DHS ICE Spends $41.7M on Detention Guard Services with AHTNA Technical Services, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $41,716,861 ($41.7M)
Contractor: Ahtna Technical Services, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2011-06-01
End Date: 2012-05-31
Contract Duration: 365 days
Daily Burn Rate: $114.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: DETENTION AND GUARD SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: LOS FRESNOS, CAMERON County, TEXAS, 78566
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $41.7 million to AHTNA TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. for work described as: DETENTION AND GUARD SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded to AHTNA TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. for $41.7M. 2. Services fall under Security Guards and Patrol Services. 3. Competition method was 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES'. 4. Contract duration was 365 days. 5. The contract was a Delivery Order under a larger contract.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $41.7M for a one-year period for detention and guard services appears high. Benchmarking against similar contracts for security guard services is difficult without more specific details on the scope of services and number of personnel required.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES', indicating an initial exclusion of some sources before a broader competition. This method can impact price discovery by limiting the initial pool of bidders.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds totaling $41.7M were used for these services. The effectiveness of the competition method in securing the best value for taxpayers is unclear without further analysis.
Public Impact
Ensures security and operational continuity for detention facilities. Supports the mission of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Impacts individuals in detention and the staff managing facilities. Contributes to the broader immigration enforcement framework.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition details
- Potential for high per-unit cost
- Lack of small business participation
Positive Signals
- Clear service need identified
- Defined contract period
- Use of firm fixed price contract
Sector Analysis
The security and guard services sector is critical for government operations, particularly in areas like detention and facility management. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on the specific services, location, and security levels required.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this contract, as the 'sb' field is false. This suggests that larger, established companies were likely the primary bidders and recipients of this award.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically involve contract performance monitoring by ICE to ensure services meet requirements and that the contractor adheres to the terms. Accountability rests with the contractor for service delivery and ICE for contract management.
Related Government Programs
- Security Guards and Patrol Services
- Department of Homeland Security Contracting
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Programs
Risk Flags
- High contract value for a single year.
- Ambiguous competition process ('exclusion of sources').
- No indication of small business involvement.
- Lack of detailed performance metrics provided.
- Potential for cost overruns or inefficiencies.
Tags
security-guards-and-patrol-services, department-of-homeland-security, tx, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $41.7 million to AHTNA TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.. DETENTION AND GUARD SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is AHTNA TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $41.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2011-06-01. End: 2012-05-31.
What was the specific scope of services and number of personnel provided under this contract to justify the $41.7M cost?
The provided data lacks specifics on the exact scope of services, such as the number of detention facilities covered, the daily population, or the required staffing levels for guards and supervisory personnel. This information is crucial for understanding the cost drivers and assessing whether $41.7M represents a reasonable expenditure for the services rendered over the 365-day period.
How did the 'exclusion of sources' in the competition method potentially affect the final price and service quality?
The 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' method implies that certain potential bidders were initially disqualified or not solicited. This could have limited the number of competitive bids received, potentially leading to a higher price than if all eligible sources had participated from the outset. It also raises questions about the justification for excluding sources and its impact on achieving the best value.
What metrics are used by DHS ICE to measure the effectiveness and value of detention and guard services provided by contractors?
Effectiveness is likely measured through performance standards outlined in the contract, such as adherence to security protocols, incident response times, and facility safety. Value assessment would involve comparing the cost against the achieved performance outcomes and potentially against industry benchmarks. However, the specific metrics and their weighting are not detailed in the provided data.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Investigation and Security Services › Security Guards and Patrol Services
Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Ahtna, Incorporated (UEI: 069586055)
Address: 1400 W BENSON BLVD STE 210, ANCHORAGE, AK, 99503
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $41,716,861
Exercised Options: $41,716,861
Current Obligation: $41,716,861
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HSCEDM08D00002
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2011-06-01
Current End Date: 2012-05-31
Potential End Date: 2012-08-24 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2017-02-17
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