DHS FEMA awarded $88.3M for technical support, with a significant portion potentially going to a single large contractor

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $88,278,601 ($88.3M)

Contractor: National Istac

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2005-09-20

End Date: 2006-08-31

Contract Duration: 345 days

Daily Burn Rate: $255.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: NEW ORLEANS, JEFFERSON County, LOUISIANA, 70121

State: Louisiana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $88.3 million to NATIONAL ISTAC for work described as: TECHNICAL SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract value of $88.3M for technical support services. 2. Awarded by the Department of Homeland Security (FEMA). 3. Contract duration of 345 days. 4. Primarily for technical support services. 5. Awarded under full and open competition. 6. Contract type is Firm Fixed Price. 7. Geographic focus on Louisiana. 8. No small business set-aside indicated.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $88.3 million for a 345-day period suggests a high daily rate for technical support. Benchmarking against similar large-scale technical support contracts would be necessary to determine if this represents good value for money. The lack of detailed performance metrics or comparison data makes a definitive value assessment 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 typically fosters a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and service quality. The number of bidders is not specified, which limits the assessment of the actual level of competition achieved.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it aims to secure the best possible value through a wide range of potential providers.

Public Impact

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) receives critical technical support. Services likely support disaster response and recovery efforts in Louisiana. Potential impact on local workforce through contractor employment. Ensures continuity of essential government operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

High contract value for a relatively short duration may indicate premium pricing.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess effectiveness.
Geographic concentration in Louisiana could limit broader applicability of lessons learned.
Firm Fixed Price contracts can sometimes lead to scope creep if not managed tightly.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Focus on technical support is crucial for agency operations.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broad professional, scientific, and technical services sector. The federal government is a major consumer of such services, particularly for specialized technical support related to agency missions like disaster management. Comparable spending benchmarks would require detailed analysis of similar technical support contracts across various agencies and service types.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates no specific small business set-aside for this contract. Given the substantial value, it is likely that large businesses were the primary bidders. There is no information provided on subcontracting plans, making it difficult to assess the potential impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically be managed by FEMA contracting officers and program managers. Transparency is dependent on the public availability of contract performance reports and post-award reviews. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Disaster Relief Fund
Emergency Management and Assistance
Federal IT Support Services
Government Technical Consulting

Risk Flags

Potential for high cost per day given contract value and duration.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.
NAICS code mismatch (541310 - Architectural Services) with service description ('TECHNICAL SUPPORT') requires clarification.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $88.3 million to NATIONAL ISTAC. TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NATIONAL ISTAC.

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 $88.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-09-20. End: 2006-08-31.

What specific technical support services were rendered under this contract?

The provided data categorizes this award under NAICS code 541310 (Architectural Services), which seems incongruent with the description 'TECHNICAL SUPPORT'. Assuming 'TECHNICAL SUPPORT' is the correct service description, the specific services could range from IT infrastructure management, software development and maintenance, cybersecurity support, to specialized engineering or scientific consulting. Without further details, it's impossible to pinpoint the exact nature of the technical support. However, given the agency (FEMA) and the location (Louisiana), it's plausible the support was related to disaster response technology, data management for recovery efforts, or infrastructure assessment and planning.

How does the contract's value compare to similar technical support contracts awarded by FEMA or DHS?

Direct comparison is difficult without knowing the specific technical services provided. However, an $88.3 million contract for a 345-day period translates to approximately $255,880 per day. This daily rate is high and suggests either highly specialized expertise or a very broad scope of services. To benchmark effectively, one would need to identify contracts for similar technical support functions (e.g., IT modernization, large-scale data analysis, emergency response systems) awarded around the same period and adjust for inflation and scope differences. A preliminary review of federal procurement data might reveal if this rate is within the expected range for complex technical support.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this technical support contract?

The provided data does not include information on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for technical support contracts, KPIs might include response times for issue resolution, system uptime percentages, successful project completion rates, adherence to security protocols, and client satisfaction scores. The absence of this information in the summary data makes it challenging to objectively assess the contractor's performance and the overall effectiveness of the support provided. A thorough review of the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and performance-based metrics would be required.

What was the historical spending pattern for similar technical support services by FEMA prior to this award?

Historical spending patterns for similar technical support services by FEMA prior to this $88.3 million award are not detailed in the provided data. To establish such a pattern, one would need to analyze FEMA's procurement history over several fiscal years, identifying contracts with similar service descriptions (e.g., IT support, engineering consulting, data management) and NAICS codes. This analysis would reveal trends in spending levels, types of services procured, and the primary contractors utilized. Understanding historical spending can help contextualize the significance of this particular award and identify any shifts in procurement strategy or needs.

Were there any identified risks associated with this contractor or the nature of the technical support required?

The provided data summary does not explicitly list any identified risks associated with this specific contract or the contractor. However, general risks for large technical support contracts include potential cost overruns if the scope is not well-defined, performance deficiencies leading to service disruptions, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and contractor dependency. Given the contract's focus on Louisiana and FEMA, risks might also relate to the rapid deployment of resources in a disaster-prone area, ensuring data integrity during critical events, and maintaining operational continuity under stressful conditions. A deeper dive into contract award documents and performance reviews would be needed to identify specific risk mitigation strategies employed.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Architectural 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: EMW2002RP0064

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Dewberry Companies LC, the (UEI: 621316814)

Address: 8401 ARLINGTON BLVD, FAIRFAX, VA, 11

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $88,383,075

Exercised Options: $88,383,075

Current Obligation: $88,278,601

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSFEHQ04D0128

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline