DHS awards $17.3M IT support contract to Northrop Grumman, a follow-on to a competed action

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,256,695 ($17.3M)

Contractor: Northrop Grumman Information Technology Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2005-07-29

End Date: 2006-01-31

Contract Duration: 186 days

Daily Burn Rate: $92.8K/day

Competition Type: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION

Pricing Type: NOT REPORTED

Sector: IT

Official Description: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES

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 $17.3 million to NORTHROP GRUMMAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INC for work described as: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in IT infrastructure. 2. Follow-on nature suggests prior satisfactory performance or established relationship. 3. Competition dynamics for this specific award are not fully detailed, impacting price discovery assessment. 4. Performance context relies on the success of the preceding contract. 5. Sector positioning is within the IT support services domain, crucial for agency operations. 6. Risk indicators are moderate, given the established contractor and follow-on nature.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $17.3 million for IT support services is substantial. Benchmarking this against similar contracts is challenging without more detailed service descriptions and performance metrics. The provided data does not allow for a direct comparison of per-unit costs or a robust assessment of value for money. The 'FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION' status implies some level of prior price validation, but the specifics of that competition are not detailed here.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The contract is described as a 'FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION,' indicating that the original award was competed. However, the details of the initial competition, including the number of bidders and the specific procurement vehicle (e.g., GSA Schedule, full and open competition), are not provided. This lack of detail makes it difficult to assess the level of competition for the original award and its impact on price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Without knowing the specifics of the original competition, it's difficult to definitively state the impact on taxpayers. A well-competed initial award generally leads to better pricing for the government.

Public Impact

Federal employees within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services benefit from reliable IT support. Essential IT services are maintained, ensuring the continuity of agency operations. The contract's impact is primarily concentrated within the District of Columbia. Workforce implications may include the retention of IT support personnel by Northrop Grumman.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed competition information for the original award.
Limited transparency on specific performance metrics and value for money.
Potential for vendor lock-in if competition was not robust initially.

Positive Signals

Follow-on nature suggests a degree of contractor reliability.
Awarded by a major federal agency (DHS) indicates adherence to procurement standards.
Contract value is significant, implying a critical need for these services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology (IT) sector, specifically focusing on support services. The IT services market is vast and highly competitive, with numerous vendors offering a wide range of solutions. Federal spending in this area is consistently high as agencies rely on technology to perform their missions. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing IT support contracts across various federal agencies for similar scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside for this contract. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from a set-aside requirement. The prime contractor, Northrop Grumman, is a large business.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Homeland Security's contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures would be defined in the contract's terms and conditions, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where basic award information is published. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

IT Professional Services
IT Operations and Maintenance
Cloud Computing Services
Cybersecurity Services
IT Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Lack of detailed competition information.
Limited performance metrics provided.
Short contract duration (186 days) may indicate a specific, short-term need or a bridge contract.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $17.3 million to NORTHROP GRUMMAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY INC. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NORTHROP GRUMMAN INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 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 $17.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-07-29. End: 2006-01-31.

What was the original competition for this contract and how many bids were received?

The contract is identified as a 'FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION,' which implies that the initial award was subject to competition. However, the specific details of that original competition, such as the number of bids received, the procurement method used (e.g., full and open, GSA Schedule), and the evaluation criteria, are not provided in the available data. Understanding the original competition is crucial for assessing the effectiveness of price discovery and ensuring that taxpayers received the best possible value at the time of the initial award. Without this information, it's difficult to definitively gauge the competitive landscape that led to this contract.

How does the $17.3 million contract value compare to similar IT support services contracts awarded by DHS or other agencies?

Directly comparing the $17.3 million contract value for IT support services is challenging without more granular data on the specific services rendered, the duration of the contract (186 days), and the performance metrics. Federal IT support contracts can vary widely in scope, complexity, and pricing models. While $17.3 million over approximately six months is a significant sum, it could represent excellent value if it covers extensive, high-level support for critical systems, or it could be on the higher end if the services are more routine. Benchmarking would require analyzing contracts with similar service level agreements (SLAs), technical requirements, and geographic coverage within the Department of Homeland Security or comparable agencies.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this IT support contract?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) for this IT support contract. Typically, IT support contracts include metrics related to response times for incidents, resolution times for issues, system uptime, user satisfaction, and adherence to security protocols. The success of this contract and the value delivered to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services would be measured against these defined performance standards. Without access to the contract's statement of work (SOW) or performance work statement (PWS), a detailed assessment of performance quality and effectiveness is not possible.

What is Northrop Grumman's track record with the Department of Homeland Security, particularly for IT support services?

Northrop Grumman Information Technology Inc. has a significant track record with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as evidenced by this contract and its follow-on nature. As a large, established defense and technology contractor, Northrop Grumman frequently secures federal contracts across various agencies. While this specific award suggests satisfactory performance or a strong existing relationship, a comprehensive assessment would involve reviewing their broader contract history with DHS, including past performance evaluations, any documented issues or disputes, and the overall value and scope of their previous work in IT support and related services for the agency.

What is the historical spending trend for IT support services at U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award of $17.3 million for IT support services to Northrop Grumman Information Technology Inc. by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). To understand historical spending trends, one would need to analyze USCIS's IT support expenditures over multiple fiscal years. This would involve examining data on all contracts awarded for similar services, including their values, durations, and the contractors involved. Such an analysis would reveal whether spending on IT support has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, and how this particular contract fits into the broader spending pattern.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Other Services (except Public Administration) › Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance › Computer and Office Machine Repair and Maintenance

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: NOT REPORTED (NO)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Titan II Inc. (UEI: 016435559)

Address: 2411 DULLES CORNER PARK, HERNDON, VA, 11

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSCEOP05A0001

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline