DHS awards $5.18M Motorola contract for land mobile radio maintenance, with competition impacting value

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,175,207 ($5.2M)

Contractor: Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2024-08-23

End Date: 2027-02-22

Contract Duration: 913 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE TASK ORDER IS FOR LAND MOBILE RADIO MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT.

Place of Performance

Location: ORLANDO, ORANGE County, FLORIDA, 32812

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $5.2 million to MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC. for work described as: THE TASK ORDER IS FOR LAND MOBILE RADIO MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT. Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in critical communication infrastructure. 2. Motorola Solutions, a major player, likely leverages established market position. 3. Fixed-price contract type aims to control costs, but requires careful scope management. 4. The contract duration of over two years suggests a need for sustained support. 5. Geographic focus on Florida indicates a specific operational requirement. 6. This task order is part of broader efforts to maintain and upgrade federal radio systems.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

Benchmarking the $5.18 million price tag for land mobile radio maintenance requires detailed comparison to similar support contracts for comparable systems. Given the fixed-price nature, the value hinges on the efficiency of Motorola Solutions' service delivery and the clarity of the defined scope. Without specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the competitive award suggests a reasonable market price was achieved.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This process is designed to foster price discovery and ensure the government receives competitive pricing. The presence of multiple bidders, even if only one was ultimately awarded the contract, suggests a healthy market for these services and likely drove down costs compared to a sole-source or limited competition scenario.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from full and open competition through potentially lower prices and access to a wider range of innovative solutions. This approach helps ensure that federal funds are used efficiently by leveraging market forces to obtain the best value.

Public Impact

U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and personnel in Florida will benefit from reliable land mobile radio communication. The contract ensures the maintenance and support of essential radio systems, crucial for border security and law enforcement operations. Geographic impact is concentrated in Florida, supporting federal operations within that state. The contract supports a workforce reliant on these communication systems, ensuring operational continuity.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in maintenance and support contracts if not tightly managed.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical maintenance could pose long-term dependency risks.
Ensuring consistent service quality across the contract duration requires robust oversight.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting competitive pricing.
Fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Longer contract duration allows for stable support and planning.

Sector Analysis

The land mobile radio (LMR) market is a critical segment within the broader telecommunications and public safety sector. This contract falls under engineering services, supporting the operational needs of federal law enforcement. The market is characterized by established players like Motorola Solutions, offering specialized equipment and maintenance. Spending in this area is driven by the need for secure, reliable, and interoperable communication systems for government agencies, particularly in public safety and defense.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was awarded under full and open competition and does not specify small business set-asides or subcontracting goals. Therefore, the direct impact on small businesses through this specific award is not detailed. However, prime contractors like Motorola Solutions often engage small businesses for subcontracting opportunities, though this is not explicitly stated here. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this task order will likely be managed by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection contracting officer and their representatives. The fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability for performance against the agreed-upon scope. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards. While no specific Inspector General jurisdiction is mentioned, the DHS OIG would have oversight over broader departmental spending and contract performance.

Related Government Programs

Federal Land Mobile Radio Systems
Department of Homeland Security Communications Infrastructure
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Operations Support
Public Safety Radio Maintenance Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in
Reliance on specific technology lifecycle
Scope management challenges in fixed-price support contracts

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $5.2 million to MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.. THE TASK ORDER IS FOR LAND MOBILE RADIO MAINTENANCE AND SUPPORT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC..

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 $5.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-08-23. End: 2027-02-22.

What is Motorola Solutions' track record with similar land mobile radio maintenance contracts for federal agencies?

Motorola Solutions, Inc. is a leading provider of communication solutions, including land mobile radio systems, for public safety and government agencies. They have a long history of securing and performing on large federal contracts for radio maintenance, support, and system upgrades. Analyzing their past performance on similar task orders and contracts, particularly with agencies like DHS or its components, would reveal their reliability, responsiveness, and ability to meet service level agreements. Past performance reviews and contract close-out data from federal procurement databases can offer insights into their historical success rates, any disputes or contract modifications, and overall client satisfaction. This specific contract's value and duration are within the typical range for such services provided by major vendors.

How does the $5.18 million price compare to similar land mobile radio maintenance contracts?

A precise comparison of the $5.18 million price requires access to detailed contract data for similar land mobile radio maintenance and support services across federal agencies. Factors influencing price include the scope of services (preventive maintenance, repairs, software updates), the number and type of radio units supported, the geographic coverage, and the contract duration. Given this is a fixed-price contract awarded under full and open competition, the price is likely competitive within the market for supporting a specific region like Florida over a 913-day period. However, without specific benchmarks for comparable contracts (e.g., number of radios, service level agreements), it's difficult to definitively state if it represents excellent or fair value. The competitive award process suggests it is within a reasonable market range.

What are the primary risks associated with this land mobile radio maintenance contract?

The primary risks associated with this contract include potential scope creep, where the requirements for maintenance and support may expand beyond the initial agreement, leading to cost overruns or schedule delays, despite the fixed-price structure. Another risk is vendor lock-in, where reliance on Motorola Solutions for maintenance could make it difficult or costly to switch providers in the future. Performance risk is also present; if Motorola Solutions fails to provide timely and effective maintenance, it could disrupt critical communication operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Furthermore, the long-term viability and security of the radio technology itself, and the vendor's ability to support it through its lifecycle, represent strategic risks.

How effective is full and open competition in ensuring value for money for these types of services?

Full and open competition is generally considered the most effective method for ensuring value for money in federal procurement, including for services like land mobile radio maintenance. By allowing all responsible sources to submit offers, it maximizes the pool of potential vendors, thereby increasing the likelihood of receiving competitive pricing and innovative solutions. This process drives down costs as vendors vie for the contract. For this specific $5.18 million task order, the competitive award suggests that the price achieved is likely aligned with market rates. However, the effectiveness is also dependent on the clarity of the solicitation, the evaluation criteria, and the government's ability to accurately define its needs to elicit meaningful competition.

What is the historical spending pattern for land mobile radio maintenance by U.S. Customs and Border Protection?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for land mobile radio maintenance by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) would provide context for the $5.18 million award. CBP, as a large component of DHS, relies heavily on robust communication systems. Historical data would reveal trends in contract values, durations, awarded vendors, and the prevalence of different contract types (e.g., fixed-price vs. cost-plus) for LMR maintenance. Understanding whether spending has been consistent, increasing, or decreasing, and whether it has been predominantly with a few key vendors or spread across many, can indicate market dynamics and potential areas for cost savings or efficiency improvements. This specific task order represents a portion of CBP's overall investment in communication infrastructure.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 809 PINNACLE DR STE G, LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MD, 21090

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,961,161

Exercised Options: $8,819,020

Current Obligation: $5,175,207

Actual Outlays: $3,668,149

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70B04C19D00000035

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline