$40M Treasury contract draws protest fight

A pair of small businesses are squaring off over a $40 million contract to support Treasury Department efforts to fight financial crimes.

A couple of small businesses are squaring off over a $40 million contract to support the Treasury Department’s financial crimes unit.

Integral Consulting Services won the contract for comprehensive application support services, but after its debrief, 22nd Century Technologies Inc. filed a protest with the Government Accountability Office objecting to Treasury’s decision.

The incumbent contractor, Universal Consulting Services, so far has not filed a protest.

The contract is for a range of services such as application engineering support, management and other support related to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. The network is used to detect financial crimes and ensure the integrity of financial systems.

The network receives and maintains financial transaction data and is used to analyze and share that data with law enforcement agencies. The network is used to fight money laundering and funds that flow to terrorism organizations.

Among the services Integral was to provide under the contract are asset management, telecommunication and mobile technology support, end-user training, documentation, and other related services.

The five-year contract was competed as a small business set-aside vehicle. Task orders issued under the contract will be firm-fixed price.

22nd Century Technologies filed its protest Sept. 25, and a decision from GAO is expected by Jan. 4.