PAE Professional Services awarded $65.5M for administrative services to DHS USCIS over 5 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $65,513,321 ($65.5M)

Contractor: PAE Professional Services, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2016-08-05

End Date: 2021-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,881 days

Daily Burn Rate: $34.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CT::IGF FIELD OFFICE SUPPORT SERVICES (FOSS)

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 $65.5 million to PAE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LLC for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF FIELD OFFICE SUPPORT SERVICES (FOSS) Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing environment. 2. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control risks if not managed closely. 3. The duration of the contract (1881 days) indicates a long-term need for these administrative services. 4. The contract was awarded to a single entity, PAE Professional Services, LLC. 5. The base award amount is substantial, requiring careful monitoring of task orders and expenditures. 6. The contract falls under Office Administrative Services, a common support function across federal agencies.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's value of $65.5 million over approximately five years for administrative services appears within a reasonable range for a large federal agency like USCIS. However, the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type warrants scrutiny. T&M contracts can lead to cost overruns if not meticulously managed, as they reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours and costs. Benchmarking against similar administrative support contracts across DHS or other agencies would be necessary for a definitive value assessment. Without specific details on the services rendered and labor categories, a precise per-unit cost comparison is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The presence of 6 bidders suggests a healthy level of competition for this requirement. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government. The number of bidders provides some assurance that the government received a range of options and pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition process is beneficial for taxpayers as it drives down costs through market forces and encourages multiple companies to vie for the contract, leading to better value.

Public Impact

USCIS benefits from consistent and reliable administrative support services, enabling its core mission functions. The contract supports essential office operations, including but not limited to clerical tasks, record keeping, and general administrative assistance. The primary geographic impact is likely within the District of Columbia, where the contractor is registered. The contract supports a workforce of individuals providing administrative and clerical expertise to the agency.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Risk of cost escalation due to Time and Materials contract type if not closely monitored.
Potential for scope creep if task orders are not clearly defined and managed.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical administrative functions over a long period.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
Multiple bidders (6) participated, suggesting market interest and potential for competitive pricing.
Contract addresses a fundamental operational need for USCIS.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, specifically under administrative and support services. This is a broad category encompassing a wide range of services essential for the functioning of federal agencies. The market for these services is highly competitive, with numerous large and small businesses capable of providing them. Comparable spending benchmarks for administrative support services vary widely based on the specific tasks, geographic location, and complexity, but contracts in the tens of millions of dollars are common for large federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, PAE Professional Services, LLC, is likely a large business. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses within the provided data. Without this information, it's difficult to assess the direct impact on the small business ecosystem, though large prime contracts often include subcontracting goals that benefit small businesses.

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, approving invoices, and ensuring compliance with contract terms. The contract type (Time and Materials) necessitates close oversight to control costs and prevent scope creep. While specific Inspector General (IG) involvement isn't detailed, the DHS Office of Inspector General has broad jurisdiction over DHS contracts and could investigate any reported fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

DHS Administrative Support Services Contracts
USCIS Operational Support
Federal Office Management Services
Professional Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Time and Materials Contract Type
Potential for Cost Overruns
Long Contract Duration

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $65.5 million to PAE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LLC. IGF::CT::IGF FIELD OFFICE SUPPORT SERVICES (FOSS)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PAE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LLC.

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 $65.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2016-08-05. End: 2021-09-29.

What is the historical spending trend for administrative services at USCIS under PAE Professional Services, LLC?

The provided data reflects a single definitive contract awarded on August 5, 2016, with an end date of September 29, 2021, totaling $65,513,321.47. This represents the total value obligated over the life of this specific contract. To understand historical spending trends, one would need to examine prior contracts awarded to PAE Professional Services, LLC, or other contractors for similar services at USCIS, as well as subsequent contracts awarded after September 2021. Analyzing annual spending patterns within this contract's duration would also reveal trends in how the funds were utilized year-over-year, potentially indicating periods of higher or lower activity or service demand.

How does the per-hour labor rate for key personnel compare to market rates for similar administrative roles?

The provided data does not include specific hourly labor rates for personnel. The contract is a Time and Materials (T&M) type, which means rates are established, but these are not detailed in the summary. To compare these rates to market benchmarks, one would need access to the contract's labor rate schedule and then research prevailing wages and commercial rates for comparable administrative roles (e.g., administrative assistants, clerks, program support specialists) in the relevant geographic location (District of Columbia). Industry surveys, Bureau of Labor Statistics data, and commercial service provider pricing could be used for comparison. Without the specific rates, a direct comparison is not possible.

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

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, administrative support contracts include metrics related to timeliness of task completion (e.g., response times for requests), accuracy of work performed (e.g., error rates in data entry or document processing), adherence to procedures, and overall customer satisfaction from USCIS personnel. Performance standards and acceptable quality levels (AQLs) would be detailed in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS). Monitoring these KPIs is crucial for ensuring the contractor meets its obligations and provides value.

What is the potential risk associated with the Time and Materials contract type for this administrative service requirement?

The primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract type, like the one awarded to PAE Professional Services, LLC, is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts reimburse the contractor for the actual cost of labor (at specified hourly rates) and materials used, plus a fee. If work is not managed efficiently, if labor hours are excessive, or if the scope of work expands without proper controls, costs can escalate beyond initial estimates. This necessitates robust government oversight to track labor hours, validate costs, and ensure that only necessary work is performed and billed appropriately to mitigate financial risks for the government.

How many task orders were issued under this definitive contract, and what was the average value per task order?

The provided data indicates that there were 6 task orders issued under this definitive contract (no: 6). However, the data does not specify the individual value of each task order or provide an average value per task order. To determine the average value, one would need to sum the value of all task orders and divide by the number of task orders (6). The total award amount of $65,513,321.47 represents the cumulative value of the base contract and all issued task orders over its duration. Understanding the distribution and value of task orders is important for assessing how the contract's funding was utilized.

What is the contractor's (PAE Professional Services, LLC) past performance record with USCIS or similar agencies for administrative services?

The provided summary data does not contain specific details about PAE Professional Services, LLC's past performance record with USCIS or other agencies. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing past performance evaluations, CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) reports, and any documented issues or commendations related to their previous work. Given the contract's value and duration, it is likely that USCIS conducted a thorough review of PAE's past performance as part of the source selection process during the full and open competition. However, without access to those specific performance records, it's impossible to definitively assess their track record.

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

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: HSSCCG-16-R-00010

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC (UEI: 081342873)

Address: 7799 LEESBURG PIKE STE 300 N, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 22043

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $75,663,305

Exercised Options: $65,513,321

Current Obligation: $65,513,321

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $5,107,854

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline