DHS awarded $31.5M for business support services, with 10 bidders indicating strong competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $31,485,187 ($31.5M)
Contractor: Stanley Associates, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2007-09-21
End Date: 2008-08-07
Contract Duration: 321 days
Daily Burn Rate: $98.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 10
Pricing Type: OTHER (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE NONE OF THE ABOVE APPLY)
Sector: Other
Official Description: SERVICE CENTER OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES (SCOSS)
Place of Performance
Location: LAGUNA NIGUEL, ORANGE County, CALIFORNIA, 92677
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $31.5 million to STANLEY ASSOCIATES, INC. for work described as: SERVICE CENTER OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES (SCOSS) Key points: 1. The contract value of $31.5M for business support services appears reasonable given the scope. 2. Full and open competition suggests a healthy market for these services. 3. The relatively short duration of the contract may mitigate long-term performance risks. 4. This award falls within the broader category of business support services for federal agencies. 5. The contract was awarded to Stanley Associates, Inc., a known entity in the federal contracting space. 6. The 'All Other Business Support Services' NAICS code indicates a broad range of potential services.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total award amount of $31.5M for SCOSS services is within a typical range for large-scale business support contracts. Benchmarking against similar contracts for operational support within DHS or other agencies would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the presence of 10 bidders suggests a competitive environment, which generally drives more favorable pricing for the government. The unit cost analysis is not directly available from the provided data, but the overall contract value seems aligned with industry standards for comprehensive support services.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The fact that 10 bidders participated indicates a robust level of competition for these business support services. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and a wider range of technical solutions, increasing the likelihood of the government securing the best value.
Taxpayer Impact: The strong competition ensures that taxpayer dollars are likely being used efficiently, as multiple companies vied to offer the most attractive proposal. This competitive pressure helps to keep costs down and service quality high.
Public Impact
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) benefits from enhanced operational efficiency through these support services. The services delivered likely encompass a range of administrative, logistical, and technical support functions crucial for USCIS operations. The contract's geographic impact is primarily focused on supporting USCIS operations, which are national in scope. The contract supports a workforce involved in delivering essential business support functions, potentially including administrative staff and specialized support personnel.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep if service definitions are not tightly managed.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical support functions could pose a risk if performance falters.
- Ensuring continued alignment with evolving USCIS operational needs throughout the contract period.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive market and potentially good value.
- The contractor, Stanley Associates, Inc., has experience in federal contracting, implying familiarity with government requirements.
- The contract is for a defined period, allowing for reassessment and potential re-competition to ensure ongoing value.
Sector Analysis
The federal IT and business support services market is substantial, with agencies increasingly relying on contractors for specialized functions. This contract for Service Center Operations Support Services (SCOSS) fits within the broader 'Business Support Services' sector, which includes a wide array of services from administrative support to call centers. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar operational support contracts within DHS or other large civilian agencies would likely range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars annually, depending on the scale and complexity of the services.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, Stanley Associates, Inc., is likely a large business. While there is no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses, large federal contracts often include provisions for small business participation. The absence of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for small businesses would primarily arise through subcontracting opportunities with the prime contractor.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) contracting officer and program managers. They are responsible for monitoring performance, ensuring compliance with contract terms, and approving payments. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and public reporting mechanisms. While specific IG jurisdiction isn't detailed, the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) would have oversight authority for potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.
Related Government Programs
- Department of Homeland Security - General Services
- USCIS - Administrative Support Services
- Federal Business Support Services
- IT and Business Services Contracts
- Operational Support Services
Risk Flags
- Contract Duration
- Scope Definition
- Performance Monitoring
Tags
dhs, uscis, business-support-services, operational-support, full-and-open-competition, delivery-order, california, large-contract, service-center-operations, stanley-associates-inc
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $31.5 million to STANLEY ASSOCIATES, INC.. SERVICE CENTER OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES (SCOSS)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is STANLEY ASSOCIATES, 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 $31.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-09-21. End: 2008-08-07.
What is the track record of Stanley Associates, Inc. with federal contracts, particularly within DHS?
Stanley Associates, Inc. has a history of performing federal contracts. While specific details of their past performance within DHS are not provided in this data snippet, their ability to win a $31.5 million contract through full and open competition suggests they possess the necessary qualifications and experience. A deeper dive into their contract history, including past performance reviews and any past issues or successes with similar service contracts, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability and capability. Federal procurement databases often contain detailed award histories and performance information that can be analyzed.
How does the $31.5M award compare to similar business support service contracts awarded by DHS or other agencies?
The $31.5 million award for Service Center Operations Support Services (SCOSS) to Stanley Associates, Inc. by USCIS falls within a common range for large-scale operational support contracts. Agencies like DHS, as well as other departments such as Defense or Health and Human Services, frequently award contracts of this magnitude for services encompassing administrative, logistical, and technical support. The 'All Other Business Support Services' NAICS code (561499) is broad, but contracts in this category can range from call center operations to back-office processing. The competitive nature of this award (10 bidders) suggests the pricing was likely market-driven and competitive, making it a potentially good value compared to sole-source or less competitive awards.
What are the primary risks associated with this type of service contract, and how are they mitigated?
Key risks for service contracts like SCOSS include potential contractor underperformance, cost overruns, and misalignment with evolving agency needs. Underperformance could stem from inadequate staffing, poor management, or failure to meet service level agreements. Cost overruns might occur due to scope creep or unforeseen operational challenges. Misalignment arises if the services provided become outdated or no longer meet the agency's strategic objectives. Mitigation strategies typically involve robust contract management, clearly defined performance metrics and service level agreements (SLAs), regular performance reviews, and built-in flexibility for contract modifications. The competitive award process itself helps mitigate risks by selecting a contractor with a proven track record and competitive pricing.
What is the historical spending pattern for Service Center Operations Support Services (SCOSS) by USCIS or DHS?
The provided data only details a single award for SCOSS to Stanley Associates, Inc. from 2007-2008. To understand historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze procurement data over multiple fiscal years. This would involve searching for all contracts awarded under the SCOSS designation or similar service categories by USCIS and DHS. Analyzing trends in award values, number of bidders, and incumbent contractors over time would reveal whether spending has increased or decreased, if competition has remained consistent, and if there are recurring needs for these types of services. Without this broader dataset, it's impossible to establish a historical spending pattern.
What does the 'All Other Business Support Services' NAICS code (561499) typically encompass, and how does this contract fit?
The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 561499, 'All Other Business Support Services,' is a broad category that includes establishments primarily engaged in providing a variety of business support services not elsewhere classified. This can encompass services such as administrative support, customer contact centers (call centers), telemarketing bureaus, document preparation services, and other business support activities. This contract for SCOSS likely falls under this umbrella by providing essential operational support to USCIS service centers, which could include functions like customer service, data processing, administrative assistance, or other back-office functions critical to the smooth operation of immigration services.
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
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 10
Pricing Type: OTHER (APPLIES TO AWARDS WHERE NONE OF THE ABOVE APPLY) (3)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: CGI Inc
Address: 3101 WILSON BLVD STE 700, ARLINGTON, VA, 22201
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $31,485,187
Exercised Options: $31,485,187
Current Obligation: $31,485,187
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HSSCCG07D00007
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-09-21
Current End Date: 2008-08-07
Potential End Date: 2008-08-07 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-06-05
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