DoD's $12.2M Cybersecurity Support Contract Awarded to Crest Security Assurance LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,213,236 ($12.2M)

Contractor: Crest Security Assurance LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-08-22

End Date: 2026-09-28

Contract Duration: 1,133 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 21

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: DCMA CYBERSECURITY SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: FORT LEE, PRINCE GEORGE County, VIRGINIA, 23801

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $12.2 million to CREST SECURITY ASSURANCE LLC for work described as: DCMA CYBERSECURITY SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract is for cybersecurity support services, a critical area for defense. 3. The duration of the contract is over three years, indicating a long-term need. 4. The award was a delivery order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. 5. The fixed-price nature of the contract helps manage cost certainty for the government. 6. The contractor, Crest Security Assurance LLC, is relatively new to large federal contracts based on available data. 7. The contract is for IT services, specifically computer-related services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this $12.2 million contract is challenging without knowing the specific services and deliverables. However, the award was made under a firm-fixed-price contract, which generally provides cost certainty. The number of bids received (21) suggests a degree of market interest, but without knowing the scope of work, it's difficult to assess if the pricing is competitive. Further analysis would require comparing the specific cybersecurity tasks and required expertise against similar contracts awarded by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) or other Department of Defense (DoD) entities.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. With 21 bids received, the competition level appears robust. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more innovative solutions as contractors vie for the award. This broad competition suggests that the agency sought to leverage the widest possible market to find the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition and the significant number of bidders are positive indicators for taxpayers, as they increase the likelihood of receiving competitive pricing and high-quality services.

Public Impact

The Department of Defense benefits from enhanced cybersecurity posture and support. Critical cybersecurity services are delivered to protect sensitive defense information and systems. The contract's geographic impact is primarily within the United States, supporting DoD operations. The contract may have implications for the cybersecurity workforce, potentially creating or sustaining jobs in this specialized field.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Contractor's track record with large federal contracts is not extensively documented, raising potential performance risks.
The specific cybersecurity services required and the contractor's capability to deliver them need further scrutiny.
The contract's duration and value could represent a significant commitment, requiring close monitoring of performance.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition with a substantial number of bidders (21), indicating market interest and potential for competitive pricing.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Cybersecurity support is a critical and high-demand service for the Department of Defense.

Sector Analysis

Cybersecurity services represent a rapidly growing sector within the broader IT industry, driven by increasing digital threats and the need for robust defense mechanisms. The federal government, particularly the Department of Defense, is a major consumer of these services. This contract fits within the 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code (541519), which encompasses a wide range of IT support. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other cybersecurity support contracts awarded by DISA and other defense agencies, which often run into millions or tens of millions of dollars annually.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, and the data indicates the prime contractor is not a small business. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses mandated by this specific award. However, the prime contractor may choose to subcontract portions of the work to small businesses as part of their business strategy, which could provide opportunities within the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract type, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed-upon price. Transparency is facilitated through federal contract databases like FPDS-NG, where award details are publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

DoD Cybersecurity Modernization Program
Defense Information Technology Contracting Office (DITCO) Contracts
Cybersecurity Services Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts
IT Support Services for Department of Defense

Risk Flags

Limited public track record for contractor on large federal contracts.
Cybersecurity services are inherently high-risk and require continuous vigilance.
Potential for scope creep or undefined requirements in task order.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $12.2 million to CREST SECURITY ASSURANCE LLC. DCMA CYBERSECURITY SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CREST SECURITY ASSURANCE LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Information Systems Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-08-22. End: 2026-09-28.

What is the specific scope of cybersecurity services required under this contract, and how does it align with DISA's current cybersecurity needs?

The contract, identified as a delivery order under a larger IDIQ, is for 'DCMA CYBERSECURITY SUPPORT SERVICES'. While the specific tasks are not detailed in the provided data, typical cybersecurity support services for an agency like DISA could include vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, security monitoring, incident response, security policy development, and compliance support. Given DISA's role in providing IT infrastructure and services to the DoD, these services are crucial for maintaining the security and integrity of defense networks and systems. The alignment would depend on DISA's strategic cybersecurity priorities and the specific requirements outlined in the task order, which are not publicly available in this summary.

How does the $12.2 million contract value compare to other cybersecurity support contracts awarded by DISA or the DoD?

The $12.2 million value for a contract spanning over three years (August 2023 to September 2026) is a moderate-sized award within the vast landscape of Department of Defense IT and cybersecurity spending. DISA alone manages billions of dollars in IT contracts annually. For context, larger cybersecurity modernization efforts or enterprise-wide security solutions can easily reach hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. However, for a specific support service delivery order, $12.2 million is a significant commitment. Benchmarking requires comparing it against similar task orders for specific cybersecurity functions (e.g., vulnerability management, CND services) awarded by DISA or other DoD components to gauge if the pricing and scope are in line with market rates and agency needs.

What is Crest Security Assurance LLC's track record and experience in delivering cybersecurity services to the federal government, particularly the DoD?

Based on the provided data, Crest Security Assurance LLC is the awardee. A deeper dive into federal procurement databases would be necessary to fully assess their track record. However, the fact that this is a delivery order suggests they may have an existing IDIQ contract or are a subcontractor. Their experience with large-scale federal cybersecurity contracts, especially within the DoD, would be a key factor in evaluating performance risk. Without more historical data on their past performance ratings, contract values, and the complexity of services previously rendered, it is difficult to definitively assess their experience level for a contract of this nature and value.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding a cybersecurity support contract to Crest Security Assurance LLC, given the limited public information?

The primary risk stems from the potential lack of extensive, publicly documented experience with large federal cybersecurity contracts. While they were awarded this contract through full and open competition with 21 bidders, indicating they met initial qualifications, their past performance on similar scale and complexity projects is crucial. Risks could include potential performance issues, delays in service delivery, or challenges in meeting stringent DoD cybersecurity standards if their experience is not sufficiently deep. The firm-fixed-price nature mitigates financial risk for the government if performance issues arise, but operational risks related to cybersecurity effectiveness remain.

How does the firm-fixed-price contract type influence the management and oversight of this cybersecurity support contract?

The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type establishes a ceiling price that the contractor must not exceed. This shifts much of the cost risk to the contractor, incentivizing them to manage their resources efficiently to maintain profitability. For the government, it provides budget certainty. However, FFP contracts require a very clearly defined scope of work. Oversight will focus on ensuring the contractor meets all performance requirements and deliverables as specified in the contract. If the scope of work is not adequately defined or if unforeseen technical challenges arise, the contractor may struggle to meet obligations without requesting modifications, which can be contentious under an FFP structure.

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: 21

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 12905 LARKMEADE LN, WOODBRIDGE, VA, 22193

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $18,518,376

Exercised Options: $12,213,544

Current Obligation: $12,213,236

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCA18D002A

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline