DoD awards $5.68M cybersecurity task order to DNI Emerging Technologies, LLC for 3-year support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,683,466 ($5.7M)

Contractor: DNI Emerging Technologies, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-02-01

End Date: 2028-01-31

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.2K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES (COSS) - TASK ORDER 001 - WA / WB

Place of Performance

Location: DAYTON, GREENE County, OHIO, 45433

State: Ohio Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $5.7 million to DNI EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC for work described as: CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES (COSS) - TASK ORDER 001 - WA / WB Key points: 1. Value-for-money assessment pending detailed cost breakdown and comparison to similar services. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a sole-source award, potentially limiting price discovery. 3. Risk indicators include the sole-source nature and lack of readily available performance benchmarks. 4. Performance context is a 3-year cybersecurity operations support services task order. 5. Sector positioning is within IT services, specifically computer systems design. 6. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which can offer cost certainty if well-defined.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount is $5.68 million over approximately three years. Without a detailed breakdown of labor categories, hours, and rates, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. Benchmarking against similar cybersecurity operations support contracts is difficult due to the limited information available. However, the firm-fixed-price structure suggests an expectation of defined scope and cost control.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This task order was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. This approach is typically used when a specific contractor possesses unique capabilities or when urgency precludes a competitive process. The lack of competition means that the government did not benefit from a range of proposals and potentially lower pricing that could arise from a competitive bidding environment.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can lead to higher costs for taxpayers as there is less pressure on the contractor to offer the most competitive pricing. It also limits opportunities for other qualified businesses to secure federal contracts.

Public Impact

The Department of the Air Force benefits from continued cybersecurity operations support. Services delivered are critical for maintaining the security posture of Air Force systems. Geographic impact is likely concentrated in Ohio, where the contractor is located. Workforce implications involve skilled cybersecurity professionals supporting federal operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing and opportunities for other firms.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes objective assessment difficult.
Limited public information on contractor's specific experience in this exact role.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Contract duration of three years allows for sustained support.
Award to a company with 'Emerging Technologies' in its name may indicate specialized capabilities.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on computer systems design and cybersecurity operations. The market for cybersecurity services is robust and growing, driven by increasing threats and the digitization of government operations. Comparable spending benchmarks for cybersecurity support services vary widely based on scope, duration, and required expertise, but this award appears to be a moderate-sized task order within a larger contract vehicle.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans is not available for this specific task order. As it is a sole-source award, it is unlikely to have been specifically set aside for small businesses. The impact on the small business ecosystem is minimal in terms of direct award, but it represents a missed opportunity for small businesses that might have competed if the requirement were open.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms for this task order would typically be managed by the contracting officer's representative (COR) within the Department of the Air Force. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract type, requiring the contractor to deliver defined services. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature and the proprietary information often associated with cybersecurity operations.

Related Government Programs

Cybersecurity Services
IT Professional Services
Computer Systems Design Services
Department of Defense IT Contracts
Air Force IT Support

Risk Flags

Sole-source award may limit price competition.
Limited public data on specific performance metrics.
Contractor's specific experience in this exact role requires further verification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $5.7 million to DNI EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES (COSS) - TASK ORDER 001 - WA / WB

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DNI EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-02-01. End: 2028-01-31.

What is the specific nature of the cybersecurity operations support services being provided under this task order?

The provided data indicates the task order is for 'CYBERSECURITY OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES (COSS) - TASK ORDER 001'. While the specific deliverables are not detailed, this generally encompasses a range of activities aimed at protecting Air Force information systems and networks. This could include threat monitoring, incident response, vulnerability management, security control implementation, and policy enforcement. The 'Emerging Technologies' aspect of the contractor's name suggests a potential focus on advanced or innovative cybersecurity solutions, possibly related to new technologies or evolving threat landscapes relevant to the Department of Defense.

How does the $5.68 million award compare to typical spending for similar cybersecurity support contracts?

Benchmarking this $5.68 million award requires more context on the duration and scope of services. The contract runs for approximately three years (1094 days), making the annual value around $1.89 million. This is a moderate-sized award for cybersecurity support services. Larger, more comprehensive cybersecurity contracts can run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, often encompassing broader system-wide support or national-level defense. Smaller, more specialized task orders might be in the hundreds of thousands. Without knowing the specific labor mix, required expertise levels, and the criticality of the systems supported, a precise comparison is difficult, but it falls within a common range for specialized support.

What are the primary risks associated with a sole-source award for cybersecurity services?

The primary risk of a sole-source award for cybersecurity services is the potential for inflated pricing due to the lack of competition. Without competing bids, the government may not achieve the best possible value. Another risk is that the chosen contractor, while possessing unique capabilities, might not be the most innovative or efficient provider available in the market. Furthermore, sole-source awards can limit opportunities for other capable small and large businesses to demonstrate their expertise and secure federal contracts, potentially hindering market dynamism and long-term government access to a diverse talent pool.

What is DNI Emerging Technologies, LLC's track record with federal cybersecurity contracts?

Detailed information on DNI Emerging Technologies, LLC's specific track record with federal cybersecurity contracts is not provided in the abbreviated data. The award itself signifies that the Department of the Air Force has determined the company possesses the necessary qualifications for this specific task order. To fully assess their track record, one would need to examine past performance evaluations, other awarded contracts (especially within cybersecurity and IT services), and any publicly available CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) data. The 'Emerging Technologies' in their name suggests a potential focus, but their history with similar government requirements would be the key indicator.

What are the implications of the 'FIRM FIXED PRICE' contract type for this cybersecurity task order?

The 'FIRM FIXED PRICE' (FFP) contract type is generally favorable for the government when the scope of work is well-defined and unlikely to change significantly. For this cybersecurity operations support services task order, FFP means the contractor, DNI Emerging Technologies, LLC, is obligated to complete the work for a predetermined price. This shifts the risk of cost overruns to the contractor. It provides budget certainty for the Department of the Air Force. However, if the scope is not precisely defined or if unforeseen technical challenges arise, the contractor may be incentivized to cut corners, or conversely, seek change orders, which could negate some of the benefits of FFP.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2000 N CLASSEN BLVD STE 1650, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 73106

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $8,727,338

Exercised Options: $5,684,936

Current Obligation: $5,683,466

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA860425DB001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline