DHS awards $4.1M contract for USCIS Learning Management System to Envisage Technologies LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,131,030 ($4.1M)

Contractor: Envisage Technologies LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2024-05-01

End Date: 2027-04-30

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: USCIS LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS)

Place of Performance

Location: NORTH CHARLESTON, DORCHESTER County, SOUTH CAROLINA, 29420

State: South Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $4.1 million to ENVISAGE TECHNOLOGIES LLC for work described as: USCIS LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS) Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract is a delivery order under a larger contract, indicating potential for follow-on work. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 4. The duration of the contract is over 3 years, allowing for sustained development and deployment. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 511210 points to software publishing, aligning with an LMS. 6. The contract is not a small business set-aside, implying larger prime contractors were eligible and potentially awarded.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $4.13 million over approximately three years for a Learning Management System (LMS) appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar government LMS procurements suggests this is within a typical range for software development and maintenance services. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost control. Without specific details on the scope of services and features, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the initial award seems to be in line with market expectations for such systems.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a 'full and open competition' procurement strategy. This means that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 5 bidders indicates a healthy level of competition for this requirement. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more innovative solutions as contractors vie for the award.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down costs and encouraging contractors to offer their best value solutions.

Public Impact

Federal employees within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will benefit from enhanced training and development opportunities. The contract will deliver a functional Learning Management System (LMS) to support USCIS's training needs. The geographic impact is primarily within USCIS operations, likely supporting personnel across various locations. The contract supports the IT workforce involved in developing, implementing, and maintaining the LMS.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical training infrastructure could pose long-term risks.
Ensuring the LMS meets diverse user needs across USCIS will require careful implementation and user feedback.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.
The contract duration allows for stable development and support of the LMS.

Sector Analysis

The IT services sector, specifically software development and publishing, is a significant area of federal spending. This contract for a Learning Management System (LMS) falls within the broader category of IT solutions supporting government operations and workforce development. The market for LMS solutions is competitive, with numerous commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) and custom development providers. Federal agencies often procure such systems to standardize training, track employee progress, and manage compliance requirements efficiently.

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. This suggests that the prime contractor, Envisage Technologies LLC, is likely a larger entity. While not a direct set-aside, the prime contractor may still engage small businesses for subcontracting opportunities, but this is not guaranteed by the contract's initial award terms. Further review of the contract's subcontracting plan, if available, would be necessary to assess the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) contracting officer and program managers. Performance monitoring, quality assurance, and adherence to the contract terms will be key oversight mechanisms. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG) may also conduct audits or investigations into the contract's performance and financial management if concerns arise.

Related Government Programs

USCIS Training and Development Programs
Federal Government Learning Management Systems
Department of Homeland Security IT Modernization Efforts
Software Development Services for Federal Agencies

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if not managed properly.
Ensuring data security and privacy compliance for training records.
Scalability of the LMS to meet future USCIS workforce needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $4.1 million to ENVISAGE TECHNOLOGIES LLC. USCIS LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (LMS)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ENVISAGE TECHNOLOGIES LLC.

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 $4.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-05-01. End: 2027-04-30.

What is the track record of Envisage Technologies LLC with federal contracts, particularly in delivering Learning Management Systems?

Envisage Technologies LLC has a history of federal contracting, primarily within the Department of Defense and other civilian agencies. While specific details on their past LMS projects require deeper database analysis, their presence in the federal IT space suggests experience. A review of their contract performance history, including past performance evaluations and any reported issues or successes on similar projects, would provide a clearer picture of their capabilities and reliability in delivering complex IT solutions like an LMS. Examining awards for similar software development or system integration contracts can offer further insight into their ability to meet government requirements and manage project timelines and budgets effectively.

How does the awarded amount of $4.13 million compare to the typical cost of similar government LMS procurements?

The $4.13 million award for a three-year LMS contract appears to be within the typical range for federal government procurements of this nature. Government LMS solutions often involve significant customization, integration with existing systems, ongoing maintenance, and user support, which contribute to the overall cost. Factors such as the number of users, complexity of training modules, security requirements, and the level of vendor support can influence pricing. Benchmarking against publicly available data for similar contracts awarded by agencies like DHS, GSA, or DoD can confirm if this price point represents good value for money, considering the scope and duration. Without detailed scope of work, precise comparison is difficult, but the figure is not an immediate outlier.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Key risks for this contract include potential technical challenges in developing and integrating the LMS, ensuring user adoption and satisfaction across USCIS, and managing vendor performance over the contract's duration. Risks also exist around data security and privacy, given the sensitive nature of training data. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust contract oversight, clearly defined performance metrics and Service Level Agreements (SLAs), regular progress reviews, and a strong change management process. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract helps mitigate cost overrun risks for the government, shifting some financial risk to the contractor. The use of a competitive award process also aims to select a vendor with a proven track record, reducing performance risk.

How effective is the chosen procurement method (full and open competition) in ensuring value for taxpayer money in this specific case?

The 'full and open competition' procurement method is generally considered the most effective for ensuring value for taxpayer money, as it maximizes the pool of potential bidders and encourages robust price competition. In this case, with 5 bidders participating, it suggests that the requirement was attractive enough to elicit significant interest from the market. This level of competition likely drove down prices and encouraged bidders to offer their best technical solutions and value propositions. The firm fixed-price contract type further enhances value by providing cost certainty. While effectiveness ultimately depends on the quality of the proposals received and the evaluation process, the chosen method provides a strong foundation for achieving good value.

What are the historical spending patterns for Learning Management Systems within USCIS or DHS?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for LMS within USCIS or DHS is crucial for context. This involves examining previous contracts for LMS solutions, including their value, duration, and the contractors involved. Understanding if USCIS has previously relied on similar systems, whether internally developed or commercially procured, can reveal trends in technology adoption and investment. Comparing the current $4.13 million award against past expenditures can indicate whether spending is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable. It also helps identify if there's a pattern of sole-source awards or consistent use of specific vendors, which might warrant further scrutiny regarding competition and pricing over time.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers

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: 70SBUR24Q00000005

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 101 W KIRKWOOD AVE STE 200, BLOOMINGTON, IN, 47404

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,961,262

Exercised Options: $4,131,030

Current Obligation: $4,131,030

Actual Outlays: $2,763,544

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCA22D00CR

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline