OPM Awards $79.4M CISO Staffing Contract to Bering Global Solutions Under Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $79,356,358 ($79.4M)

Contractor: Bering Global Solutions, LLC

Awarding Agency: Office of Personnel Management

Start Date: 2020-02-06

End Date: 2025-02-05

Contract Duration: 1,826 days

Daily Burn Rate: $43.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER (CISO) STAFFING SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20415

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Office of Personnel Management obligated $79.4 million to BERING GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, LLC for work described as: CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER (CISO) STAFFING SUPPORT Key points: 1. The contract is for CISO staffing support, a critical function for cybersecurity. 2. Bering Global Solutions, LLC, is the sole awardee. 3. The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources. 4. The total contract value is $79.4 million over a period of 1826 days. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, indicating predictable costs.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $79.4 million for CISO staffing support over five years appears reasonable given the specialized nature of cybersecurity expertise required. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for IT security leadership roles would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition after exclusion of sources, suggesting a competitive bidding process was utilized. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently for essential cybersecurity staffing.

Public Impact

Ensures critical cybersecurity leadership is in place to protect federal data. Supports the Office of Personnel Management's mission to safeguard sensitive information. Provides stability in CISO staffing, crucial for ongoing security initiatives.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if key personnel become indispensable.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical CISO functions.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
Competitive award process suggests fair pricing.
Long-term contract allows for sustained security focus.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on cybersecurity management. Government spending on IT security staffing has been increasing due to rising cyber threats, with benchmarks varying widely based on the scope and seniority of the roles.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the awardee, Bering Global Solutions, LLC, is not listed as a small business. This suggests larger, established firms are competing for these specialized IT support roles.

Oversight & Accountability

The Office of Personnel Management is responsible for overseeing this contract. The firm fixed price structure provides a degree of financial oversight, but performance monitoring will be key to ensuring effective service delivery.

Related Government Programs

Computer Facilities Management Services
Office of Personnel Management Contracting
Office of Personnel Management Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for single-source dependency if key personnel are retained.
Cybersecurity staffing is a high-stakes area with significant potential impact from failures.
Contract duration could lead to complacency if not actively managed.
Need for robust performance metrics to ensure value for money.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Office of Personnel Management awarded $79.4 million to BERING GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, LLC. CHIEF INFORMATION SECURITY OFFICER (CISO) STAFFING SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BERING GLOBAL SOLUTIONS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Office of Personnel Management (Office of Personnel Management).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $79.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-02-06. End: 2025-02-05.

What specific cybersecurity functions will the CISO staffing support entail, and how does this align with OPM's overall cybersecurity strategy?

The CISO staffing support likely encompasses a range of critical functions including policy development, risk management, incident response planning, security awareness training, and compliance oversight. This aligns with OPM's strategic imperative to protect sensitive federal employee data and maintain the integrity of its IT systems against evolving cyber threats.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the effectiveness of the CISO staffing support provided by Bering Global Solutions?

Effectiveness is likely measured through KPIs such as the reduction in security incidents, timely implementation of security controls, successful completion of security audits and assessments, adherence to federal cybersecurity mandates (e.g., FISMA), and positive feedback from OPM leadership regarding the CISO team's contributions to overall security posture.

How does the $79.4 million contract value compare to industry benchmarks for similar CISO staffing support services in the federal sector?

Benchmarking this contract requires detailed analysis of the specific roles, experience levels, and services included. However, given the critical nature of CISO functions and the competitive award, the $79.4 million over five years suggests a market-driven price for specialized expertise, likely falling within the expected range for comprehensive federal cybersecurity leadership support.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Facilities Management Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3301 C STREET, SUITE 400, ANCHORAGE, AK, 99503

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $86,242,321

Exercised Options: $86,172,321

Current Obligation: $79,356,358

Actual Outlays: $56,959,889

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $39,673,549

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline