USCIS Spends $19.4M on Web Search Portals for Benefit Adjudication

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,365,452 ($19.4M)

Contractor: DUN & Bradstreet, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2024-09-30

End Date: 2026-09-29

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $26.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: DURING THE ADJUDICATION OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED BENEFITS, USCIS MUST BE ABLE TO ACCURATELY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY VET PETITIONERS WHO ARE DESERVING OF BENEFITS FROM THOSE NOT DESERVING OR OTHERWISE VIOLATING THE LAW. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, USCIS REQUIRES THE SUP

Place of Performance

Location: CAMP SPRINGS, HOWARD County, MARYLAND, 20588

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $19.4 million to DUN & BRADSTREET, INC for work described as: DURING THE ADJUDICATION OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED BENEFITS, USCIS MUST BE ABLE TO ACCURATELY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY VET PETITIONERS WHO ARE DESERVING OF BENEFITS FROM THOSE NOT DESERVING OR OTHERWISE VIOLATING THE LAW. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, USCIS REQUIRES THE SUP Key points: 1. The contract aims to improve the accuracy and speed of vetting petitioners for employment-based benefits. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The primary risk is the effectiveness of the web search portal in identifying fraudulent or non-compliant petitioners. 4. The sector is IT, specifically information services, which is crucial for government operations.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $19.4 million over two years for web search portals appears reasonable given the critical function of vetting immigration benefits. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for information services is necessary for a definitive assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The investment aims to enhance efficiency and security in benefit processing, potentially leading to cost savings through fraud reduction and faster processing times for deserving applicants.

Public Impact

Streamlines the vetting process for employment-based immigration benefits. Enhances national security by identifying individuals who may violate immigration laws. Aims to reduce processing times for legitimate petitioners. Supports the integrity of the U.S. immigration system. Relies on accurate and up-to-date information from web search portals.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Data accuracy and reliability of the web search portal.
Potential for bias or limitations in search algorithms.
Cybersecurity risks associated with accessing and processing sensitive data.

Positive Signals

Leverages competitive bidding for potential cost efficiencies.
Addresses a critical operational need for USCIS.
Aims to improve service delivery and national security.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on web search portals and information services. Spending in this area is common across federal agencies for data analysis and operational support, with benchmarks varying widely based on scope and complexity.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract's effectiveness will depend on ongoing monitoring by USCIS to ensure the web search portal meets its stated objectives for accuracy and speed. Performance metrics and regular reviews are essential for accountability.

Related Government Programs

Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services
Department of Homeland Security Contracting
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Programs

Risk Flags

Data integrity and accuracy of the web search portal.
Potential for algorithmic bias impacting vetting outcomes.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities in data access and processing.
Effectiveness in distinguishing legitimate from fraudulent claims.
Dependence on external data sources which may be unreliable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $19.4 million to DUN & BRADSTREET, INC. DURING THE ADJUDICATION OF EMPLOYMENT-BASED BENEFITS, USCIS MUST BE ABLE TO ACCURATELY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY VET PETITIONERS WHO ARE DESERVING OF BENEFITS FROM THOSE NOT DESERVING OR OTHERWISE VIOLATING THE LAW. TO ACCOMPLISH THIS, USCIS REQUIRES THE SUP

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DUN & BRADSTREET, INC.

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 $19.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-09-30. End: 2026-09-29.

What specific criteria will USCIS use to measure the accuracy and effectiveness of the web search portal in identifying non-deserving petitioners?

USCIS will likely establish key performance indicators (KPIs) tied to the portal's ability to flag potential issues, reduce erroneous approvals, and decrease the rate of subsequent discovery of fraud or violations. This could involve comparing portal-identified red flags against actual case outcomes and audit results.

How will USCIS mitigate the risk of the web search portal providing incomplete or biased information that could unfairly impact petitioner outcomes?

Mitigation strategies may include diversifying data sources, implementing robust data validation processes, conducting regular audits of search algorithms for bias, and establishing clear appeal mechanisms for petitioners who believe they were unfairly disadvantaged by the portal's findings.

What is the projected return on investment for this $19.4 million contract in terms of fraud reduction and improved processing efficiency?

The ROI is projected through a combination of reduced losses from fraudulent claims and faster processing times for legitimate applicants. Quantifying this requires tracking the number of fraudulent cases identified due to the portal and the time saved in adjudicating cases, compared to pre-portal benchmarks.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services › Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 70SBUR24Q00000102

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5335 GATE PKWY, JACKSONVILLE, FL, 32256

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $49,890,179

Exercised Options: $19,365,452

Current Obligation: $19,365,452

Actual Outlays: $7,917,540

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 03310323D0026

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline