Agency, pointing to investigations, fast-tracked $2.75M technology contract.

The Federal Trade Commission, preparing for “an unprecedented year of investigations and litigation,” fast-tracked spending nearly $3 million on technology to support the agency as it digs into the Equifax Inc. data breach and other cases of consumer harm.

Federal records disclosed this month show the FTC recently awarded a one-year contract to Innovative Discovery LLC, an Arlington, Virginia-based provider of electronic discovery technology, to provide a secure litigation support service. Justifying the agency's decision not to open a competitive bidding process, the FTC said it “faces usual and compelling circumstances that require the immediate initiation of this pilot.”