DHS awards $2.4M CPFF R&D contract to MITRE Corporation for HSSEDI support
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $2,429,462 ($2.4M)
Contractor: THE Mitre Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2018-09-30
End Date: 2019-09-21
Contract Duration: 356 days
Daily Burn Rate: $6.8K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THIS IS A COST-PLUS-FIXED FEE (CPFF) COMPLETION FORM TASK ORDER WRITTEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOMELAND SECURITY SYSTEMS AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (HSSEDI) DIRECT ORDERING GUIDE.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20529
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $2.4 million to THE MITRE CORPORATION for work described as: THIS IS A COST-PLUS-FIXED FEE (CPFF) COMPLETION FORM TASK ORDER WRITTEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOMELAND SECURITY SYSTEMS AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (HSSEDI) DIRECT ORDERING GUIDE. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to MITRE Corporation for Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 2. The contract is a Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) completion form task order. 3. This award was not competed, raising questions about price discovery. 4. The sector is R&D, with a specific NAICS code of 541712.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract type is Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF), which can lead to higher costs if not carefully managed. Without a competitive bidding process, it's difficult to benchmark pricing against similar contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source or limited competition award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in a higher cost to taxpayers compared to a fully competed contract.
Public Impact
Citizens can expect continued R&D support for homeland security systems. The use of a CPFF contract type warrants scrutiny for cost efficiency. The non-competitive nature of the award may limit opportunities for other qualified R&D firms.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee contract type
Positive Signals
- Supports critical homeland security R&D
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the Research and Development sector, specifically NAICS code 541712. Spending in this sector is crucial for innovation but requires careful oversight due to its complex nature and potential for cost overruns.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was awarded to The MITRE Corporation, a large entity. There is no indication of small business participation in this specific award.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is a task order under a direct ordering guide, suggesting some level of pre-existing oversight. However, the lack of competition warrants further review of the justification for sole-sourcing.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Department of Homeland Security Contracting
- U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for cost overruns with CPFF
- Limited transparency on justification for sole-sourcing
- Unclear performance metrics and expected outcomes
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-homeland-security, dc, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $2.4 million to THE MITRE CORPORATION. THIS IS A COST-PLUS-FIXED FEE (CPFF) COMPLETION FORM TASK ORDER WRITTEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HOMELAND SECURITY SYSTEMS AND ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE (HSSEDI) DIRECT ORDERING GUIDE.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE MITRE CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $2.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-09-30. End: 2019-09-21.
What was the justification for not competing this contract, and what steps were taken to ensure fair pricing?
The provided data states the contract was 'NOT COMPETED'. A thorough review would require access to the contract file to understand the specific justification (e.g., urgent need, unique capability). Without this, it's impossible to assess if fair pricing was achieved through alternative means or if taxpayers may have overpaid.
How does the fixed fee in this CPFF contract compare to industry standards for similar R&D services?
Determining the fairness of the fixed fee requires benchmarking against comparable Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee contracts for R&D services within the physical, engineering, and life sciences. Without access to a broader dataset of similar contracts and their fee structures, it is difficult to ascertain if this fee is reasonable or excessive.
What specific deliverables or outcomes are expected from this $2.4M R&D investment, and how will their effectiveness be measured?
The contract is a 'completion form task order,' implying specific objectives. However, the data does not detail these objectives or the metrics for measuring the effectiveness of the R&D. Understanding the expected outcomes and the agency's plan for evaluating success is crucial for assessing the overall value and impact of this spending.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › OTHER RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 7515 COLSHIRE DR, MC LEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $2,429,462
Exercised Options: $2,429,462
Current Obligation: $2,429,462
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 2
Total Subaward Amount: $978,203
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HSHQDC14D00006
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-09-30
Current End Date: 2019-09-21
Potential End Date: 2019-09-21 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-03
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