FEMA awards $2.7M contract for damage assessment services to WSP USA Services Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,736,337 ($2.7M)

Contractor: WSP USA Services Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2026-04-06

End Date: 2026-10-31

Contract Duration: 208 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ORDERING PERIOD 1 RECURRING OPERATIONS - FIRM FIXED-PRICE/TIME AND MATERIALS - PRICING INCLUDES COSTS NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN AND MAINTAIN THE CAPABILITY TO PERFORM DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS.

Place of Performance

Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $2.7 million to WSP USA SERVICES INC. for work described as: ORDERING PERIOD 1 RECURRING OPERATIONS - FIRM FIXED-PRICE/TIME AND MATERIALS - PRICING INCLUDES COSTS NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN AND MAINTAIN THE CAPABILITY TO PERFORM DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on sustaining and maintaining damage assessment capabilities. 2. Pricing includes costs for ongoing operational readiness. 3. Fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for recurring operations. 4. Contract duration spans approximately six months. 5. Awarded under full and open competition. 6. Services are categorized under Building Inspection Services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $2.7 million for a six-month period appears reasonable for sustaining damage assessment capabilities. Benchmarking against similar contracts for recurring operations and maintenance of specialized services would provide further context. The firm-fixed-price nature of the award suggests a degree of cost predictability, though the specific unit costs for damage assessments are not detailed in the provided data. Further analysis would involve comparing the per-incident or per-assessment cost against industry standards or historical FEMA data.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This competitive process is generally expected to drive better pricing and service quality. The number of bidders is not specified, but the open competition suggests a healthy market for these services.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it fosters a competitive environment, potentially leading to more cost-effective solutions and preventing price gouging.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its mission to respond to disasters. Services delivered include the sustainment and maintenance of capabilities for performing damage assessments. The geographic impact is likely nationwide, supporting FEMA's disaster response efforts across the United States. Workforce implications may involve specialized personnel for damage assessment and related support functions.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if 'sustaining and maintaining capability' is interpreted broadly.
Dependence on contractor expertise for critical damage assessment functions.
Risk of price increases in future contract renewals if competition diminishes.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price structure offers cost predictability for recurring operations.
Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting market viability.
Contract duration is defined, providing a clear period of performance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically related to building inspection and damage assessment. The market for such services is driven by government needs for disaster response and infrastructure evaluation. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other federal contracts for emergency management support, engineering consulting, and inspection services, particularly those awarded by FEMA and other disaster relief agencies.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (sb) is false and that this is not a small business set-aside (ss) contract. Therefore, this award does not directly benefit small businesses through a set-aside. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses may exist at the discretion of the prime contractor, WSP USA Services Inc., but are not explicitly mandated by the contract details provided.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), a component of the Department of Homeland Security. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price structure, requiring the contractor to deliver specified capabilities. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, though detailed performance metrics and internal operational details may not be publicly disclosed. The Inspector General for the Department of Homeland Security would have jurisdiction over potential fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Disaster Preparedness and Response Programs
Emergency Management Services
Infrastructure Assessment Contracts
Federal Procurement Data System

Risk Flags

Potential for undefined scope in 'sustaining and maintaining capability'.
Reliance on contractor for critical operational readiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $2.7 million to WSP USA SERVICES INC.. ORDERING PERIOD 1 RECURRING OPERATIONS - FIRM FIXED-PRICE/TIME AND MATERIALS - PRICING INCLUDES COSTS NECESSARY TO SUSTAIN AND MAINTAIN THE CAPABILITY TO PERFORM DAMAGE ASSESSMENTS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WSP USA SERVICES INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-06. End: 2026-10-31.

What is the track record of WSP USA Services Inc. in performing damage assessment services for federal agencies?

WSP USA Services Inc. is a large engineering and professional services consulting firm with a significant history of performing complex projects for government agencies, including disaster response and recovery services. While specific details on their past performance solely on FEMA damage assessment contracts are not provided in this data snippet, their broader experience in engineering, construction management, and environmental services suggests a capacity to handle such requirements. Federal procurement databases often contain past performance evaluations, which would offer a more granular view of their success in similar roles. Their extensive portfolio indicates they are a capable provider for large-scale government contracts.

How does the $2.7 million contract value compare to similar FEMA contracts for damage assessment sustainment?

Benchmarking the $2.7 million contract value requires comparing it against similar firm-fixed-price contracts awarded by FEMA for the sustainment and maintenance of damage assessment capabilities over a comparable period (approximately six months). Without access to a comprehensive database of historical FEMA contracts for this specific service category, a precise comparison is difficult. However, considering the specialized nature of maintaining such capabilities, which may involve trained personnel, software, and readiness protocols, the amount appears to be within a plausible range for a recurring operational support contract. Further analysis would involve identifying contracts with similar scope and duration.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract for FEMA?

Key risks for FEMA include the potential for the contractor to underperform in maintaining the required damage assessment capabilities, leading to delays or inaccuracies during actual disaster events. There's also a risk of cost overruns if the 'costs necessary to sustain and maintain' are interpreted more broadly than intended, although the firm-fixed-price structure mitigates this to some extent. Another risk is the potential for key personnel turnover within WSP USA Services Inc., impacting the continuity and quality of the sustained capability. Finally, reliance on a single contractor for critical readiness functions could pose a risk if the contractor faces financial or operational difficulties.

How effective is the firm-fixed-price contract type in ensuring value for money for damage assessment sustainment?

The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type is generally considered effective for ensuring value for money when the scope of work is well-defined and the risks of performance are relatively low or can be reasonably estimated. For sustaining and maintaining damage assessment capabilities, an FFP contract provides cost certainty to FEMA, as the contractor assumes the risk of cost overruns. This incentivizes the contractor to manage its costs efficiently. However, the value for money ultimately depends on the clarity of the SOW and the contractor's ability to deliver the required capabilities at the agreed-upon price. If the scope is too rigid, it might stifle innovation, but for maintaining existing capabilities, it's often a suitable choice.

What are the historical spending patterns for damage assessment services by FEMA?

Historical spending patterns for damage assessment services by FEMA can vary significantly year-to-year, heavily influenced by the frequency and severity of natural disasters. FEMA expends funds on damage assessments both for immediate response efforts following an event and for maintaining readiness capabilities between events. Contracts for these services can range from short-term, event-driven support to longer-term sustainment contracts like the one awarded to WSP USA Services Inc. Analyzing past FEMA budgets and contract awards related to disaster recovery and preparedness would reveal trends in investment in assessment capabilities, potentially showing peaks during periods of high disaster activity.

What is the potential impact of this contract on the broader disaster response ecosystem?

This contract contributes to the overall readiness of the federal disaster response ecosystem by ensuring that critical damage assessment capabilities are maintained. By outsourcing the sustainment of these capabilities to a specialized firm like WSP USA Services Inc., FEMA can focus its internal resources on other aspects of disaster management. This contract helps ensure that when a disaster strikes, the necessary tools and expertise for rapid and accurate damage assessment are available, which is crucial for timely and effective resource allocation and recovery planning. It supports a more robust and responsive national disaster management framework.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: QUALITY CONTROL, TEST, INSPECTION › QUALITY CONTROL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 70FB8024R00000028

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Enterra Holdings Ltd

Address: 13530 DULLES TECHNOLOGY DR STE 300, HERNDON, VA, 20171

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Foreign-Owned and U.S.-Incorporated Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,736,337

Exercised Options: $2,736,337

Current Obligation: $2,736,337

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70FB8025D00000014

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline