DHS awards $12.5M for Business Support Services to Accenture LLP over 6 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,536,957 ($12.5M)

Contractor: Accenture LLP

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2008-05-27

End Date: 2014-05-27

Contract Duration: 2,191 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: COMPREHENSIVE EXIT

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22209

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $12.5 million to ACCENTURE LLP for work described as: COMPREHENSIVE EXIT Key points: 1. Accenture LLP secured a significant contract valued at $12.5 million. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 3. The duration of the contract is 6 years, suggesting a long-term need for these services. 4. The 'All Other Business Support Services' category is broad, making direct sector benchmarks challenging.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. The award amount of $12.5M over 6 years suggests an average annual value of approximately $2.08M.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust price discovery mechanism. However, the specific details of the bidding and final pricing are not provided.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award is positive for taxpayers, aiming for the best value. However, the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure warrants close monitoring to ensure cost efficiency.

Public Impact

Citizens benefit from essential business support services provided to the Department of Homeland Security. The use of a large, established contractor like Accenture suggests a focus on reliability and expertise. The long contract duration implies a sustained need for these services within the agency.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can incentivize higher costs.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes it hard to assess value for money.
Small business participation is not indicated, potentially missing opportunities for smaller firms.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition.
Long-term contract suggests a stable and ongoing requirement.
Significant value indicates a critical service for the agency.

Sector Analysis

The 'All Other Business Support Services' category is broad and encompasses a wide range of activities. Benchmarking is difficult without more specific service details, but IT and professional services contracts of this magnitude are common across federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this award (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests the contract was likely awarded to a large business prime contractor, potentially limiting opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific contract.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Office of Procurement Operations within DHS, indicating established procurement channels. However, further details on performance monitoring and oversight mechanisms are needed to fully assess accountability.

Related Government Programs

All Other Business Support Services
Department of Homeland Security Contracting
Office of Procurement Operations Programs

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type.
Lack of specific service details.
No indication of small business participation.
Limited information on performance metrics and oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $12.5 million to ACCENTURE LLP. COMPREHENSIVE EXIT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ACCENTURE LLP.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Office of Procurement Operations).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-05-27. End: 2014-05-27.

What specific business support services were provided under this contract, and how did they contribute to DHS's mission?

The contract falls under NAICS code 561499, 'All Other Business Support Services.' This broad category could include services like administrative support, call centers, mail processing, or other operational assistance. Without specific deliverables, it's difficult to quantify the direct contribution to DHS's mission, but such services are generally crucial for efficient agency operations and enabling core functions.

Given the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure, what measures were in place to control costs and ensure the government received fair value?

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts require robust oversight to manage costs effectively. While the fixed fee provides some incentive for the contractor to control costs, the 'cost plus' element means the government bears the risk of increased expenses. Specific measures would include detailed audits, regular performance reviews, and clear baseline cost projections. The absence of this detail raises concerns about potential cost overruns.

How did the full and open competition process ensure the most effective and cost-efficient solution was selected for these services?

Full and open competition is designed to maximize the number of potential bidders, thereby fostering a competitive environment that ideally leads to the best value. This process allows the government to solicit proposals, compare technical approaches and pricing, and select the offer that best meets requirements. The effectiveness hinges on the clarity of the solicitation and the rigor of the evaluation criteria used by DHS.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Business Support Services › All Other Business Support Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Accenture Public Limited Company (UEI: 985015354)

Address: 11951 FREEDOM DR, RESTON, VA, 20190

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,820,997

Exercised Options: $13,568,617

Current Obligation: $12,536,957

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSSCHQ04D00096

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline