DHS awards $11M for administrative services to Serco Services Inc., extending a prior contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,052,921 ($11.1M)

Contractor: Serco Services Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2007-01-18

End Date: 2009-03-30

Contract Duration: 802 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.8K/day

Competition Type: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION

Sector: Other

Place of Performance

Location: LEES SUMMIT, JACKSON County, MISSOURI, 64063

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $11.1 million to SERCO SERVICES INC for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable given the duration and scope of administrative support. 2. The follow-on nature suggests a degree of contractor performance satisfaction. 3. Potential risks include vendor lock-in and the need for ongoing performance monitoring. 4. This contract supports essential administrative functions within USCIS. 5. The administrative services sector is broad, with many potential providers. 6. Spending on administrative support is a consistent need across federal agencies.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $11 million over two years for administrative services seems within a reasonable range for federal contracts of this nature. Benchmarking against similar administrative support contracts would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the duration and the nature of the services (office administrative) suggest a moderate cost.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was a follow-on to a competed action, indicating that the original award was subject to a competitive bidding process. While the specific details of the original competition are not provided, the 'follow-on' designation implies that the current award likely benefited from the initial competition's price discovery. The number of bidders in the original competition would be crucial for a full assessment.

Taxpayer Impact: A competed contract generally leads to better pricing for taxpayers by fostering competition among vendors.

Public Impact

Federal employees within U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services benefit from efficient administrative support. Essential office administrative services are delivered, ensuring smooth daily operations. The geographic impact is primarily within the operational areas of USCIS. Workforce implications include the potential for Serco Services Inc. to utilize its own staff for service delivery.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for complacency in service delivery due to the follow-on nature.
Need for robust performance metrics to ensure continued value.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical administrative functions.

Positive Signals

Successful execution of a prior contract likely indicates reliability.
Follow-on action suggests a positive working relationship and satisfactory performance.
Established contractor may offer efficiencies due to familiarity with USCIS needs.

Sector Analysis

Administrative services are a critical component of federal operations, encompassing a wide range of support functions. The market for these services is competitive, with numerous firms capable of providing office administrative support. This contract fits within the broader category of professional services, where agencies procure specialized support to augment their organic capabilities. Comparable spending benchmarks for administrative services vary widely based on scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans for this specific contract is not readily available from the provided data. As this is a follow-on to a competed action, the original solicitation may have included provisions for small business participation. Further investigation into the original contract details would be needed to assess the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) contracting officer and program managers. Standard federal procurement regulations and contract clauses would govern accountability and transparency. The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General may also conduct audits or investigations if performance issues or concerns arise.

Related Government Programs

Federal Administrative Support Services
Office Operations Support
Professional Services Contracts
Department of Homeland Security Contracts
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Follow-on contract without explicit details on original competition.
Limited data on specific performance metrics and contractor past performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $11.1 million to SERCO SERVICES INC. See the official description on USAspending.

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 $11.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-01-18. End: 2009-03-30.

What was the original contract vehicle and competition level that led to this follow-on action?

The provided data indicates this is a 'FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION' awarded as a 'BPA CALL'. A Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) is a simplified way to fill anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services. When a BPA call is issued, it is an order against that pre-established BPA. The 'competed action' part suggests that the original BPA or the specific call was awarded after a competitive process. However, the exact number of bidders and the specific competition dynamics of the original award are not detailed in this snippet. Understanding the original competition is key to assessing if this follow-on action truly reflects competitive pricing or if it leverages an existing relationship that might limit future price discovery.

How does the cost per day or per year for this contract compare to similar administrative support contracts within DHS or other agencies?

Without specific details on the daily or hourly rates for the services provided under this $11 million contract, a direct cost-per-day or per-year comparison is challenging. The contract duration is 802 days (approximately 2.2 years). If we were to approximate, the annual value is roughly $5 million. To benchmark effectively, we would need to compare this to contracts for similar administrative support services (e.g., clerical support, office management, data entry) awarded by agencies of similar size and complexity to USCIS. Factors like geographic location of service delivery, specific skill sets required, and security clearances also influence pricing. A comprehensive analysis would involve querying federal procurement databases for comparable contracts and adjusting for these variables.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of Serco Services Inc. in delivering these administrative services?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, administrative support contracts include KPIs related to timeliness of task completion (e.g., responding to inquiries within X hours), accuracy of work (e.g., error rates in data processing), customer satisfaction (measured through surveys or feedback from USCIS personnel), and adherence to reporting requirements. The success of Serco Services Inc. would be evaluated against these defined metrics, which are usually outlined in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS). Regular performance reviews between USCIS and Serco would assess performance against these KPIs.

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

The provided data snippet focuses on a single contract awarded in 2007. To understand the historical spending trend for administrative support services by USCIS, a broader analysis of their procurement history would be necessary. This would involve examining spending across multiple fiscal years and identifying all contracts related to administrative support, regardless of the specific vendor or contract vehicle. Trends could reveal whether USCIS's reliance on external administrative support is increasing or decreasing, and whether spending is concentrated with a few key vendors or distributed across many. Such analysis would require access to comprehensive federal spending databases.

Are there any identified risks associated with Serco Services Inc.'s performance on previous federal contracts?

The provided data does not include information on Serco Services Inc.'s past performance record or any specific risks associated with their previous contracts. A thorough risk assessment would require reviewing past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), any past performance issues, or contract disputes involving Serco. While this contract is a follow-on, suggesting a degree of satisfaction, it's crucial to verify that satisfaction through official performance records. Without this data, the assessment of contractor-specific risk remains incomplete.

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: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION

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