DHS awards $12M task order for resilience engineering services to Advancing Resilience in Communities

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,960,508 ($12.0M)

Contractor: Advancing Resilience in Communities

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2023-09-25

End Date: 2027-09-24

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ZONE 1 REGION 1 2023 RISK MAP TASK ORDER

Place of Performance

Location: BOSTON, SUFFOLK County, MASSACHUSETTS, 02110

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $12.0 million to ADVANCING RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITIES for work described as: ZONE 1 REGION 1 2023 RISK MAP TASK ORDER Key points: 1. The contract focuses on engineering services for community resilience, a critical area for disaster preparedness. 2. The task order was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can incentivize cost control but requires careful oversight. 4. The duration of the contract is four years, indicating a long-term need for these services. 5. The specific NAICS code (541330) points to engineering services, a well-defined professional category. 6. The award is a Delivery Order, implying it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

Benchmarking the value of this specific task order is challenging without access to the underlying IDIQ contract's pricing structure and other awarded task orders. However, the fixed fee component suggests a defined profit margin. The total award amount of approximately $12 million over four years for specialized engineering services related to community resilience appears reasonable, assuming the scope of work is comprehensive and the contractor's proposed costs are aligned with industry standards for such expertise. Further analysis would require comparing the labor rates and overhead applied to this task order against similar government contracts for engineering services.

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. This suggests a robust bidding environment where multiple firms likely vied for the opportunity. The level of competition is generally positive for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers. Without knowing the number of bids received, it's difficult to definitively assess the intensity of the competition, but the designation itself implies a fair and open process.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is beneficial for taxpayers as it typically leads to more competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified contractors, potentially reducing overall costs for government services.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are communities seeking to improve their resilience to various threats, including natural disasters and climate change impacts. The services delivered will likely involve engineering assessments, planning, and design to enhance infrastructure and community preparedness. The geographic impact is specified as Massachusetts (MA), indicating a focus on a particular region within the United States. The contract supports the workforce within the engineering services sector, particularly those specializing in resilience and risk mitigation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts require diligent oversight to ensure costs remain reasonable and the fixed fee is justified by the scope of work.
The specific nature of 'resilience' can be broad; ensuring the task order clearly defines deliverables and performance metrics is crucial for successful execution.
Reliance on a single task order for a significant duration may limit flexibility if program needs evolve rapidly.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive process that should yield fair pricing.
Focus on community resilience aligns with national priorities for disaster preparedness and climate adaptation.
The contractor, Advancing Resilience in Communities, suggests a specialized focus relevant to the task.

Sector Analysis

The engineering services sector is a significant component of the federal procurement landscape, encompassing a wide range of specialized expertise. This contract falls under the 'Engineering Services' category (NAICS 541330), which includes firms that provide engineering consulting and design services. Federal spending in this sector supports infrastructure development, research, national security, and environmental initiatives. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other federal contracts for similar engineering services, particularly those focused on resilience, risk assessment, and disaster preparedness, to gauge the relative cost-effectiveness of this award.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it explicitly mention subcontracting goals for small businesses in the provided data. Therefore, its direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely limited unless the prime contractor voluntarily engages small businesses for subcontracting opportunities. Further investigation into the contractor's subcontracting plan, if available, would be necessary to fully assess the implications for small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this task order will likely be managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) contracting officers and program managers. As a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract, rigorous monitoring of incurred costs and the justification for the fixed fee will be essential. Transparency will depend on the agency's reporting practices regarding task order performance and expenditures. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any potential fraud, waste, or abuse is identified.

Related Government Programs

FEMA Disaster Preparedness Grants
Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Projects
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Resilience Programs
Department of Energy Grid Modernization Initiatives

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type requires careful monitoring of costs.
Scope definition for 'resilience' needs to be precise to ensure effective service delivery.
Long-term duration of the task order may reduce flexibility for evolving needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $12.0 million to ADVANCING RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITIES. ZONE 1 REGION 1 2023 RISK MAP TASK ORDER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ADVANCING RESILIENCE IN COMMUNITIES.

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 $12.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-25. End: 2027-09-24.

What is the track record of Advancing Resilience in Communities with federal contracts, particularly with FEMA or DHS?

Information regarding the specific track record of 'Advancing Resilience in Communities' with federal contracts, especially with FEMA or DHS, is not directly available in the provided data snippet. A comprehensive review would require accessing federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS to search for past awards, performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any history of contract modifications or disputes. Understanding their past performance, especially on similar resilience or engineering projects, is crucial for assessing the risk associated with this current task order. Without this historical data, it's difficult to gauge their reliability and expertise in delivering on government requirements.

How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) structure compare to other contract types for similar engineering services, and what are the associated risks?

The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type is often used when the scope of work is not precisely defined at the outset or involves research and development where costs are uncertain. It reimburses the contractor for allowable costs plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit. Compared to Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contracts, CPFF offers more flexibility for the government if the scope changes but shifts more cost risk to the government. It can incentivize contractors to control costs to protect their fee, but it also requires robust government oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and allocable. Risks include potential cost overruns if the scope expands significantly and the need for diligent monitoring to prevent unnecessary expenditures. For well-defined engineering services, FFP might offer better price certainty for the government, while CPFF is suitable for more exploratory or complex projects where cost estimation is difficult.

What specific resilience engineering services are anticipated under this task order, and how will success be measured?

The provided data indicates the task order is for 'ZONE 1 REGION 1 2023 RISK MAP TASK ORDER' and falls under 'Engineering Services.' While the specific resilience engineering services are not detailed, they likely involve technical assessments, planning, design, and potentially implementation support related to mitigating risks identified in 'Zone 1 Region 1' as per the '2023 Risk Map.' This could include infrastructure vulnerability assessments, development of mitigation strategies, engineering designs for protective measures, and guidance on incorporating resilience into community planning. Success measurement would typically be defined in the task order's Statement of Work (SOW) and could include metrics such as the completion of required reports and analyses, adherence to project timelines, quality of engineering designs, and the effectiveness of recommendations in enhancing community resilience as validated by FEMA or relevant stakeholders.

What is the historical spending trend for similar engineering services related to risk mapping and community resilience by FEMA or DHS?

Analyzing historical spending trends for similar engineering services related to risk mapping and community resilience by FEMA or DHS requires access to comprehensive federal procurement data. Generally, federal spending in these areas has seen an increasing trend, driven by heightened awareness of climate change impacts, natural disaster frequency, and the need for robust infrastructure. FEMA, in particular, allocates significant funds towards disaster mitigation, preparedness, and recovery, which often includes engineering assessments and resilience planning. DHS, as the parent agency, oversees various components that contribute to national resilience. To provide specific figures, one would need to query databases like FPDS using relevant NAICS codes (e.g., 541330 for Engineering Services) and keywords related to risk mapping, resilience, and mitigation, filtering by agency (FEMA, DHS) and fiscal years to identify patterns and total expenditures over time.

Are there any known performance issues or concerns associated with Advancing Resilience in Communities from previous government contracts?

As mentioned previously, specific performance data for 'Advancing Resilience in Communities' is not included in the provided data snippet. To determine if there are known performance issues or concerns, a search of the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) would be necessary. CPARS contains ratings and narrative assessments from government project managers on contractor performance for completed federal contracts. Additionally, reviewing contract award histories and any publicly available information regarding disputes, terminations, or significant contract modifications could reveal potential red flags. Without access to these official performance records, any assessment of past issues remains speculative.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ARCHITECT-ENGINEER FAR 6.102

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 100 AIRSIDE DR, MOON TOWNSHIP, PA, 15108

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,960,508

Exercised Options: $11,960,508

Current Obligation: $11,960,508

Actual Outlays: $4,539,944

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70FA6021D00000003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline