DHS awards $17.6M IT O&M contract to ManTech for TSA mission systems, raising value-for-money questions

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,663,794 ($17.7M)

Contractor: Mantech Advanced Systems International, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2023-06-01

End Date: 2023-11-30

Contract Duration: 182 days

Daily Burn Rate: $97.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: IT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ALL MAJOR TSD MISSION OPERATIONS SYSTEMS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS.

Place of Performance

Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $17.7 million to MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: IT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ALL MAJOR TSD MISSION OPERATIONS SYSTEMS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical IT Operations and Maintenance for TSA mission systems, indicating essential service provision. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a broad market search. 3. A single award for this delivery order implies a specific need or a competitive outcome favoring one bidder. 4. The firm-fixed-price structure aims to control costs, but requires careful monitoring of scope creep. 5. Performance period is relatively short (182 days), suggesting a need for ongoing or follow-on work. 6. The contract value is substantial for a short-term O&M task, warranting a closer look at unit costs and market rates.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $17.6 million for 182 days of IT O&M services for TSA mission systems appears high on a daily basis. Benchmarking against similar IT O&M contracts for federal agencies of comparable size and scope is necessary to determine if the pricing is competitive. The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type suggests a defined scope, but the overall value for the duration raises questions about the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the services provided. Without detailed breakdowns of labor categories, hours, and specific services, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. This approach is generally favored for maximizing competition and achieving the best possible prices for the government. However, the fact that it resulted in a single award for this delivery order suggests that either only one offeror was deemed technically acceptable and price competitive, or the specific requirements of the task led to a concentrated outcome. The level of competition achieved is not explicitly detailed beyond the 'full and open' designation.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is intended to drive down prices through market forces, potentially saving taxpayer money by ensuring the government receives competitive bids. However, the ultimate benefit to taxpayers depends on the effectiveness of the competition and the resulting price.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which will receive essential IT Operations and Maintenance support. Services delivered include maintaining critical mission operations systems, ensuring the continuity and effectiveness of TSA's security functions. The geographic impact is likely concentrated at various locations where TSA mission operations systems are deployed, primarily within the United States. Workforce implications may include the direct employment of IT professionals by the contractor, ManTech, and potentially indirect impacts on TSA's internal IT staff through collaboration and support.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if the scope of 'O&M' is not tightly managed under the FFP contract.
Risk of vendor lock-in if this contract is a precursor to larger, long-term engagements without continued competitive bidding.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical mission systems could pose a risk if performance issues arise.
The short duration of the delivery order might indicate a stop-gap measure, potentially leading to higher costs in subsequent procurements.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust process to identify qualified vendors.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government, assuming scope is well-defined.
ManTech is an established government contractor with experience in IT services, potentially bringing expertise.
Focus on O&M for mission-critical systems ensures continuity of essential government functions.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT Services sector, specifically focusing on Computer Systems Design Services (NAICS 541512). The IT O&M market for government agencies is substantial, with significant spending allocated to maintaining complex systems. This contract represents a portion of the broader DHS and TSA IT spending, which aims to ensure the operational readiness of critical infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing IT O&M contracts across various federal agencies for similar system complexity and service requirements.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). As a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle (potentially), the subcontracting opportunities for small businesses would depend on the terms of the parent contract and ManTech's subcontracting plan. Without further information on the parent contract or ManTech's specific subcontracting goals for this order, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is unclear, but it does not appear to be a primary focus of this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Performance monitoring, acceptance of deliverables, and invoice approval are standard oversight mechanisms. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected related to the contract execution.

Related Government Programs

DHS IT Operations and Maintenance Contracts
TSA Mission Systems Support
Federal IT Services Procurement
Computer Systems Design Services
ManTech Government Contracts

Risk Flags

High daily cost warrants value-for-money scrutiny.
Short duration may indicate a stop-gap or lead to future cost increases.
Limited competition details beyond 'full and open' require further investigation.
Dependence on a single vendor for critical systems carries inherent risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $17.7 million to MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.. IT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE (O&M) SUPPORT SERVICES FOR ALL MAJOR TSD MISSION OPERATIONS SYSTEMS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, 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 $17.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-06-01. End: 2023-11-30.

What is ManTech's track record with similar IT O&M contracts for federal agencies, particularly within DHS or TSA?

ManTech Advanced Systems International, Inc. has a significant history of performing IT operations and maintenance (O&M) support services for various federal agencies. Their portfolio often includes complex system integration, cybersecurity, and infrastructure management. While specific details on past TSA mission systems O&M contracts awarded to ManTech require deeper database analysis, their general experience suggests a capability to handle such requirements. A review of their past performance evaluations and contract history within DHS would provide a clearer picture of their reliability, technical proficiency, and adherence to schedules and budgets on similar projects. This includes examining any past performance issues or commendations received on comparable contracts.

How does the $17.6 million cost for 182 days of IT O&M compare to market rates for similar services?

The daily cost for this contract approximates $96,500 ($17.6M / 182 days). This figure needs to be benchmarked against market rates for IT O&M services, considering factors like the complexity of TSA's mission systems, required skill sets (e.g., cybersecurity, network engineering, system administration), and geographic locations. Industry reports and government cost comparison tools can provide benchmarks. If this daily rate significantly exceeds comparable commercial or government contracts for similar scope and complexity, it could indicate potential overpricing or a highly specialized, niche requirement. Without a detailed breakdown of labor hours, roles, and specific services included, a definitive comparison is difficult, but the headline daily rate warrants scrutiny.

What are the specific risks associated with relying on a single contractor for critical TSA mission systems O&M?

Relying on a single contractor, even one with a strong track record like ManTech, for critical TSA mission systems O&M introduces several risks. Firstly, there's a potential for reduced competitive pressure, which might lead to complacency or less incentive for cost efficiency in future procurements. Secondly, if performance issues arise, the government has limited immediate alternatives, potentially leading to service disruptions or costly emergency procurements. Thirdly, knowledge transfer and continuity can be challenging if the contractor's personnel turnover is high or if institutional knowledge is not adequately documented and shared with the government or a successor contractor. Finally, dependence on a single vendor can create leverage for the contractor during contract negotiations for follow-on work.

What is the expected effectiveness and program outcome of this IT O&M contract for TSA's mission operations?

The expected outcome of this IT O&M contract is the uninterrupted and efficient operation of TSA's critical mission systems. This includes ensuring system availability, performance, security, and reliability. Effective execution should directly support TSA's core functions, such as passenger screening, baggage inspection, and threat assessment, thereby contributing to national security. The program's success will be measured by metrics related to system uptime, incident response times, security vulnerability patching, and overall system performance. A short-term contract like this delivery order suggests it's part of a larger strategy, and its effectiveness is also tied to how well it integrates with and supports the broader TSA IT infrastructure and objectives.

How does this $17.6M contract fit into the historical spending patterns for IT O&M at TSA or DHS?

To assess how this $17.6 million contract fits into historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze TSA and DHS's IT O&M budgets and expenditures over several fiscal years. This contract, representing a specific delivery order, is likely a component of a larger IT services strategy. Comparing its value to previous O&M contracts for similar systems, or to the total IT O&M spend in prior years, would provide context. If this amount is significantly higher or lower than historical averages for comparable services, it could signal changes in requirements, market conditions, or procurement strategies. Understanding the trend of IT O&M spending within TSA is crucial for evaluating the significance and potential implications of this particular award.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design 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: 70T02023Q7500N003

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Mantech International Corporation

Address: 2251 CORPORATE PARK DRIVE, HERNDON, VA, 20171

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,663,794

Exercised Options: $17,663,794

Current Obligation: $17,663,794

Actual Outlays: $20,600,645

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 11

Total Subaward Amount: $14,541,057

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QTCK18D0031

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline