DHS Awards $9.27M for HART Support Services to ECS Federal, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $9,272,174 ($9.3M)
Contractor: ECS Federal, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2024-09-28
End Date: 2026-05-27
Contract Duration: 606 days
Daily Burn Rate: $15.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: IT
Official Description: HOMELAND ADVANCED RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY (HART) SUPPORT SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20528
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $9.3 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC for work described as: HOMELAND ADVANCED RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY (HART) SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value of $9.27M for advanced recognition technology support. 2. ECS Federal, LLC is the awardee for this BPA Call. 3. The contract falls under Custom Computer Programming Services (NAICS 541511). 4. Duration is 606 days, ending May 27, 2026. 5. This is a Labor Hours contract type.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $9.27M for 606 days suggests a moderate per-day expenditure. Benchmarking against similar custom computer programming services contracts would be necessary for a precise pricing assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under a Full and Open Competition via a BPA Call. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and allows for a broad range of potential offerors to compete.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award is expected to yield fair market value, ensuring taxpayer funds are used efficiently for essential homeland security technology support.
Public Impact
Enhances Department of Homeland Security's advanced recognition capabilities. Supports critical national security functions through technology services. Ensures continuity of operations for vital recognition systems. Potential impact on border security and threat detection.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Contract duration extends into FY2026, requiring ongoing budget allocation.
- Reliance on a single awardee for critical technology support.
- Labor Hours contract type can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under Full and Open Competition.
- Supports a critical government function (Homeland Security).
- Utilizes an existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA Call).
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under IT services, specifically custom computer programming. Spending in this sector is substantial across government, with significant investment in cybersecurity, data analytics, and system modernization.
Small Business Impact
The awardee is ECS Federal, LLC, which is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was a factor or requirement.
Oversight & Accountability
The Office of Procurement Operations within DHS is responsible for this award. Oversight will be crucial to ensure performance aligns with contract requirements and to manage the Labor Hours pricing structure effectively.
Related Government Programs
- Custom Computer Programming Services
- Department of Homeland Security Contracting
- Office of Procurement Operations Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for scope creep in Labor Hours contracts.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical technology.
- Need for robust performance monitoring and quality assurance.
- Cybersecurity risks associated with handling sensitive recognition data.
Tags
custom-computer-programming-services, department-of-homeland-security, dc, bpa-call, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $9.3 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC. HOMELAND ADVANCED RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY (HART) SUPPORT SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ECS FEDERAL, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Office of Procurement Operations).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $9.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-09-28. End: 2026-05-27.
What specific advanced recognition technologies does HART support, and how critical are these to DHS's mission?
The HART program likely supports technologies related to biometric identification, facial recognition, or other advanced surveillance and identification systems crucial for border security, law enforcement, and national security operations. Understanding the criticality helps assess the value of the $9.27M investment.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will ECS Federal's performance be measured?
Performance metrics would typically include system uptime, accuracy rates for recognition technology, response times for support requests, and successful integration with existing DHS systems. Regular performance reviews and adherence to SLAs are vital for ensuring effectiveness and managing risk.
How does the $9.27M contract value compare to historical spending on similar recognition technology support services within DHS or other agencies?
Benchmarking this contract's value against similar procurements for advanced recognition technology support is essential. If this value is significantly higher or lower than comparable contracts, it could indicate potential issues with pricing, scope, or competition effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming 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: 70RTAC24Q00000071
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Asgn Incorporated
Address: 2750 PROSPERITY AVE STE 600, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $9,318,353
Exercised Options: $9,272,174
Current Obligation: $9,272,174
Actual Outlays: $4,207,618
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 70RTAC19A00000009
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-09-28
Current End Date: 2026-05-27
Potential End Date: 2026-05-27 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-06
More Contracts from ECS Federal, LLC
- Aess 2.0 - Endpoint Protection — $242.7M (Department of Defense)
- Research and Development Effort to Develop Prototypical State-Of-The-Art AI Hardware And/Or Software — $189.9M (Department of Defense)
- Federal Contract — $176.6M (Department of Justice)
- Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation CDM Dashboard Ecosystem — $129.9M (General Services Administration)
- Continuous Diagnostics and Mitigation CDM Data Services — $128.8M (General Services Administration)
Other Department of Homeland Security Contracts
- THE United States Coast Guard HAS a Requirement to Procure UP to Twenty-Six (26) Fast Response Cutters (frcs) on a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) Basis With an Economic Price Adjustment (EPA). Phase II of the FRC Program Will Complete the Fleet for a Total of 58 Cutters — $2.1B (Bollinger Shipyards Lockport, L.L.C.)
- Design and Construct NEW Vertical Barrier and Power Distribution, Lighting, Cameras, Equipment Shelters and Linear Ground Detection System (lgds) in Hildago County, NM — $1.8B (Fisher Sand & Gravel CO)
- Production&delivery of National Security Cutter (NSC) 6 — $1.7B (Huntington Ingalls Incorporated)
- YUM-2 Vertical Border and Waterborne Barrier Construction — $1.7B (Fisher Sand & Gravel CO)
- Construct Vertical Border Barrier — $1.6B (Fisher Sand & Gravel CO)