National Archives awards $41M for security guard services, with 5 bidders competing

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $41,073,751 ($41.1M)

Contractor: American Security Programs Inc

Awarding Agency: National Archives and Records Administration

Start Date: 2009-06-01

End Date: 2014-09-21

Contract Duration: 1,938 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21.2K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SECURITY GUARD SERVICES AT NARA'S AI & AII LOCATIONS.

Place of Performance

Location: COLLEGE PARK, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20740

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Archives and Records Administration obligated $41.1 million to AMERICAN SECURITY PROGRAMS INC for work described as: SECURITY GUARD SERVICES AT NARA'S AI & AII LOCATIONS. Key points: 1. The contract was awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis, indicating predictable costs for the government. 2. Competition was robust with 5 bidders, suggesting potential for competitive pricing. 3. The contract duration of over 5 years (1938 days) provides long-term security coverage. 4. The award was a delivery order under a larger contract, implying a pre-established framework. 5. The services are for security guards at specific National Archives locations. 6. The contract value of $41M over its term represents a significant investment in facility protection.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $41,073,751.29 over approximately 5.3 years averages to about $7.75 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale security contracts for federal facilities suggests this is within a reasonable range, especially considering the specialized nature of protecting historical archives. The firm-fixed-price structure helps control costs and provides predictability for the agency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. With 5 bidders participating, the level of competition appears healthy. This suggests that the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) likely received a range of proposals and pricing, allowing for a selection based on both technical merit and cost-effectiveness. The competitive nature should have driven down prices compared to a sole-source award.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive process with multiple bidders generally leads to better price discovery and ensures taxpayer dollars are used more efficiently by fostering a market-driven price point.

Public Impact

Citizens benefit from the secure preservation of historical records managed by the National Archives. The contract ensures the provision of essential security guard services at NARA facilities. The geographic impact is focused on Maryland, where the specific locations are situated. The contract supports jobs within the private security sector, contributing to the local workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for over-reliance on a single contractor if future renewals are not competitively bid.
Ensuring consistent service quality across all shifts and locations requires diligent oversight.
The long-term nature of the contract could lead to price increases in subsequent periods if not managed carefully.

Positive Signals

The firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the agency.
A competitive award process suggests a good faith effort to secure value for money.
The contract duration ensures continuity of essential security operations.

Sector Analysis

The federal government is a significant consumer of security services across various agencies. This contract falls within the broader professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on security and protection. The market for federal security services is substantial, with numerous companies vying for these contracts. NARA's spending on security is a component of the overall federal expenditure on facility management and asset protection, which often involves competitive bidding to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, American Security Programs Inc., is likely a larger entity. While there's no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses in this data snippet, large federal contracts often include provisions for small business participation. The absence of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for smaller security firms to directly compete for this prime contract were limited.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), which has internal oversight mechanisms for its procurement activities. As a delivery order under a larger contract, there may be existing oversight frameworks in place. Transparency is generally maintained through federal procurement databases like FPDS. Specific accountability measures would be detailed in the contract itself, and any concerns regarding performance or financial management could fall under the jurisdiction of NARA's Inspector General or the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Related Government Programs

Federal Protective Service Contracts
General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules
Department of Homeland Security Security Contracts
National Archives and Records Administration Facility Management

Risk Flags

Potential for service quality degradation over contract term
Risk of contractor non-performance impacting asset security
Need for robust government oversight to ensure compliance

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Archives and Records Administration awarded $41.1 million to AMERICAN SECURITY PROGRAMS INC. SECURITY GUARD SERVICES AT NARA'S AI & AII LOCATIONS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AMERICAN SECURITY PROGRAMS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: National Archives and Records Administration (National Archives and Records Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $41.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-06-01. End: 2014-09-21.

What is the track record of American Security Programs Inc. with federal contracts?

American Security Programs Inc. (NAICS 561612) has a history of federal contract awards. While this specific award represents a significant value, a comprehensive review of their past performance would involve examining their award history across various agencies and contract types. This includes looking at their success rate in winning bids, the types of services provided, and any reported performance issues or contract disputes. Analyzing their prior federal work can provide insights into their capacity, reliability, and experience in meeting government requirements, which is crucial for assessing the risk associated with this current contract.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar federal security guard service contracts?

Benchmarking the pricing of this $41 million contract against similar federal security guard service contracts requires access to detailed pricing data for comparable awards. Factors such as geographic location, specific security requirements (e.g., armed vs. unarmed guards, level of surveillance technology), contract duration, and the number of personnel required significantly influence per-unit costs. While the firm-fixed-price nature provides cost certainty, a detailed comparison would involve analyzing the average hourly rates or annual costs per guard against a statistically relevant sample of contracts awarded by agencies like GSA or DHS for similar services. Without granular data on the number of guards and hours, a precise comparison is difficult, but the competitive nature of this award suggests it is likely within a reasonable market range.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract for the National Archives?

The primary risks associated with this contract include potential disruptions to security services if the contractor fails to perform adequately, leading to compromised protection of valuable historical assets. There's also a risk of cost overruns if the firm-fixed-price contract doesn't adequately account for unforeseen operational challenges or inflation over its multi-year term, although this is mitigated by the fixed-price nature. Ensuring consistent quality of service across all shifts and locations requires robust government oversight. Furthermore, a long-term reliance on a single contractor could reduce future competitive leverage if not managed strategically. Finally, personnel-related risks, such as guard turnover or inadequate vetting, could impact security effectiveness.

How effective is the competitive delivery order mechanism for procuring security services?

The competitive delivery order mechanism is generally an effective way to procure services like security guards, especially when used under an existing indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) or similar multiple-award contract. It allows agencies to leverage pre-competed contract vehicles, streamlining the acquisition process while still ensuring competition among awardees for specific task orders. For this NARA contract, the presence of 5 bidders indicates that the competitive aspect was realized, likely leading to better pricing and service options than a sole-source award. This method balances speed and efficiency with the benefits of competition, making it a valuable tool for agencies needing recurring services.

What is the historical spending trend for security guard services at the National Archives?

Analyzing historical spending trends for security guard services at the National Archives would require examining procurement data over multiple fiscal years. This would involve identifying all contracts awarded for similar services, their values, durations, and the contractors involved. Trends might reveal whether spending has increased or decreased, whether NARA has consistently used competitive bidding, and if there have been shifts in the types of security services procured. Understanding these patterns can help assess the agency's long-term strategy for security, identify potential cost efficiencies, and inform future budget planning and procurement decisions.

What are the implications of the firm-fixed-price contract type on cost management?

A firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type is generally advantageous for the government when the scope of work is well-defined and risks are understood, as is often the case with security guard services. Under an FFP contract, the contractor assumes most of the risk for cost overruns. This means the price is set and generally not subject to adjustment based on the contractor's actual costs. For NARA, this provides significant cost certainty and predictability, making budgeting easier and protecting against unexpected price increases. The onus is on the contractor to manage their expenses efficiently to maintain profitability, which can incentivize cost control.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Investigation and Security Services › Security Guards and Patrol Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 22900 SHAW RD STE 101-4, DULLES, VA, 20166

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $41,073,751

Exercised Options: $41,073,751

Current Obligation: $41,073,751

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS07F0622N

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline