DIA awards support contract

The Defense Intelligence Agency this week announced that it has awarded an administrative support services contract to Integrated Resource Technologies (IRT) Inc., a management and information services company.

IRT is the prime contractor on the $15.6 million contract, which was awarded July 10. McNeil Technologies Inc., a management consulting firm, is the subcontractor.

Work began July 15, and the award includes one base year and four option years, said James McNeil, chairman and chief executive officer of his namesake company.

Under the contract, McNeil and IRT will provide administrative support services to the DIA, a combat support agency that produces and manages foreign military intelligence, at locations throughout the United States. Not all services will be performed at all locations.

The services include:

* Records management.

* Database maintenance.

* Research and analysis.

* Action item tracking.

* Preparation of briefing materials and travel arrangements.

* Logistics support.

The two companies have had a Small Business Administration-approved mentor/protege alliance since March 1999, and McNeil said the new contract "represents a continual expansion of providing information management and security-related services to the DIA." He added that long-term relationships have always been his goal, whether with partnering companies or government agencies.

The SBA's mentor/protege program helps 8(a) program participants — socially and economically disadvantaged businesses — compete for federal contracts. Mentors provide technical and management assistance, financial help in the form of equity investments or loans or both, subcontract support and aid in performing prime contracts through joint venture arrangements with 8(a) firms.

Since McNeil Technologies' mentor/protege alliance with IRT began, the team has won about $40 million in contract awards from Defense Department agencies and the Energy Department. McNeil has assisted IRT with marketing and business development as well as helping to develop infrastructure support and personnel.

"For IRT, this is our biggest contract to date and will boost our revenues quite significantly," said Faye Fields, president and CEO of the company, which is certified to participate in the 8(a) program until 2004.

Fields said 41 positions are included in the contract and 28 of those are in the Washington, D.C., area. The companies' first priority is "staffing the first 12 of those positions," and about 10 have been filled already, she said, adding that the D.C.-area positions "support the more critical elements within the agency," although Fields would not elaborate what those were.