DHS Awards $24.4M for OPSTAR Web Maintenance to Red River Science & Technology

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $24,378,992 ($24.4M)

Contractor: RED River Science & Technology, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2021-09-15

End Date: 2026-09-14

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: OPSTAR WEB-BASED MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA County, OKLAHOMA, 73119

State: Oklahoma Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $24.4 million to RED RIVER SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, LLC for work described as: OPSTAR WEB-BASED MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value of $24.4M over 5 years. 2. Red River Science & Technology, LLC is the sole awardee. 3. Competition method was full and open. 4. Service falls under IT infrastructure and consulting.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $24.4M for 5 years suggests a reasonable annual spend of approximately $4.87M. Benchmarking against similar IT infrastructure and consulting contracts would be needed for a precise assessment, but the duration and scope appear aligned with industry standards.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a robust price discovery process. This method generally leads to more competitive pricing as multiple vendors have the opportunity to bid.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is expected to yield fair market prices, maximizing the value of taxpayer dollars spent on these essential IT support services.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operation and maintenance of critical OPSTAR web-based systems. Supports U.S. Customs and Border Protection's infrastructure needs. Potential impact on border security operations if services are disrupted.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Positive Signals

Full and open competition utilized.
Firm Fixed Price contract type.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT and professional services sector, specifically focusing on web-based maintenance and infrastructure support. Spending benchmarks for similar government IT support contracts vary widely based on complexity and scope, but this award appears within a typical range for a 5-year duration.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that the awardee is not a small business. Further analysis would be required to determine if small business participation was sought or achieved through subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Standard oversight mechanisms for federal contracts would apply, including performance monitoring and financial accountability.

Related Government Programs

Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services
Department of Homeland Security Contracting
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Programs

Risk Flags

Sole awardee for a long-term contract.
Potential for vendor lock-in.
Need for detailed performance monitoring.
Small business participation not explicitly stated.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $24.4 million to RED RIVER SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, LLC. OPSTAR WEB-BASED MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RED RIVER SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Customs and Border Protection).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $24.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-15. End: 2026-09-14.

What specific IT infrastructure and consulting services are included under OPSTAR?

The contract details 'OPSTAR WEB-BASED MAINTENANCE AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUPPORT SERVICES.' While the specific NAICS code (541614) points to Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services, the contract title suggests a focus on maintaining and supporting web-based IT systems. A deeper dive into the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) would clarify the exact services, potentially including system upkeep, software updates, user support, and infrastructure management for the OPSTAR platform.

What is the risk associated with a single awardee for this critical IT support?

While awarded under full and open competition, the fact that Red River Science & Technology, LLC is the sole awardee for this 5-year contract presents a risk of vendor lock-in and potential price increases in future renewals. Dependency on a single provider could also lead to service disruptions if the vendor faces financial or operational challenges. Mitigation strategies might include robust performance monitoring and contingency planning.

How effective is the firm fixed price contract type in ensuring value for taxpayer money?

A Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract type is generally effective in controlling costs for the government, as the contractor assumes the risk of cost overruns. This encourages efficiency and predictability in spending. For IT maintenance and support, where requirements can be well-defined, FFP can ensure value by capping the total expenditure, provided the initial price is competitive and the scope is clearly delineated.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Process, Physical Distribution, and Logistics Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 70B02C21Q00000081

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6302 SW OAKMONT, LAWTON, OK, 73505

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $24,672,679

Exercised Options: $24,378,992

Current Obligation: $24,378,992

Actual Outlays: $14,800,646

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA18D00BY

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline