Ab initio electronic structure theory has been used to characterize the lowest (1)A" excited state of isocyanogen. The geometries, vibrational frequencies, and infrared intensities of the (X) over tilde (1) Sigma(+) and ii (1)A" states have been determined using the single and double excitation configuration-interaction (CISD) method in conjunction with a triple-zeta plus double polarization (TZ2P) basis set. Adding the Davidson correction and including a set of f polarization functions in the basis set (CISD+Q TZ2Pf), we estimate the energy difference between the ground and first excited singlet state of isocyanogen to be T-e = 41 700 cm(-1). With a C-N-C bond angle of 117 degrees, this bent (1)A" excited state may be useful in stimulated emission pumping (SEP) experiments on the NCCN=CNCN isomerization.