanisms and potential audits by the OIG.

Related Government Programs

FBI IT Infrastructure Modernization Programs
Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative
GSA IT Schedule Contracts
Department of Justice IT Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Low bid count in full and open competition
Potential for cost overruns due to T&M pricing
Long contract duration requires sustained oversight

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $14.9 million to INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGY APPROACHES INC. IGF::CL::IGF ITSSS CSTOR 28 - NEW CONTRACTOR BASED SUPPORT TEAM THAT WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SURVEYING, INSTALLATION, AND TESTING OF NEW DATA CABLING AT FBIHQ. REPLACES EXISTING

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INNOVATIVE MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGY APPROACHES INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2017-09-22. End: 2025-09-28.

What is the track record of Innovative Management & Technology Approaches Inc. with the FBI or similar federal agencies for IT infrastructure services?

Based on the provided data, Innovative Management & Technology Approaches Inc. (IMT) is the contractor for this Delivery Order. Further investigation into federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) would be necessary to ascertain IMT's complete track record. This includes examining past performance on similar IT infrastructure contracts, their history with the FBI and other agencies, and any reported performance issues or accolades. Without this broader context, it's difficult to assess their specific suitability and reliability for this critical FBIHQ cabling project beyond the fact they were selected through competition.

How does the average annual cost of this contract compare to similar IT cabling projects at other federal facilities?

The contract's total value is $14.86 million over approximately 2928 days (about 8 years), averaging roughly $1.86 million per year. A direct comparison to similar IT cabling projects is challenging without detailed service scope, labor rates, and material costs. However, large-scale data cabling projects for major federal facilities can range significantly. Factors like the complexity of the network, the specific technologies used (e.g., fiber optics vs. copper), security requirements, and prevailing labor costs in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area would influence the price. A benchmark analysis would require comparing the cost per square foot or cost per user supported against other comparable government installations.

What are the primary risks associated with the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure for this contract?

The primary risk with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract is the potential for cost overruns if not managed diligently. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements pay the contractor for the actual time spent and materials used. This can lead to unpredictable final costs, especially if the project scope expands or if labor hours are not efficiently utilized. For taxpayers, this means the final cost could exceed initial estimates. Effective risk mitigation requires robust government oversight, including detailed tracking of labor hours, verification of material costs, and clear definition of 'best efforts' clauses to ensure contractor efficiency.

Given only two bids were received, what does this suggest about the market for these specific IT services?

Receiving only two bids in a full and open competition for a contract valued at nearly $15 million suggests a potentially limited or specialized market. This could indicate that the number of companies possessing the required technical expertise, security clearances, and capacity to perform such work for the FBI is small. Alternatively, the contract's requirements, duration, or specific terms might have deterred broader participation. This limited competition could reduce price pressure, potentially leading to a higher cost for the government compared to a scenario with more bidders.

What is the significance of this contract replacing an existing service for the FBI?

The fact that this contract replaces an existing service implies a transition in IT infrastructure support providers or potentially an upgrade in technology or service levels. It suggests that the FBI has evaluated its ongoing needs and decided to move forward with a new approach or contractor. This transition period requires careful management to ensure continuity of operations and minimize disruption to FBIHQ's network infrastructure. It also presents an opportunity to incorporate lessons learned from the previous contract and potentially achieve improved performance or cost efficiencies.

Industry Classification

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

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2100 CRYSTAL DR STE 750, ARLINGTON, VA, 22202

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,859,290

Exercised Options: $14,859,290

Current Obligation: $14,859,290

Actual Outlays: $9,478,209

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0096L

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline