U.S. Department of Education: ~$10.27M for CIO-led AI in IT modernization (iCatalyst) (USAspending)
The U.S. Department of Education awarded a ~$10.27 million ($10,270,660) contract to iCatalyst, Inc. for CIO-led "innovation artificial intelligence" as part of IT modernization — an example of practical AI use at a civilian (non-defense) agency.
Contract key facts
- RecipientICATALYST, INC.
- Contract value$10,270,660 (≈$10.3M)
- Awarding agencyDepartment of Education
- Awarding sub-agencyDepartment of Education
- Award typeBPA CALL
- Period of performance2022-09-29 〜 2027-09-28
- Contract ID (PIID)91990022F0045
Contract scope (original)
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION IT MODERNIZATION BPA--CIO INNOVATION ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Key points
- The Department of Education contracted for CIO-led "innovation AI" in IT modernization
- Recipient iCatalyst, Inc., ~$10.27M ($10,270,660), BPA call, September 2022 – September 2026
- An example of practical AI use at a civilian (administrative) agency
- Like USPTO, CMS, and the IRS, confirms AI spreading to non-defense federal agencies
- The 222 records held as of 2026-09-01 divide across 35 awarding offices, of which the Department of Education accounts for one.
1AI in a civilian administrative domain
This contract is an example of AI use in a civilian (administrative) domain — education — amid government AI procurement that can look defense-centric. The CIO office advances AI adoption and innovation as part of IT modernization.
2A pattern shared across civilian agencies
Like the USPTO, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and the IRS already featured on this site, it confirms that AI is spreading to non-defense federal agencies. The scope is brief and does not state specific uses, so we do not assert them (refer to primary sources for details).
3Awarding offices outside defense
Government AI procurement looks concentrated in defense, and civilian agencies still hold a spread of their own. The Department of Education is one of them.
| Awarding office | Records |
|---|---|
| Department of Veterans Affairs | 10 |
| Internal Revenue Service | 6 |
| National Institutes of Health | 6 |
| Patent and Trademark Office | 5 |
| Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services | 5 |
The 222 federal spending records this site holds as of 2026-09-01 divide across 35 awarding offices, led by the Air Force with 61 and the Army with 45 — internal organisations of the Department of Defense. The civilian agencies in the table sit alongside them, and the Department of Education accounts for one record. A CIO office handling AI within an IT modernisation framework is a shape shared with the Patent Office and CMS.
Why it matters
An example of government AI use in education, a civilian domain. For those tracking government IT, GovTech, and public-sector AI adoption, a useful read on U.S. government demand extending beyond defense.
FAQ
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Sources (primary)
This article is an independent organization based on the U.S. official spending data below. Verify the exact, latest details with the official source.
- USAspending (award details)
- Contract ID (PIID)：91990022F0045