DHS awards $21.2M for support services, raising concerns about competition and value
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $144,671,960 ($144.7M)
Contractor: Unisys Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2007-12-31
End Date: 2008-12-31
Contract Duration: 366 days
Daily Burn Rate: $395.3K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: CONTRACT NO. HSTS03-06-D-CIO500 TASK ORDER OPTION YEAR 2 AWARD BRIDGE OPTION YEAR 2 - 1ST QTR CONTRACT (2ND QTR FY) SEE ATTACHMENT OUTLINING ALL CLINS PURCHASED UNDER OPTION YEAR 2 UNDER PR CIO-142(THE REMAINING CLINS PURCHASED UNDER CIO-143) B TABLE ORDERS FROM THE BRIDGE CONTRACT ARE AS FOLLOWS: B.1 - $21,217,209 B.2 - $0.00 B.3 - $0.00 B.4 - $0.00 B.5 - $0.00 B.6 - $0.00 B.7 - $0.00 B.8 - $866,530
Place of Performance
Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22202
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $144.7 million to UNISYS CORPORATION for work described as: CONTRACT NO. HSTS03-06-D-CIO500 TASK ORDER OPTION YEAR 2 AWARD BRIDGE OPTION YEAR 2 - 1ST QTR CONTRACT (2ND QTR FY) SEE ATTACHMENT OUTLINING ALL CLINS PURCHASED UNDER OPTION YEAR 2 UNDER PR CIO-142(THE REMAINING CLINS PURCHASED UNDER CIO-143) B TABLE ORDERS FROM THE BRIDGE CON… Key points: 1. The contract awarded $21,217,209 for support services, with a total value of $144,671,959.84. 2. Competition was not conducted, raising questions about price discovery and potential overpayment. 3. The firm fixed-price contract type offers some cost control, but lack of competition is a significant risk. 4. The sector is 'All Other Support Services', a broad category that makes direct benchmarking difficult.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's total value is substantial, but without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the pricing is reasonable compared to similar services.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a contract of this size represents a significant risk of taxpayer funds being used inefficiently.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be overpaying for support services due to the absence of competitive bidding. The TSA's reliance on non-competed contracts could indicate systemic issues in procurement strategy. Lack of transparency in pricing makes it hard for the public to understand the value received.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpayment
- Limited transparency
Positive Signals
- Firm fixed-price contract type
Sector Analysis
The 'All Other Support Services' category is broad and lacks specific industry benchmarks. Spending in this area can vary widely depending on the specific services procured.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses, as the 'sb' field is false.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'DO' award type suggests a Delivery Order, which should have a defined oversight process. However, the lack of competition warrants closer scrutiny.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Support Services
- Department of Homeland Security Contracting
- Transportation Security Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of justification for non-competition
- Potential for inflated pricing
- Limited transparency on service details
Tags
all-other-support-services, department-of-homeland-security, va, do, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $144.7 million to UNISYS CORPORATION. CONTRACT NO. HSTS03-06-D-CIO500 TASK ORDER OPTION YEAR 2 AWARD BRIDGE OPTION YEAR 2 - 1ST QTR CONTRACT (2ND QTR FY) SEE ATTACHMENT OUTLINING ALL CLINS PURCHASED UNDER OPTION YEAR 2 UNDER PR CIO-142(THE REMAINING CLINS PURCHASED UNDER CIO-143) B TABLE ORDERS FROM THE BRIDGE CONTRACT ARE AS FOLLOWS: B.1 - $21,217,209 B.2 - $0.00 B.3 - $0.00 B.4 - $0.00 B.5 - $0.00 B.6 - $0.00 B.7 - $0.00 B.8 - $866,530
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is UNISYS CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $144.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-12-31. End: 2008-12-31.
What specific support services are being procured under this contract, and how do they align with the TSA's mission?
The provided data does not specify the exact nature of the 'All Other Support Services'. Understanding the granular details of these services is crucial to assess their necessity and alignment with the Transportation Security Administration's core functions. Without this information, it's challenging to determine if the expenditure is justified or if there's potential for redundancy or inefficiency.
What is the justification for not competing this contract, and what steps were taken to ensure fair pricing?
The contract was explicitly marked as 'NOT COMPETED'. The justification for this sole-source award is not provided in the data. Without a documented rationale and evidence of price negotiation or benchmarking against similar services, it is difficult to ascertain if fair pricing was achieved, raising concerns about potential waste of taxpayer funds.
How does the total contract value of $144.6 million compare to industry benchmarks for similar support services?
Given the broad 'All Other Support Services' category and the lack of specific service details, a direct comparison to industry benchmarks is challenging. However, the substantial total value, coupled with the non-competed nature of the award, suggests a potential risk of the government paying above market rates. Further analysis of the specific services procured is needed for a more accurate assessment.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Other Support Services › All Other Support Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 11720 PLAZA AMERICA DR, RESTON, VA, 11
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $144,671,960
Exercised Options: $144,671,960
Current Obligation: $144,671,960
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HSTS0306DCIO500
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-12-31
Current End Date: 2008-12-31
Potential End Date: 2008-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2014-07-10
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