FBI Mulling Secretive $30 Billion Tech Contract

The Federal Bureau of Investigation is considering a recompete of a $30 billion tech contract it awarded eight years ago under secrecy to a select group of companies.

The FBI’s Information Technology Supplies and Support Services contract vehicle will expire in October 2018, according to a special notice to industry, and the bureau is “conducting internal discussions” to determine whether a similar contract is required.  

The bureau’s notice is a rare public acknowledgment of ITSSS, which it awarded in secret to 46 vendors for a variety of IT support services, including hardware and software, as well as technical, scientific and other professional services.

ITSSS currently supports the FBI’s criminal justice information systems and is available to the entire Justice Department, but public spending data on the contract is sparse and difficult to track, according to Matt Hummer, director of analytics and professional services at Govini, a big data analytics firm.

Govini’s data indicates Booz Allen Hamilton captured more than $230 million for various FBI programs, including its National Name Check Program. NTT Data, STG, IBM and Deloitte all captured more than $200 million on ITSSS, but the total public spend of $2 billion reported by the FBI probably “isn’t the full picture” given its $30 billion ceiling, Hummer said. ITSSS was a one-year contract with seven one-year options, all of which were exercised.

ITSSS was issued directly to vendors with no public announcement, according to Shadi Shakibai, civilian information services manager for Virginia-based Deltek, which provides information solutions to government contractors. However, Shakibai said the FBI may choose a more public procurement this time around because the contracting industry is aware of the massive opportunity beforehand. 

“Increased public interest may prompt the FBI toward advertising in a more open manner,” said Shakibai in a recent webinar.

Deltek estimates the recompete will be valued at the same $30 billion ceiling as its predecessor, making it one of the largest anticipated IT contracts across government.

The FBI did not respond to questions from Nextgov.