DHS awards $9.7M for SharePoint services to DEV TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC, exceeding benchmark by 20%

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $9,721,704 ($9.7M)

Contractor: DEV Technology Group Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2021-08-31

End Date: 2022-12-14

Contract Duration: 470 days

Daily Burn Rate: $20.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: SHAREPOINT OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SERVICES BRIDGE

Place of Performance

Location: RESTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20191

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $9.7 million to DEV TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC for work described as: SHAREPOINT OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SERVICES BRIDGE Key points: 1. Value for money appears questionable given the 20% cost overrun compared to the benchmark. 2. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Risk indicators include potential cost overruns and the specific nature of IT support services. 4. Performance context is limited without specific metrics on service delivery and system uptime. 5. This contract positions within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on software operations and development. 6. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs, but the benchmark comparison raises concerns.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract's awarded value of $9.7 million is approximately 20% higher than the provided benchmark of $8.1 million (calculated as $206,840/month * 470 days / 30 days/month). This suggests a potential overpayment or a higher-than-anticipated market rate for these specialized SharePoint services. Further analysis would be needed to determine if the increased cost is justified by superior service levels, extended scope, or unforeseen market shifts. Without more granular data on the services provided and their quality, it is difficult to definitively assess value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. While the number of bidders is not specified, this procurement method generally promotes price discovery and allows the government to select from a wide range of qualified contractors. The use of full and open competition is a positive indicator for achieving a fair market price.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the potential for competitive pricing inherent in a full and open competition, which aims to drive down costs and ensure the government receives the best value for its investment.

Public Impact

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel benefit from enhanced SharePoint capabilities and support. Services delivered include operations, maintenance, and development support for the SharePoint platform. The geographic impact is primarily within the United States, supporting federal agency operations. Workforce implications include the need for specialized IT skills to manage and develop the SharePoint environment.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns as indicated by the comparison to the benchmark.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical IT infrastructure support.
Scope creep could lead to increased costs beyond the initial award.
The specific nature of IT services can be complex to monitor and evaluate.
Dependency on vendor expertise for system maintenance and development.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
Fixed-price contract type helps to establish cost certainty.
DEV TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC is a known entity in the federal IT contracting space.
The contract addresses essential operational needs for a major federal agency.
The duration of the contract provides stability for service delivery.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader IT services sector, specifically focusing on software operations, maintenance, and development. The market for such services is substantial, driven by government and commercial entities' reliance on platforms like SharePoint for collaboration and information management. Comparable spending benchmarks in this area can vary significantly based on the complexity of the environment, the level of support required, and the specific vendor's expertise. The government often procures these services through various contract vehicles, including GSA schedules and direct solicitations.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, small businesses are unlikely to be direct prime contractors on this award. However, there may be opportunities for small businesses to participate as subcontractors to DEV TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC, depending on the prime contractor's subcontracting plan and the specific needs of the project. The absence of a small business set-aside means the primary competition was open to all eligible firms, potentially limiting direct opportunities for smaller players.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracting officer and program managers. Accountability measures are embedded within the contract terms, including performance standards and delivery schedules. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. While specific Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction is not detailed here, the DHS OIG would have oversight authority over contracts within the department to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse.

Related Government Programs

SharePoint Services
IT Operations and Maintenance
Software Development Services
Cloud Services Support
Federal IT Modernization Programs

Risk Flags

Cost Benchmark Exceeded
Potential Vendor Lock-in
Reliance on Specific IT Platform

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $9.7 million to DEV TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC. SHAREPOINT OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT SERVICES BRIDGE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DEV TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $9.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-08-31. End: 2022-12-14.

What is the track record of DEV TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC in delivering similar SharePoint services to federal agencies?

DEV TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC has a history of providing IT services to the federal government, including support for various software platforms. Information on their specific track record with SharePoint operations, maintenance, and development would require a deeper dive into past performance evaluations and contract histories within federal procurement databases. Analyzing past performance metrics, such as on-time delivery, quality of service, and customer satisfaction ratings on similar contracts, would provide a clearer picture of their capabilities and reliability in this domain. Without specific past performance data for this contract or directly comparable ones, it's difficult to definitively assess their expertise in SharePoint.

How does the awarded price compare to other similar SharePoint support contracts awarded by DHS or other agencies?

The awarded value of $9.7 million for approximately 16 months of service (August 2021 - December 2022) translates to a monthly cost of roughly $606,250. The provided benchmark of $206,840 per month suggests a significant difference. To provide a comprehensive comparison, one would need to analyze a broader set of SharePoint support contracts across different agencies and contract types (e.g., firm-fixed-price, time-and-materials). Factors such as the scope of services (e.g., number of users supported, complexity of customizations, level of maintenance required), contract duration, and specific vendor capabilities heavily influence pricing. The substantial difference from the benchmark warrants further investigation into the justification for the higher cost.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this SharePoint support contract?

The provided data does not explicitly list the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this specific SharePoint Operations, Maintenance, and Development Support Services contract. Typically, for such IT support contracts, KPIs would include metrics related to system uptime and availability, response times for issue resolution, successful completion of development tasks, adherence to security protocols, and user satisfaction. The contract's performance would be evaluated against these defined metrics, often tied to payment or award terms. Without access to the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Service Level Agreement (SLA), a detailed assessment of performance measurement is not possible.

What is the potential impact of this contract on the overall IT modernization efforts within ICE?

This contract for SharePoint operations, maintenance, and development support plays a crucial role in maintaining and potentially enhancing a core collaboration and information management platform for ICE. Effective SharePoint support is foundational for many agency workflows and data management processes. If the services provided lead to improved system performance, enhanced functionality through development, and reliable maintenance, it directly contributes to ICE's IT modernization by ensuring that essential tools are robust and adaptable. Conversely, if the support is suboptimal, it could hinder modernization by creating technical debt or limiting the agency's ability to leverage modern IT solutions.

How has spending on SharePoint support services evolved within DHS over the past five years?

Analyzing the historical spending trends for SharePoint support services within DHS over the past five years would require accessing and aggregating data from federal procurement databases (like FPDS). This would involve filtering contracts by agency (DHS), product/service code (e.g., NAICS 541519 for Other Computer Related Services, or specific PSC codes related to software maintenance and support), and keywords like 'SharePoint'. Such an analysis could reveal patterns in contract values, types of services procured, and the primary contractors utilized. It could also highlight any shifts in strategy, such as increased reliance on cloud-based SharePoint solutions or a move towards consolidated enterprise-wide contracts, and indicate whether spending has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable.

What are the risks associated with relying on a single vendor for critical SharePoint infrastructure support?

Relying on a single vendor for critical SharePoint infrastructure support presents several risks. These include vendor lock-in, where switching providers becomes difficult and costly. There's also the risk of service disruption if the vendor experiences financial difficulties, undergoes significant restructuring, or fails to meet performance obligations. Furthermore, a sole vendor may have less incentive to innovate or offer competitive pricing over time compared to a market with multiple active providers. Dependence on a single vendor's expertise can also create knowledge gaps within the agency, making it harder to manage the system internally or transition to a new provider if necessary. Mitigating these risks often involves robust contract management, clear performance expectations, and contingency planning.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 70CTD021Q00000159

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 11480 COMMERCE PARK DR STE 400, RESTON, VA, 20191

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,721,704

Exercised Options: $9,721,704

Current Obligation: $9,721,704

Actual Outlays: $2,035,810

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W52P1J18DA073

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline