DHS awards $3.38M BPA Call to Guidehouse Inc. for STONES services, with a firm-fixed-price contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,381,332 ($3.4M)

Contractor: Guidehouse Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2025-09-26

End Date: 2026-09-25

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PASS TASK ORDER TO TO PROVIDE SCREENING TECHNOLOGY, OPERATIONS, NETWORKING, AND ENGINEERING SERVICES (STONES).

Place of Performance

Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $3.4 million to GUIDEHOUSE INC. for work described as: PASS TASK ORDER TO TO PROVIDE SCREENING TECHNOLOGY, OPERATIONS, NETWORKING, AND ENGINEERING SERVICES (STONES). Key points: 1. The contract is a BPA Call, indicating a pre-competed agreement for specific services. 2. The firm-fixed-price structure shifts cost risk to the contractor. 3. The contract duration is one year, suggesting a focused scope of work. 4. The services procured fall under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting. 5. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process. 6. The task order is for screening technology, operations, networking, and engineering services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The award amount of $3.38 million for a one-year period appears reasonable for specialized consulting services in screening technology and engineering. Without specific benchmarks for 'STONES' services, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the firm-fixed-price nature of the contract suggests that the government has negotiated a set price, which can be advantageous for cost control. The contractor, Guidehouse Inc., is a known entity in government contracting, which may imply a level of established pricing and service delivery.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation generally suggests a competitive environment. This approach is intended to foster price discovery and ensure the government receives the best value by considering a wide range of potential contractors.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition typically benefits taxpayers by driving down prices through a competitive bidding process and ensuring that the government is not limited to a single provider, which could lead to inflated costs.

Public Impact

The Department of Homeland Security, specifically the Transportation Security Administration, will benefit from enhanced screening technology, operations, networking, and engineering services. These services are critical for maintaining and improving the security and efficiency of transportation systems. The contract supports the operational readiness and technological advancement of TSA's screening capabilities. The geographic impact is likely national, given the TSA's role in overseeing transportation security across the United States.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if the 'STONES' requirements are not precisely defined.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical screening technology and engineering services for the contract duration.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract shifts cost risk to the contractor.
Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
Contractor has experience in government consulting services.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on management consulting. This sector is a significant component of federal spending, supporting a wide array of government functions. The market for such services is competitive, with numerous firms offering expertise in areas like technology, operations, and engineering. The TSA's need for specialized STONES services highlights the demand for advanced solutions in transportation security.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (sb) is false and the contract is not a small business set-aside (ss). This suggests that the primary award was not specifically targeted towards small businesses. However, it is possible that the prime contractor, Guidehouse Inc., may engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill portions of the contract requirements, depending on the subcontracting plan and the nature of the services needed.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within the Transportation Security Administration. As a BPA Call, it operates under a pre-existing Blanket Purchase Agreement, which itself would have undergone a competitive process and established terms. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases where award details are recorded. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Transportation Security Administration Operations Support
Department of Homeland Security Technology Modernization
Federal Management Consulting Services
Screening Technology Procurement

Risk Flags

Contract duration is one year, requiring potential for follow-on work or re-competition.
Specific details of 'STONES' services are not fully elaborated in the summary data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $3.4 million to GUIDEHOUSE INC.. PASS TASK ORDER TO TO PROVIDE SCREENING TECHNOLOGY, OPERATIONS, NETWORKING, AND ENGINEERING SERVICES (STONES).

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GUIDEHOUSE INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-26. End: 2026-09-25.

What is the specific nature of the 'STONES' services and how do they align with TSA's mission?

The 'STONES' (Screening Technology, Operations, Networking, and Engineering Services) contract is designed to provide comprehensive support to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in critical areas of its operations. This includes the procurement, implementation, and maintenance of screening technologies used at airports and other transportation hubs. It also encompasses operational support to ensure these technologies function effectively, networking services to connect systems, and engineering expertise for system design, upgrades, and problem-solving. The services directly align with TSA's core mission of protecting the nation's transportation systems and ensuring the safety of travelers by enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of security screening processes.

How does the firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type benefit the government in this scenario?

A firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type is generally advantageous for the government when the scope of work is well-defined and the risks of cost overruns are manageable. In this case, with a specific task order for STONES services, the FFP structure means that Guidehouse Inc. is obligated to complete the work for the agreed-upon price, regardless of their actual costs. This shifts the financial risk from the government to the contractor. For the TSA, this provides cost certainty and predictability, making budgeting easier and protecting against unexpected increases in contractor expenses. It incentivizes the contractor to manage their resources efficiently to maximize profit.

What is Guidehouse Inc.'s track record with the Department of Homeland Security or similar agencies?

Guidehouse Inc. has a significant track record of performing work for federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components like the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). They are known for providing a range of consulting services, including those related to technology, management, and operational efficiency. Their experience often involves complex projects requiring deep understanding of government processes and requirements. While specific details of past STONES-related work with TSA would require deeper investigation, Guidehouse's general profile suggests they are a capable contractor for this type of requirement, having likely secured other contracts for similar services within DHS or other civilian agencies.

Are there any comparable contracts for similar screening technology and engineering services that can be used for benchmarking?

Benchmarking this specific $3.38 million BPA Call for STONES services requires identifying contracts with similar scopes, durations, and agencies. Contracts awarded by TSA or other DHS components for screening technology integration, operational support, or engineering services would be most relevant. For instance, other task orders under the same or similar BPAs, or direct procurements for airport security equipment maintenance, software development for screening systems, or network infrastructure upgrades for security operations centers could serve as comparators. Without access to a comprehensive database of all federal procurements and their detailed performance metrics, precise benchmarking is challenging, but the 'full and open' competition suggests the price was deemed competitive at the time of award.

What are the potential risks associated with this contract, and what mitigation strategies might be in place?

Potential risks include the contractor's ability to deliver the specified screening technology, operations, networking, and engineering services within the defined scope and timeline. There's also a risk of technical obsolescence if the chosen technologies are not future-proof, or if the contractor's performance does not meet TSA's evolving security needs. Furthermore, a single-award BPA Call, even if competed, concentrates risk. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust contract oversight by TSA, clear performance metrics and deliverables, regular progress reviews, and potentially penalties for non-performance outlined in the contract. The firm-fixed-price nature also incentivizes the contractor to manage risks related to cost and schedule.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 70T01025Q7672N004

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Veritas Capital Fund Management, L.L.C.

Address: 1676 INTERNATIONAL DR STE 800, MC LEAN, VA, 22102

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,381,332

Exercised Options: $3,381,332

Current Obligation: $3,381,332

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70T04021A7672N001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline