DHS/FEMA awards $148.9M contract for community engagement and risk communications, with 5 bidders

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $148,873,735 ($148.9M)

Contractor: Resilience Action Partners

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2015-01-26

End Date: 2021-05-25

Contract Duration: 2,311 days

Daily Burn Rate: $64.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CT::IGF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND RISK COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22304

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $148.9 million to RESILIENCE ACTION PARTNERS for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND RISK COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES. Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, indicating a broad search for qualified vendors. 2. The contract type, Cost Plus Award Fee, incentivizes contractor performance through potential award amounts. 3. A duration of 2311 days suggests a long-term need for these critical risk communication services. 4. The contractor, Resilience Action Partners, has secured a significant federal award for this specialized service. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611 points to a focus on management consulting services. 6. The contract's value of over $148 million underscores the importance of effective public communication in emergency management.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $148.9 million over approximately 6.3 years averages to about $23.6 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for large-scale public engagement and risk communication services is challenging without more specific data on scope and deliverables. However, the Cost Plus Award Fee structure suggests that the final cost could vary based on performance, potentially offering good value if high performance targets are met. The absence of a specific unit cost makes direct per-unit comparison difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. With five bidders participating, the competition level appears moderate. This suggests that while there was interest from multiple firms, the market for these specialized services might be somewhat concentrated. Moderate competition can lead to a reasonable balance between price discovery and the availability of highly specialized expertise.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging a wider range of potential providers to offer their best pricing and innovative solutions, potentially leading to cost savings and improved service delivery.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are communities and the public, who receive vital information during emergencies and crises. Services delivered include community engagement strategies and risk communication plans to inform and prepare the public. The geographic impact is likely nationwide, supporting FEMA's mission across all regions of the United States. Workforce implications may include the creation of jobs within the contractor's organization and potentially in supporting roles for community outreach.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Award Fee contracts can sometimes lead to higher overall costs if award fees are consistently maximized without strict cost controls.
The long contract duration could present risks if the contractor's performance or the agency's needs change significantly over time.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical risk communication services could pose a risk if the contractor faces operational challenges.

Positive Signals

Awarding through full and open competition suggests a thorough vetting process and potential for competitive pricing.
The Cost Plus Award Fee structure provides an incentive for the contractor to perform exceptionally well.
The significant contract value indicates a recognized and sustained need for these essential services by a major federal agency.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically management consulting. This sector is characterized by firms offering specialized expertise in areas like strategic planning, operational efficiency, and communication. The market size for federal risk communication and community engagement services is substantial, driven by the ongoing need for preparedness and response capabilities across various federal agencies, particularly those involved in emergency management and national security. This contract represents a significant portion of spending within this niche.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a set-aside requirement. However, the prime contractor may choose to engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill certain aspects of the contract, depending on their own subcontracting plans and the availability of specialized small business capabilities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As a Cost Plus Award Fee contract, performance metrics and deliverables would be closely monitored to determine award fee payments. Transparency is generally maintained through federal procurement databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply to investigations of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

FEMA Community Engagement Programs
Homeland Security Risk Communication Initiatives
Federal Emergency Management Agency Grants and Contracts
Public Health Emergency Preparedness Communications
Disaster Response and Recovery Communications

Risk Flags

Contract duration exceeds 5 years.
Cost Plus Award Fee contract type.
Moderate number of bidders (5) for a large contract.
Services are critical for national emergency preparedness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $148.9 million to RESILIENCE ACTION PARTNERS. IGF::CT::IGF THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND RISK COMMUNICATIONS SERVICES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RESILIENCE ACTION PARTNERS.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $148.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2015-01-26. End: 2021-05-25.

What is the track record of Resilience Action Partners with federal contracts, particularly in risk communication?

Resilience Action Partners (RAP) has a history of securing federal contracts, with this $148.9 million award from DHS/FEMA being a significant one. While specific details on their prior performance in risk communication require deeper analysis of contract databases and performance reviews, their ability to win a full and open competition contract of this magnitude suggests they possess the necessary qualifications and experience. Further investigation into their past performance ratings, any past performance issues, and the types of services they've provided under previous federal awards would offer a more comprehensive understanding of their track record in this domain. Examining their role in past disaster response or public health campaigns could also provide valuable context.

How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar federal risk communication efforts?

The annual cost of this contract, averaging approximately $23.6 million ($148.9M / 6.3 years), needs to be benchmarked against comparable federal risk communication and community engagement contracts. Without access to a detailed database of similar contracts, a precise comparison is difficult. However, large-scale public awareness campaigns and crisis communication efforts by agencies like the CDC or FEMA often involve multi-million dollar budgets. Factors influencing cost include the scope of services (e.g., media buys, public relations, digital outreach, community liaison), the duration of the contract, and the geographic reach. This contract's value suggests a comprehensive, long-term national effort, which is likely in line with significant federal investments in preparedness and response.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to assess the contractor's performance and determine award fees?

For a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract like this, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are crucial for determining the 'award fee' portion of the contractor's compensation. While the specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided data, they would typically be tied to the contract's objectives, such as the effectiveness of risk communication messages (e.g., reach, clarity, impact on public behavior), the quality and timeliness of community engagement activities, the development and execution of communication plans, and adherence to reporting requirements. FEMA would likely establish measurable targets for these KPIs, and the contractor's achievement against these targets would be evaluated by a Performance Evaluation Board (PEB) to recommend the level of award fee earned.

What is the potential risk associated with the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract type for this service?

The primary risk associated with a CPAF contract type for risk communication services is the potential for costs to escalate beyond initial projections, especially if the award fee criteria are not tightly defined or rigorously monitored. While CPAF aims to incentivize performance by offering additional profit (award fee) for exceeding expectations, it can also lead to higher overall expenditures compared to fixed-price contracts if the contractor consistently achieves high performance ratings. For FEMA, this means ensuring that the base cost is reasonable and that the criteria for earning award fees are objective, measurable, and directly linked to mission-critical outcomes. Without stringent oversight, there's a risk that the 'award' portion inflates the total cost without a proportional increase in demonstrable value or effectiveness.

How has federal spending on community engagement and risk communication evolved leading up to this contract?

Federal spending on community engagement and risk communication has seen a significant increase, particularly following major national events such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and the COVID-19 pandemic. These events highlighted the critical need for effective public information dissemination, crisis communication, and community preparedness strategies. Agencies like FEMA and DHS have consistently sought to bolster these capabilities. This $148.9 million contract awarded in 2015 reflects a sustained and substantial investment in these areas, indicating a trend towards prioritizing robust communication infrastructure and services to enhance national resilience and public safety. Historical data would likely show a gradual increase in funding for such services over the past two decades.

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: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: HSFE60-14-R-0004

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4301 DUTCH RIDGE RD, BEAVER, PA, 15009

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $149,086,671

Exercised Options: $149,086,671

Current Obligation: $148,873,735

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline