DHS Awards $4.8M for IT Support Services to Ardent Management Consulting

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,830,120 ($4.8M)

Contractor: Ardent Management Consulting, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2025-09-16

End Date: 2026-05-04

Contract Duration: 230 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21.0K/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: THIS IS A 6-MONTH BRIDGE CONTRACT FOR INFORMATION SECURITY, PRODUCTION MONITORING AND PROCESS SUPPORT SERVICES.

Place of Performance

Location: SPRINGFIELD, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22153

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $4.8 million to ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC for work described as: THIS IS A 6-MONTH BRIDGE CONTRACT FOR INFORMATION SECURITY, PRODUCTION MONITORING AND PROCESS SUPPORT SERVICES. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical information security and production monitoring. 2. Competition method was 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources'. 3. The contract duration is 230 days, serving as a bridge. 4. Ardent Management Consulting, LLC is the awardee. 5. Services are categorized under Computer Systems Design Services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract is a firm-fixed-price delivery order. Without specific benchmarks for similar 6-month bridge contracts for information security and production monitoring, a precise value assessment is difficult. However, the amount appears reasonable for the stated services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources'. This method suggests an attempt at broad competition, but the exclusion of specific sources might limit price discovery. The firm-fixed-price structure aims to control costs.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential IT support services. The competitive award process aims to ensure reasonable pricing, but the bridge nature of the contract may indicate a less optimized long-term solution.

Public Impact

Ensures continuity of critical IT operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Supports national security through robust information security measures. Provides essential process support, maintaining agency efficiency. The contract's bridge nature may lead to higher costs than a long-term, strategically planned contract.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Bridge contract may indicate a lack of long-term planning.
Exclusion of sources in competition could limit price discovery.
Short duration limits potential for long-term strategic improvements.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Full and open competition was utilized.
Services are critical for agency operations.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under IT services, specifically Computer Systems Design Services. Spending in this sector is consistently high across federal agencies, with significant investment in cybersecurity and operational support. Benchmarks vary widely based on service scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

The awardee, Ardent Management Consulting, LLC, is not identified as a small business in the provided data. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which does not inherently exclude small businesses but does not prioritize them.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is a delivery order under a larger agreement. Oversight would typically involve monitoring performance against contract requirements and ensuring adherence to the firm-fixed-price terms by the contracting officer and relevant agency personnel.

Related Government Programs

Computer Systems Design Services
Department of Homeland Security Contracting
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Programs

Risk Flags

Bridge contract nature
Exclusion of sources in competition
Lack of detailed performance metrics
Short contract duration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $4.8 million to ARDENT MANAGEMENT CONSULTING, LLC. THIS IS A 6-MONTH BRIDGE CONTRACT FOR INFORMATION SECURITY, PRODUCTION MONITORING AND PROCESS SUPPORT 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 $4.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-16. End: 2026-05-04.

What is the specific reason for this contract being a bridge, and what is the long-term strategy for these services?

The provided data indicates this is a bridge contract, suggesting it's a temporary solution. The specific reason for its bridge nature (e.g., awaiting a new procurement, unexpected need) is not detailed. Understanding the long-term strategy is crucial for assessing if this bridge contract is an efficient use of taxpayer funds or a sign of potential procurement challenges.

How did the 'exclusion of sources' in the full and open competition impact the final price and service quality?

The 'exclusion of sources' clause implies that while the competition was open, certain potential bidders were not considered. This could potentially limit the number of competitive offers received, possibly impacting the final price achieved. Further analysis would be needed to determine if this exclusion was justified and if it led to a suboptimal price or quality outcome.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will their achievement be measured to ensure effectiveness?

The data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Effective oversight requires clearly defined KPIs related to information security, production monitoring, and process support. Measuring the achievement of these KPIs is essential to ensure the contractor is delivering the required services effectively and that taxpayer funds are being utilized appropriately.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5110 S YALE AVE STE 310, TULSA, OK, 74135

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, HUBZone Firm, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,830,120

Exercised Options: $4,830,120

Current Obligation: $4,830,120

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HHSN316201200199W

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline