DHS awards $17.6M contract for risk map program management to Booz Allen Hamilton

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,653,715 ($17.7M)

Contractor: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2016-06-16

End Date: 2018-01-16

Contract Duration: 579 days

Daily Burn Rate: $30.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CT::IGF RISK MAP PROGRAM MANAGEMENT STANDARD OPERATIONS YEAR 3

Place of Performance

Location: MONROE, UNION County, NORTH CAROLINA, 28110

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $17.7 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF RISK MAP PROGRAM MANAGEMENT STANDARD OPERATIONS YEAR 3 Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. 3. The duration of the contract is 579 days, indicating a medium-term engagement. 4. The contract is for administrative management and general management consulting services. 5. The award was made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) within DHS. 6. The contractor, Booz Allen Hamilton, is a large, established firm in the federal contracting space.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific contract is challenging without more granular data on the services provided and comparable projects. However, the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type carries inherent risks of cost escalation. While Booz Allen Hamilton is a reputable contractor, the CPFF structure necessitates robust oversight to ensure cost-effectiveness and prevent contractor inefficiencies from driving up expenses beyond the fixed fee.

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 a bid. This suggests a healthy level of competition, which typically benefits the government by fostering competitive pricing and encouraging innovative solutions. The number of bidders is not specified, but the designation implies multiple proposals were likely considered.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for taxpayers compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Department of Homeland Security, specifically FEMA, which will receive enhanced risk management capabilities. The services delivered are expected to improve the understanding and management of risks related to various programs. The geographic impact is likely national, given the nature of federal risk management programs. There are no direct workforce implications mentioned, but the contract supports federal agency operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type can incentivize contractor to increase costs to maximize profit.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the true value and effectiveness of the services rendered.
The contract duration is relatively short (579 days), which might limit the depth of impact or require follow-on contracts.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process that should drive value.
Booz Allen Hamilton is a well-established contractor with a track record in government consulting.
The contract supports a critical function for FEMA: risk map program management.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Management and Consulting Services sector, a broad category encompassing a wide range of advisory and support services for government agencies. The market for these services is highly competitive, with numerous large and small businesses vying for federal contracts. Spending in this sector is significant, as agencies rely on external expertise for strategic planning, operational improvements, and specialized program management, such as risk assessment and mapping.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the prime contractor is Booz Allen Hamilton, a large business. There is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans or goals for small businesses. This suggests that small businesses may not directly benefit from this specific award as prime contractors, but could potentially participate as subcontractors if included in Booz Allen Hamilton's strategy.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within FEMA. As a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract, rigorous financial oversight is crucial to monitor expenditures and ensure the fixed fee is justified by the work performed. Transparency would be enhanced through regular reporting requirements from the contractor. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

FEMA Risk Mapping Program
DHS Management Consulting Services
Federal Risk Management Programs
Administrative Management Contracts

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type carries inherent risk of cost escalation.
Limited information on specific performance metrics and deliverables.
Potential for contractor inefficiencies to increase costs under CPFF structure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $17.7 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC. IGF::CT::IGF RISK MAP PROGRAM MANAGEMENT STANDARD OPERATIONS YEAR 3

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC.

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 $17.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2016-06-16. End: 2018-01-16.

What specific deliverables were expected under this 'IGF::CT::IGF RISK MAP PROGRAM MANAGEMENT STANDARD OPERATIONS YEAR 3' contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific deliverables for the 'IGF::CT::IGF RISK MAP PROGRAM MANAGEMENT STANDARD OPERATIONS YEAR 3' contract. However, based on the contract's description as 'Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services' and its award to FEMA for 'Risk Map Program Management,' it is reasonable to infer that deliverables likely included strategic planning documents, operational process improvements, risk assessment methodologies, data analysis reports, and potentially training materials or standard operating procedures related to FEMA's risk mapping initiatives. The 'Year 3' designation suggests this was part of an ongoing effort, implying continuity in the types of services and expected outcomes.

How does the $17.6 million award compare to other similar risk management consulting contracts awarded by FEMA or DHS?

Direct comparison of the $17.6 million award for this specific risk map program management contract to other FEMA or DHS risk management contracts is difficult without a comprehensive database of similar awards with detailed service descriptions and durations. However, $17.6 million for a roughly two-year engagement (579 days) for specialized program management and consulting services is within a plausible range for large federal contracts. The value is influenced by the complexity of risk mapping, the scope of operational standards, and the expertise required. Without knowing the exact number of bidders or the specific scope of work, it's hard to definitively benchmark its value against market rates or other federal procurements.

What are the primary risks associated with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract for program management services?

The primary risk with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract is that the government may end up paying more than necessary if the contractor's costs are higher than anticipated, even though the fee is fixed. While the fee is fixed, the contractor has less incentive to control costs aggressively compared to fixed-price contracts, as costs are reimbursed. This can lead to potential cost overruns if not managed diligently. For the government, effective oversight is paramount to ensure that all costs incurred are reasonable, allocable, and necessary for the performance of the contract. Without strong oversight, the CPFF structure can lead to inefficiencies and higher overall program costs.

What is Booz Allen Hamilton's track record with FEMA and DHS for similar consulting services?

Booz Allen Hamilton is a major federal contractor with extensive experience providing management and consulting services across numerous government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components like FEMA. They have a long history of supporting complex government programs, often involving strategic planning, operational efficiency, and technology integration. While specific details of their past performance on FEMA risk map programs are not provided in this data, their established presence and broad capabilities suggest a significant track record. Agencies typically award contracts to firms like Booz Allen Hamilton based on demonstrated past performance, technical expertise, and capacity to handle large-scale projects.

What historical spending patterns exist for FEMA's risk map program management over the years?

The provided data only pertains to a single contract award from 2016-2018. To understand historical spending patterns for FEMA's risk map program management, one would need to analyze contract data over multiple fiscal years. This would involve identifying all contracts related to risk mapping, program management, and associated consulting services awarded by FEMA, examining their award amounts, durations, contractors, and contract types. Such an analysis would reveal trends in annual spending, the prevalence of specific contract types (e.g., CPFF vs. fixed-price), the dominant contractors in this space, and potential fluctuations in funding based on agency priorities or external events like natural disasters.

What does the 'NC' status for 'st' (State) signify in the context of this contract?

The 'st': 'NC' likely signifies 'North Carolina' as the state associated with the contract's performance location or the contractor's office involved in fulfilling the contract. While the contract was awarded by FEMA (headquartered in Washington D.C.), many federal contracts involve work performed at various locations, including contractor offices or specific project sites. North Carolina is home to significant military installations and federal agency operations, making it a plausible location for contract performance or administrative activities related to risk map program management. Without further context, it's difficult to ascertain the precise nature of the connection to North Carolina.

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

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation

Address: 8283 GREENSBORO DR, MCLEAN, 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: $17,892,456

Exercised Options: $17,892,456

Current Obligation: $17,653,715

Actual Outlays: $61,094

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSFE6013D0020

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline