DHS awards $19.76M for office administrative services to Serco Services Inc. at National Benefits Center

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,763,010 ($19.8M)

Contractor: Serco Services Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2007-07-30

End Date: 2009-03-30

Contract Duration: 609 days

Daily Burn Rate: $32.5K/day

Competition Type: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES AT THE NATIONAL BENEFITS CENTER IN LEE SUMMIT, MO

Place of Performance

Location: LEES SUMMIT, JACKSON County, MISSOURI, 64063

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $19.8 million to SERCO SERVICES INC for work described as: PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES AT THE NATIONAL BENEFITS CENTER IN LEE SUMMIT, MO Key points: 1. Contract provides essential administrative support, ensuring smooth operations at a key immigration processing center. 2. Follow-on to a competed action suggests a history of competitive sourcing for these services. 3. The contract duration of approximately 20 months indicates a medium-term need for these support functions. 4. Geographic concentration in Missouri highlights a specific operational footprint for this service. 5. The NAICS code 561110 (Office Administrative Services) is a common category for essential business support functions.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The award amount of $19.76 million for approximately 20 months of service suggests a monthly expenditure of roughly $988,000. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale administrative support contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the follow-on nature implies previous satisfactory performance and potentially competitive pricing established in prior rounds. Further analysis would require comparing the scope of services to industry standards and other government contracts for similar administrative functions.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract is noted as a 'FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION,' indicating that the initial award for these services was subject to full and open competition. This suggests that multiple bidders likely participated in the original solicitation, and this subsequent action is either a direct follow-on or part of a larger competitive framework. The level of competition in the initial award would have driven price discovery and ensured a range of qualified vendors could bid.

Taxpayer Impact: A history of competition generally benefits taxpayers by driving down costs and ensuring the government receives services at a fair market price. It also encourages innovation and efficiency among contractors vying for the business.

Public Impact

Benefits federal employees at the National Benefits Center by providing essential administrative support. Ensures the continuity of operations for critical immigration processing functions. Services are delivered at the National Benefits Center in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Supports the workforce at the National Benefits Center by enabling them to focus on core mission tasks.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for price creep in follow-on actions if not carefully managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical administrative functions could pose a risk if performance degrades.
Limited transparency on specific performance metrics and service level agreements without further documentation.

Positive Signals

Follow-on to a competed action suggests a proven track record and potentially competitive initial pricing.
Award to an established entity like Serco Services Inc. may indicate reliability and experience in government contracting.
The contract supports essential government functions, contributing to national security and immigration processing efficiency.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Office Administrative Services sector (NAICS 561110), a broad category encompassing a wide range of support functions crucial for business operations. The federal government is a significant consumer of these services, outsourcing tasks like clerical support, data entry, and general office management. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within broader government-wide contracts for administrative support or through analysis of similar agency procurements for back-office functions.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). As a follow-on to a competed action, it's possible that small businesses participated in the original competition or could be involved as subcontractors. However, without specific subcontracting plans or data, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem remains unclear. Larger contracts like this often present subcontracting opportunities for specialized services.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) contracting officers and program managers within the Department of Homeland Security. Accountability measures would be defined in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) and include service level agreements and performance metrics. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance reports may be internal.

Related Government Programs

Department of Homeland Security Administrative Support Contracts
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Operations Support
Federal Office Administrative Services Procurements
National Benefits Center Operational Funding

Risk Flags

Follow-on action without detailed performance history
Potential for cost escalation in subsequent contract periods
Dependence on contractor for critical administrative functions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $19.8 million to SERCO SERVICES INC. PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES AT THE NATIONAL BENEFITS CENTER IN LEE SUMMIT, MO

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 $19.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-07-30. End: 2009-03-30.

What was the specific scope of services provided under this contract?

The contract specifies 'PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES AT THE NATIONAL BENEFITS CENTER IN LEE SUMMIT, MO.' While the NAICS code 561110 points to 'Office Administrative Services,' the precise deliverables are not detailed in the provided data. This typically includes functions such as clerical support, data processing, mail handling, scheduling, and other general office management tasks necessary for the efficient operation of the National Benefits Center. A full understanding would require reviewing the Performance Work Statement (PWS) associated with the contract, which outlines specific tasks, performance standards, and reporting requirements.

How does the $19.76 million award compare to historical spending for similar services at the National Benefits Center?

The provided data indicates this is a follow-on to a competed action, suggesting a history of similar procurements. However, without access to historical contract data for the National Benefits Center's administrative support services prior to this award, a direct comparison of the $19.76 million figure is not possible. To assess historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze previous contract awards for the same or similar services at this facility, looking at award amounts, contract durations, and inflation-adjusted figures to identify trends and potential cost efficiencies or increases over time.

What is Serco Services Inc.'s track record with the Department of Homeland Security and USCIS?

Serco Services Inc. is a known government contractor. While the provided data confirms this specific award from DHS's USCIS, a comprehensive assessment of their track record would involve reviewing their entire contract history with DHS and USCIS. This includes examining past performance evaluations, any documented disputes or contract terminations, and the overall value and duration of their previous engagements. A positive track record with these agencies would suggest familiarity with their operational needs and compliance requirements, potentially mitigating performance risks for this contract.

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

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for office administrative services, KPIs would focus on aspects like timeliness of task completion (e.g., processing times for documents), accuracy rates (e.g., data entry error percentages), responsiveness to requests, and overall customer satisfaction from the government personnel being supported. These metrics are usually detailed in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) and are crucial for assessing contractor performance and ensuring value for money.

What is the potential impact of this contract on the efficiency of immigration processing at the National Benefits Center?

This contract provides essential support services, which are critical for the smooth and efficient operation of the National Benefits Center. By outsourcing administrative tasks, USCIS staff can dedicate more time to core mission functions related to immigration processing. The effectiveness of this impact hinges on the contractor's performance in delivering reliable and timely support. If Serco Services Inc. meets or exceeds performance expectations, it should contribute positively to the overall efficiency and throughput of the benefits center, potentially reducing backlogs and improving service delivery times.

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