DHS Awards $131M for USCIS Service Center Operations Support to Veterans Enterprise Technology Solutions

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $131,190,144 ($131.2M)

Contractor: Veterans Enterprise Technology Solutions, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2010-11-29

End Date: 2015-05-31

Contract Duration: 1,644 days

Daily Burn Rate: $79.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: SERVICE CENTER OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE TEXAS AND NEBRASKA USCIS SERVICE CENTERS - SCOSS AWARD GROUP A.

Place of Performance

Location: LINCOLN, LANCASTER County, NEBRASKA, 68501

State: Nebraska Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $131.2 million to VETERANS ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC. for work described as: SERVICE CENTER OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE TEXAS AND NEBRASKA USCIS SERVICE CENTERS - SCOSS AWARD GROUP A. Key points: 1. The contract supports critical USCIS service center operations in Texas and Nebraska. 2. Veterans Enterprise Technology Solutions, Inc. is the prime contractor. 3. The award was made under full and open competition after exclusion of sources. 4. The contract duration is over 4 years, indicating a significant operational need. 5. The total value is substantial at $131.19 million.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The total award of $131.19 million over approximately 4.5 years suggests a significant investment. Benchmarking against similar large-scale service support contracts would be necessary for a precise pricing assessment, but the value is consistent with extensive operational support.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES.' This indicates a competitive process was initiated, but specific sources were excluded, which could impact the breadth of competition and price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The significant contract value means taxpayer funds are being utilized for essential government services. The competitive nature of the award aims to ensure reasonable pricing, but the exclusion of sources warrants scrutiny.

Public Impact

Impacts the efficiency and effectiveness of USCIS service centers processing immigration applications. Affects the experience of individuals and entities interacting with USCIS. Supports jobs within the contractor's organization and potentially subcontractors. Ensures continuity of essential administrative and operational functions for a key federal agency.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Exclusion of sources in competition
Long contract duration
Labor hours contract type

Positive Signals

Full and open competition basis
Award to a specific company for specialized services
Supports critical government functions

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Office Administrative Services sector, specifically supporting the operations of federal service centers. Spending benchmarks for similar large-scale operational support services for federal agencies can vary widely based on scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates the prime contractor is Veterans Enterprise Technology Solutions, Inc. It is not specified if this is a small business, but the contract value suggests it could be a larger entity or a joint venture. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Oversight would typically involve contract officers, program managers, and potentially inspectors general to ensure performance and proper use of funds.

Related Government Programs

Office Administrative Services
Department of Homeland Security Contracting
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to labor hours contract type.
Risk associated with excluding sources from the competitive process.
Long contract duration may lead to vendor lock-in or reduced flexibility.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical operational support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $131.2 million to VETERANS ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, INC.. SERVICE CENTER OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE TEXAS AND NEBRASKA USCIS SERVICE CENTERS - SCOSS AWARD GROUP A.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VETERANS ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS, 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 $131.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-11-29. End: 2015-05-31.

What was the rationale for excluding specific sources in the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' process, and how did this impact the final pricing?

The rationale for excluding sources typically relates to specific technical requirements, past performance, or unique capabilities deemed essential for the service. While 'full and open' implies broad competition, exclusions can limit the pool of bidders. Understanding the justification is key to assessing if the exclusion was necessary and if it led to a suboptimal price discovery process, potentially increasing costs for taxpayers.

How does the 'labor hours' contract type potentially affect cost control and contractor performance compared to fixed-price or cost-plus models for this type of service?

Labor hours contracts can be less predictable in terms of final cost as payment is based on the hours worked by contractor personnel. This model is often used when the scope of work is not clearly defined. While it allows for flexibility, it places a greater burden on government oversight to ensure efficient labor utilization and prevent cost overruns. Fixed-price contracts offer more cost certainty but require a well-defined scope.

What specific performance metrics and service level agreements (SLAs) are in place to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the USCIS service center operations supported by this contract?

Effective oversight of this contract would necessitate clearly defined performance metrics and SLAs. These would likely include measures related to application processing times, accuracy rates, customer service response times, and operational uptime. Regular performance reviews and reporting mechanisms are crucial to ensure the contractor meets objectives and that taxpayer funds are yielding the expected service improvements.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2057 WOODFORD RD STE 200, VIENNA, VA, 22182

Business Categories: Category Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $131,190,144

Exercised Options: $131,190,144

Current Obligation: $131,190,144

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSHQDC09D00021

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline