Serco Services Inc. contract for administrative services with DHS valued at over $11.6 million

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,600,996 ($11.6M)

Contractor: Serco Services Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2005-07-07

End Date: 2009-03-30

Contract Duration: 1,362 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Sector: Other

Official Description: SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20529

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $11.6 million to SERCO SERVICES INC for work described as: SUPPORT Key points: 1. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing environment. 2. The duration of the contract was over three years, indicating a sustained need for these services. 3. The contract was a BPA Call, which can offer flexibility and efficiency in procurement. 4. The services provided fall under Office Administrative Services, a common government function. 5. The geographic location of performance was Washington D.C., a high-cost area for services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific performance metrics or comparable contract data. The total value of over $11.6 million over 1362 days suggests an average annual spend of approximately $3.4 million. This figure needs to be assessed against the scope and complexity of the administrative services provided to determine if it represents good value for money. Without detailed service level agreements or performance reports, a definitive assessment of cost-effectiveness is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES.' While this indicates an initial intent for broad competition, the 'exclusion of sources' clause suggests specific circumstances led to limiting the pool of potential bidders. The number of bidders is not specified, making it difficult to fully assess the level of competition and its impact on price discovery. A truly open competition typically involves multiple bidders vying for the contract.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award, even with exclusions, aims to secure reasonable pricing for taxpayers. However, the exclusion of certain sources could potentially limit the most competitive offers.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) within the Department of Homeland Security, receiving essential administrative support. The services delivered include office administrative functions crucial for the daily operations of the agency. The geographic impact is concentrated in Washington D.C., where the services were performed. The contract likely supported a workforce involved in providing these administrative services, contributing to local employment.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it hard to assess efficiency and effectiveness.
The 'exclusion of sources' clause in the competition type warrants further investigation into potential limitations on competition.
The contract duration is substantial, requiring ongoing monitoring to ensure continued value.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, indicating an effort to leverage market forces.
The BPA Call mechanism can streamline procurement and potentially reduce administrative burden.
The contract addresses a core administrative need for a significant federal agency.

Sector Analysis

Office administrative services are a fundamental component of government operations, supporting a wide array of agencies and functions. The market for these services is broad, encompassing various support roles from clerical to specialized administrative tasks. This contract fits within the broader category of professional and administrative support services, a significant segment of federal contracting. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within the General Services Administration (GSA) schedules for administrative support or by analyzing other agency contracts for similar services.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract included small business set-asides, as the 'ss' field is false. Furthermore, the 'sb' field is also false, suggesting no specific small business participation was mandated or highlighted in the award details. This contract does not appear to have a direct subcontracting implication for small businesses based on the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would fall under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and specifically the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Accountability measures would be tied to the contract's performance standards and deliverables. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where basic award information is publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any issues of fraud, waste, or abuse arise during the contract's performance.

Related Government Programs

Department of Homeland Security Administrative Support Contracts
USCIS Operational Support
Federal Office Services Procurement
BPA Call Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition due to 'exclusion of sources'.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.
Contract duration requires ongoing monitoring for continued relevance and value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $11.6 million to SERCO SERVICES INC. SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SERCO SERVICES INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-07-07. End: 2009-03-30.

What was the specific nature of the 'exclusion of sources' in this full and open competition?

The designation 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' indicates that while the competition was intended to be open, certain potential sources were deliberately excluded from bidding. The specific reasons for this exclusion are not detailed in the provided data. Common reasons for such exclusions can include national security concerns, proprietary technology limitations, or specific requirements that only a limited number of entities could meet. Without further documentation from the contracting agency, the precise rationale remains unclear. This exclusion could potentially limit the breadth of competition and may have influenced the final pricing and selection of the contractor.

How does the per-day cost of this contract compare to similar administrative support contracts?

The total contract value was $11,600,995.84 over a period of 1362 days. This equates to an average daily cost of approximately $8,517.62. Comparing this to similar administrative support contracts requires access to a benchmark database of federal procurements for comparable services (e.g., NAICS code 561110 - Office Administrative Services) within the same geographic region (Washington D.C.) and of similar scope and complexity. Without such a benchmark, it is difficult to definitively state whether this daily cost is high, low, or average. Factors like the specific services rendered (e.g., staffing levels, types of administrative tasks, security clearances required) significantly influence cost.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for Serco Services Inc. under this contract?

The provided data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or performance metrics established for Serco Services Inc. under this contract. Typically, federal contracts outline measurable standards for service delivery, such as response times, accuracy rates, or client satisfaction levels. The effectiveness and value for money of the contract are usually assessed against these KPIs. The absence of this information in the award data suggests that such details might be found in the contract's statement of work or performance work statement, which are not included here. Monitoring performance against defined KPIs is crucial for ensuring accountability and achieving desired outcomes.

What is the historical spending trend for office administrative services by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services?

To determine historical spending trends for office administrative services by USCIS, one would need to analyze contract data over multiple fiscal years. This involves querying federal procurement databases (like FPDS) for all contracts awarded by USCIS under the relevant NAICS codes (e.g., 561110) for administrative support. By aggregating the total spending on these services year over year, a trend analysis can be performed. This would reveal whether USCIS spending on administrative services has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining relatively stable. Such analysis helps in understanding budget allocation and the agency's reliance on contracted administrative support over time.

Were there any performance issues or contract modifications associated with this BPA Call?

The provided data summary does not contain information regarding performance issues or contract modifications for this specific BPA Call awarded to Serco Services Inc. Contract modifications typically involve changes to the scope, duration, or value of the contract. Performance issues would usually be documented in contract performance reports or through formal corrective action plans. To ascertain if there were any modifications or performance problems, a deeper dive into the contract's official file and any associated performance assessments maintained by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would be necessary.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Office Administrative Services › Office Administrative Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Serco Group PLC (UEI: 298452707)

Address: 12012 SUNSET HILLS ROAD, RESTON, VA, 20190

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSSCCG05A0031

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline