DoD's $23M behavioral threat analysis support contract awarded to Cherokee Insights LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,050,161 ($23.1M)

Contractor: Cherokee Insights LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-07-15

End Date: 2026-07-14

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21.1K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Defense

Official Description: DITMAC BEHAVIORAL THREAT ANALYSIS CENTER SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22202

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $23.1 million to CHEROKEE INSIGHTS LLC for work described as: DITMAC BEHAVIORAL THREAT ANALYSIS CENTER SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded via other than full and open competition, raising questions about price discovery. 2. The contract duration of 1095 days suggests a need for sustained support in a critical area. 3. Services fall under 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services,' a broad category. 4. The award to a single entity may limit opportunities for diverse approaches and innovation. 5. Performance is managed by the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA). 6. The contract type is a Definitive Contract, indicating a clear scope of work.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Benchmarking the value for this specific contract is challenging due to the 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' status, which limits comparison to other bids. The total value of $23,050,160.57 over three years suggests a significant investment in behavioral threat analysis. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to ascertain if this represents optimal value for money or if alternative solutions could have been procured at a lower cost. Further analysis would require access to cost breakdowns and internal agency assessments of fair and reasonable pricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded using other than full and open competition, meaning only one offer was solicited and considered. The specific justification for this limited competition is not provided in the available data. This approach bypasses the standard process of soliciting bids from multiple vendors, which typically leads to a wider range of pricing and service options. The lack of competition raises concerns about whether the government received the best possible price and service.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can potentially lead to higher costs for taxpayers as the government does not benefit from the price pressures inherent in a competitive bidding process.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely intelligence and security agencies within the Department of Defense, receiving support for behavioral threat analysis. Services delivered are expected to enhance the understanding and mitigation of behavioral threats to national security. The geographic impact is primarily within the United States, supporting federal defense operations. Workforce implications may include specialized analysts and subject matter experts contributing to national security efforts.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may result in higher costs for taxpayers.
Limited transparency into the justification for sole-source award.
Potential for reduced innovation due to single-vendor engagement.

Positive Signals

Award to a single, potentially specialized, contractor may ensure focused expertise.
Definitive contract type suggests a clear and defined scope of work.
Long-term duration indicates a recognized and ongoing need for these services.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on consulting. This sector is characterized by a wide range of specialized expertise. Comparable spending in this area often involves significant investments in intelligence analysis, security consulting, and research and development. The market size for such specialized defense-related consulting services is substantial, driven by ongoing national security requirements.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation is not a primary focus for this specific award, as the 'small business set-aside' flag is false. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. This suggests that the prime contractor, Cherokee Insights LLC, is likely responsible for fulfilling the contract requirements directly, potentially limiting opportunities for small businesses to engage in this particular federal contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program management office within the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency. Accountability measures are inherent in the definitive contract structure, which outlines specific deliverables and performance standards. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award and the lack of publicly available detailed justifications. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Intelligence Analysis Services
Threat Assessment Support
National Security Consulting
Defense Agency Support Contracts
Behavioral Science Consulting

Risk Flags

Sole-source award raises concerns about competition and potential cost overruns.
Lack of detailed justification for non-competitive award limits transparency.
Potential for limited innovation due to single-vendor engagement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $23.1 million to CHEROKEE INSIGHTS LLC. DITMAC BEHAVIORAL THREAT ANALYSIS CENTER SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CHEROKEE INSIGHTS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $23.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-07-15. End: 2026-07-14.

What is the specific justification provided by the Department of Defense for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The provided data indicates the contract was awarded under 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' which is a category often used for sole-source procurements. Specific justifications for sole-source awards typically fall under exceptions to full and open competition, such as when only one responsible source is available, or in cases of urgent and compelling need. Without further documentation from the agency, the precise reason for bypassing competitive bidding remains undisclosed in this dataset. Such justifications are crucial for ensuring taxpayer funds are used efficiently and that the government has explored all viable options.

How does the cost of this contract compare to similar behavioral threat analysis support services procured competitively?

Direct comparison of the cost for this $23 million contract to competitively procured services is not feasible with the provided data. The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis ('NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'), meaning there were no competing bids to establish a market-driven price. To assess value for money, one would need to compare the contractor's proposed pricing against independent government cost estimates, historical pricing for similar services, or pricing data from other agencies that have procured comparable services through competitive means. The absence of competitive data makes it difficult to determine if this represents a fair and reasonable price.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and deliverables expected under this contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or deliverables for the DITMAC Behavioral Threat Analysis Center Support Services contract. As a Definitive Contract, it is expected to have a defined scope of work, including specific tasks, milestones, and expected outcomes. These would typically be outlined in the contract's statement of work (SOW). For a contract focused on behavioral threat analysis, KPIs might include the accuracy of threat assessments, the timeliness of reports, the development of analytical models, or the provision of actionable intelligence to support decision-making within the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency.

What is the track record of Cherokee Insights LLC in providing similar behavioral threat analysis services to the federal government?

Information regarding Cherokee Insights LLC's specific track record in providing behavioral threat analysis services is not detailed in the provided dataset. While the company is listed as the awardee, its past performance, experience with similar contracts, and client feedback are not included. A comprehensive assessment of the contractor's reliability and capability would require reviewing their performance history on previous government contracts, including any past performance evaluations or awards/debarments. This information is typically available through federal procurement databases but is not present here.

What is the historical spending trend for behavioral threat analysis support services within the Department of Defense?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending trends for behavioral threat analysis support services within the Department of Defense. To analyze historical spending, one would need access to aggregated contract data over multiple fiscal years, identifying all contracts related to behavioral threat analysis, their values, and the agencies involved. This would allow for the identification of patterns, increases or decreases in spending, and the overall investment in this capability over time. Without such broader data, it's impossible to establish a historical context for this specific $23 million award.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: HS002123R0020

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2 W. 2ND ST, TULSA, OK, 74103

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not 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: $26,782,778

Exercised Options: $23,055,655

Current Obligation: $23,050,161

Actual Outlays: $287,532

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline