Notice Regarding Dept. of the Interior, IBC, AQD use of RPA to close contracts.

The Department of the Interior's Interior Business Center (IBC), Acquisition Services Directorate has issued a Special Notice announcing its intent to utilize robotic process automation (RPA) for closing out specific federal contracts. The notice pertains to contracts that have an expired period of performance, are fully invoiced with a zero-dollar balance, and are firm-fixed price contracts with obligations below the simplified acquisition threshold. The Special Notice was posted on April 15, 2025, with a closing date of April 28, 2025, and covers a comprehensive list of 293 individual contracts across various service sectors. The IBC is employing this automated closeout process to efficiently manage and finalize contracts that have completed their full lifecycle. The approach reflects a systematic and technology-driven method for contract administration within the Department of the Interior.

The primary objective of this Special Notice is to provide advance notification to vendors about the upcoming RPA-driven contract closeout process. Contractors will have ten days from the notice's posting to review and prepare for the automated closeout procedure. The eligibility for this process is specifically limited to contracts meeting precise criteria: fully completed performance periods, zero remaining financial balance, firm-fixed price structure, and total obligations under the simplified acquisition threshold. The attached government file (CTC_Bot_list_14_Apr_25_1.pdf) provides a detailed spreadsheet listing all affected contracts, which span various industries including aviation, technology, consulting, and service-related sectors. Contractors with contracts on this list will be automatically processed through the RPA system, streamlining the administrative closeout workflow and reducing manual intervention in contract finalization.