DHS awards $9.86M for Geospatial Technical Services to Ardent Management Consulting, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $9,864,710 ($9.9M)

Contractor: Ardent Management Consulting, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2020-03-30

End Date: 2025-07-13

Contract Duration: 1,931 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: GEOSPATIAL TECHNICAL SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: RESTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20190

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $9.9 million to ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC for work described as: GEOSPATIAL TECHNICAL SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. Firm Fixed Price contract type indicates price certainty for the government. 3. The contract duration of 1931 days (over 5 years) suggests a long-term need for these services. 4. The award amount is moderate for IT services, requiring benchmarking against similar contracts. 5. No small business set-aside was utilized, indicating potential for larger prime contractors. 6. The contract is for custom computer programming services, a critical IT function.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $9.86 million over approximately five years for custom computer programming services appears moderate. Benchmarking against similar geospatial technical services contracts awarded by agencies like DHS or other federal entities would be necessary to determine if the pricing is competitive. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost predictability, but the value for money depends heavily on the quality and efficiency of the services delivered by Ardent Management Consulting, LLC. Without specific performance metrics or comparisons to industry standards for similar custom programming projects, a definitive value assessment is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The presence of 5 bids indicates a reasonable level of competition for this requirement. A competitive process like this generally helps ensure that the government receives fair market prices and that the most capable contractor is selected. The number of bidders suggests that the market for these specialized geospatial technical services is sufficiently robust to support multiple interested parties.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process helps ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down prices and encouraging high-quality service delivery from contractors.

Public Impact

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is the primary beneficiary, likely utilizing these geospatial services for border security, surveillance, or operational planning. The services delivered include custom computer programming, essential for developing and maintaining specialized software and systems. The geographic impact is likely focused on areas relevant to CBP operations, potentially nationwide or at specific border regions. The contract supports the IT workforce within Ardent Management Consulting, LLC, and potentially indirectly supports related technology sectors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if the custom software developed is highly proprietary and difficult to transition.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical custom programming could pose risks if performance degrades or the contractor faces financial instability.
The long contract duration might lead to less incentive for continuous innovation if not managed proactively.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The contractor, Ardent Management Consulting, LLC, has secured a significant contract, suggesting a level of capability and trust.
The contract duration allows for sustained support and development of critical geospatial capabilities.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector, specifically custom computer programming, is a vast and critical component of federal spending. Geospatial technical services are increasingly important across various government functions, including defense, intelligence, law enforcement, and infrastructure management. This contract fits within the broader category of IT support and software development, where agencies rely on specialized firms to build and maintain complex systems. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other federal contracts for custom software development, GIS (Geographic Information System) development, and data analysis platforms.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, and the data indicates the prime contractor is not a small business (indicated by 'ss': false and 'sb': false, assuming these refer to the prime being small or a set-aside). This means the opportunity was open to all responsible sources, including large businesses. While there's no direct set-aside, Ardent Management Consulting, LLC may still engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill specific aspects of the contract, contributing to the broader small business ecosystem. However, the primary award does not directly prioritize small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and specifically U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Mechanisms likely include regular performance reviews, contract management meetings, and adherence to the terms of the Firm Fixed Price delivery order. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases like FPDS. The extent of Inspector General (IG) involvement would depend on any reported issues, performance deficiencies, or potential fraud, waste, or abuse identified during the contract's lifecycle.

Related Government Programs

Geospatial Intelligence Services
Custom Computer Programming Services
IT Professional Services
Department of Homeland Security IT Contracts
Border Security Technology

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope creep occurs.
Risk of performance issues if contractor lacks specialized expertise.
Dependency on contractor for critical system functionality.
Cybersecurity risks associated with custom-developed software.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $9.9 million to ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC. GEOSPATIAL TECHNICAL SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, 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 $9.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-03-30. End: 2025-07-13.

What is the track record of Ardent Management Consulting, LLC in delivering similar geospatial technical services to the federal government?

Assessing Ardent Management Consulting, LLC's track record requires a review of their past performance on federal contracts, particularly those involving custom computer programming and geospatial technical services. Information on previous contract awards, performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any past issues or successes would provide insight into their reliability and capability. A lack of extensive relevant past performance could indicate a higher risk for this contract. Conversely, a history of successful, on-time, and within-budget delivery on similar projects would bolster confidence in their ability to meet the requirements for this DHS contract.

How does the awarded price of $9.86 million compare to market rates for similar custom computer programming services over a five-year period?

To benchmark the $9.86 million award, one would compare it against industry data for custom computer programming services, factoring in the contract duration (approx. 5 years) and the specific nature of geospatial technical services. This involves researching average hourly rates or project costs for similar skill sets and complexity levels within the federal contracting space and the broader IT market. If the average annual cost ($~1.97M/year) falls within or below typical market ranges for specialized IT development and integration, it suggests reasonable pricing. Deviations significantly above market rates, without clear justification (e.g., highly specialized expertise, unique security requirements), would raise concerns about value for money.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this geospatial technical services contract?

Key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract would likely focus on the successful development, deployment, and maintenance of geospatial software and systems. Specific KPIs could include system uptime and availability, accuracy and timeliness of data processing, successful integration with existing CBP systems, user satisfaction, and adherence to project milestones and deadlines. The effectiveness of the custom programming would be measured by its ability to meet the defined functional and technical requirements outlined in the contract statement of work. Regular performance reviews would track these KPIs to ensure Ardent Management Consulting, LLC is meeting its contractual obligations and delivering the expected value.

What is the historical spending trend for geospatial technical services within U.S. Customs and Border Protection?

Analyzing historical spending trends for geospatial technical services within U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would involve examining contract data over several fiscal years. This would reveal whether spending in this area is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, and identify the primary contractors and types of services procured. Understanding this trend provides context for the current $9.86 million award, indicating if it represents a typical investment, an expansion of capabilities, or a shift in strategy. Significant fluctuations might warrant further investigation into the drivers behind such changes, such as evolving threats, technological advancements, or policy directives impacting border security operations.

Are there any identified risks associated with the contractor's ability to deliver on this specific type of custom computer programming?

Risks associated with the contractor's ability to deliver on custom computer programming can be multifaceted. These include potential technical challenges in developing novel geospatial solutions, integration complexities with existing CBP infrastructure, cybersecurity vulnerabilities in the developed software, and the contractor's capacity to scale resources as needed. Furthermore, personnel turnover within the contractor's team could lead to knowledge gaps and project delays. Assessing these risks involves reviewing the contractor's technical approach, project management plan, cybersecurity posture, and any historical performance data related to similar complex development efforts.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 70B03C20Q00000067

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1945 OLD GALLOWS RD STE 540B, VIENNA, VA, 22182

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,876,042

Exercised Options: $9,864,710

Current Obligation: $9,864,710

Actual Outlays: $5,498,519

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS35F0212U

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline