DHS Secret Service awards $40.8M contract to Motorola for critical radio system upgrades

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $40,771,626 ($40.8M)

Contractor: Motorola Solutions, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2024-09-30

End Date: 2026-09-29

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $55.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ENTERPRISE RADIO CORE ASTRO 25 RADIO SYSTEMS UPGRADE AGREEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE REFRESH, SECURITY, AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20223

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $40.8 million to MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC. for work described as: ENTERPRISE RADIO CORE ASTRO 25 RADIO SYSTEMS UPGRADE AGREEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE REFRESH, SECURITY, AND SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential infrastructure refresh, security enhancements, and ongoing support for radio systems. 2. The award represents a significant investment in maintaining secure and reliable communication for a key federal agency. 3. Risk indicators appear low given the established nature of the contractor and the critical infrastructure focus. 4. Performance context suggests a need for continuous modernization of communication technology to meet evolving security demands. 5. This contract positions Motorola Solutions as a key provider for essential federal communication infrastructure.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $40.8 million for enterprise radio systems upgrade, security, and support appears reasonable given the critical nature of the U.S. Secret Service's mission. Benchmarking against similar large-scale communication infrastructure projects for federal agencies suggests that this price point is within expected ranges. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty, although the total value will depend on the specific services and equipment delivered over the contract's duration.

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 competitive process is expected to drive fair pricing and ensure the government receives the best value. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a robust competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to lower prices and higher quality services, ensuring federal funds are used efficiently.

Public Impact

The U.S. Secret Service benefits directly through enhanced communication capabilities, crucial for its protective and investigative missions. Services delivered include infrastructure refresh, security upgrades, and ongoing support for critical radio systems. The primary geographic impact is within the District of Columbia, where the agency has a significant operational presence. This contract supports specialized technical roles within the contractor's organization, potentially impacting the cybersecurity and communications engineering workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if future upgrades or expansions are heavily reliant on Motorola's proprietary technology.
Ensuring interoperability with existing and future communication systems across different government entities could be a challenge.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical infrastructure support requires robust performance monitoring and contingency planning.

Positive Signals

Motorola Solutions is a well-established provider of public safety communication systems with a proven track record.
The firm-fixed-price contract type offers cost predictability for the government.
The contract includes essential security and support services, indicating a comprehensive approach to system maintenance.
Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process that should yield good value.

Sector Analysis

The federal information technology and communications sector is characterized by rapid technological advancement and significant government spending on secure and reliable systems. This contract falls within the broader IT services and telecommunications market, where companies like Motorola Solutions are major players. Comparable spending benchmarks for enterprise-level communication system upgrades for federal agencies often run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside component, as indicated by 'sb': false. There is no explicit information provided regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. Without specific set-aside goals or subcontracting requirements, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular award is likely minimal, though larger prime contractors often engage small businesses for specialized support services.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the U.S. Secret Service contracting officers and program managers. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability for the contractor to deliver specified goods and services within the agreed budget. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, and any significant issues or performance concerns would typically be subject to review by agency oversight bodies or potentially the Government Accountability Office (GAO) if a protest arises.

Related Government Programs

Federal Enterprise Architecture
Public Safety Communications Grants
Department of Homeland Security IT Modernization Initiatives
Critical Infrastructure Protection Programs

Risk Flags

Vendor Lock-in Potential
Long-term Support Dependency
Interoperability Challenges with Future Systems

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $40.8 million to MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.. ENTERPRISE RADIO CORE ASTRO 25 RADIO SYSTEMS UPGRADE AGREEMENT INFRASTRUCTURE REFRESH, SECURITY, AND SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Secret Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $40.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

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

What is the historical spending pattern of the U.S. Secret Service on radio communication systems and related services?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for the U.S. Secret Service on radio communication systems requires access to detailed procurement data over several fiscal years. Generally, agencies like the Secret Service invest consistently in maintaining and upgrading their communication infrastructure due to the critical nature of their mission. This includes expenditures on hardware, software, maintenance, support, and spectrum management. The current $40.8 million award for an 'Enterprise Radio Core Astro 25 Radio Systems Upgrade' suggests a significant, multi-year investment aimed at modernizing or replacing aging systems. Past contracts might reveal a trend of periodic large-scale upgrades interspersed with ongoing operational support costs. Without specific historical data, it's difficult to provide precise figures, but the need for such a substantial investment indicates a commitment to ensuring robust and secure communication capabilities.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar enterprise radio system upgrades for other federal agencies?

Benchmarking the pricing of this $40.8 million contract requires comparing it to similar large-scale enterprise radio system upgrades awarded to federal agencies. Factors influencing price include the scope of services (infrastructure refresh, security, support), the number of users, geographic coverage, specific technology platforms (e.g., P25 standards), and contract duration. Given that Motorola Solutions is a primary vendor in this space, and the U.S. Secret Service operates in high-security environments, the price is likely reflective of specialized requirements and robust support. Contracts for similar comprehensive upgrades for agencies like the FBI, DEA, or other components of DHS can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars over several years. The firm-fixed-price nature of this award provides cost certainty, but a detailed value-for-money assessment would necessitate a granular comparison of the specific deliverables against market rates and competitor bids.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) that will be used to measure the success of this contract?

While specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are not detailed in the provided data, contracts of this nature typically include metrics focused on system availability, reliability, response times for support, and successful implementation of upgrades. For an 'Enterprise Radio Core ASTRO 25 Radio Systems Upgrade, Infrastructure Refresh, Security, and Support Services,' critical KPIs would likely involve ensuring a high percentage of system uptime (e.g., 99.9% availability), adherence to security protocols and successful vulnerability remediation, timely resolution of reported issues (measured by Mean Time To Repair - MTTR), and successful deployment of new infrastructure components within scheduled timelines. Performance would also be assessed against contractual obligations for training, documentation, and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs) for ongoing support.

What is Motorola Solutions' track record with the U.S. Secret Service and other federal agencies for similar communication system contracts?

Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a long-standing and significant track record as a provider of mission-critical communication systems, including radio infrastructure, to federal agencies. They are a primary vendor for P25 (Project 25) compliant radio systems, which are widely adopted by public safety and law enforcement entities. Their relationship with the U.S. Secret Service likely includes previous contracts for maintaining and upgrading their communication networks. Beyond the Secret Service, Motorola Solutions holds numerous contracts with agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a whole, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and various state and local government entities for similar radio systems and services. Their extensive experience in this specialized market suggests a deep understanding of the requirements for secure, reliable, and interoperable communication.

What are the potential risks associated with relying on a single vendor for critical radio infrastructure and support?

Relying on a single vendor, such as Motorola Solutions in this case, for critical radio infrastructure and support presents several potential risks. Firstly, there's the risk of vendor lock-in, where the proprietary nature of the technology makes it difficult and costly to switch vendors in the future, potentially limiting negotiation leverage. Secondly, dependence on a single supplier can lead to reduced competition for future upgrades or maintenance, potentially resulting in higher prices over time. Thirdly, if the vendor experiences financial difficulties, operational disruptions, or changes its product strategy, it could directly impact the government's ability to maintain and upgrade its essential communication systems. Finally, a single point of failure in support or supply chain could have significant consequences for mission-critical operations, underscoring the need for robust performance management and contingency planning by the agency.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - NETWORK

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 70US0924R70092362

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 809 PINNACLE DR STE G, LINTHICUM HEIGHTS, MD, 21090

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $85,838,767

Exercised Options: $40,771,626

Current Obligation: $40,771,626

Actual Outlays: $18,879,691

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70B04C19D00000035

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline