OPM awards $33M HR support contract to SRA International, Inc. for professional development

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $32,970,875 ($33.0M)

Contractor: SRA International, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Office of Personnel Management

Start Date: 2012-05-22

End Date: 2014-03-31

Contract Duration: 678 days

Daily Burn Rate: $48.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: HR SUPPORT SERVICE (HC) IGF::CL::IGF

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20415

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Office of Personnel Management obligated $33.0 million to SRA INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: HR SUPPORT SERVICE (HC) IGF::CL::IGF Key points: 1. Contract value of $32.97 million over its period of performance. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a broad market solicitation. 3. Contract duration of 678 days, suggesting a medium-term service requirement. 4. Firm Fixed Price contract type aims to control costs and provide predictability. 5. SRA International, Inc. is the sole awardee for these HR support services. 6. The contract falls under the Professional and Management Development Training NAICS code.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $32.97 million for approximately two years of HR support services appears within a reasonable range for such specialized services. Benchmarking against similar government-wide HR support contracts would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm fixed-price structure suggests an effort to manage costs, but the absence of detailed performance metrics makes a definitive value assessment challenging without further data.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The presence of 3 bidders, as indicated by the 'no' field, suggests a moderate level of competition for this requirement. While competition is present, a higher number of bidders could potentially drive prices lower and foster greater innovation.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging a wider range of offers, which can lead to more competitive pricing and better service quality.

Public Impact

Federal employees will benefit from enhanced professional and management development training. Services delivered are expected to improve the skills and capabilities of the federal workforce. The primary geographic impact is within the District of Columbia, where the agency is located. Workforce implications include the potential for improved employee performance and retention within OPM.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if services are highly specialized and difficult to transition.
Risk of cost overruns if the scope of work expands beyond initial projections under a fixed-price contract.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical HR support functions.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Contract duration of over 600 days indicates a stable, ongoing need for these services.

Sector Analysis

The HR support services sector within the federal government is a significant market, encompassing a wide range of functions from recruitment to training and development. This contract, focused on professional and management development training, fits within the broader human capital management segment. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar training and development contracts across agencies would provide context for the $32.97 million award value.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless SRA International, Inc. voluntarily engages small businesses as subcontractors. Further investigation into subcontracting reports would be necessary to confirm any small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract type, which obligates the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed-upon price. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though detailed performance reviews are often internal.

Related Government Programs

Federal Workforce Development Programs
Human Capital Management Services
Government Employee Training Initiatives

Risk Flags

Contract awarded to a single vendor.
Limited information on specific performance metrics.
Potential for scope creep in training requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Office of Personnel Management awarded $33.0 million to SRA INTERNATIONAL, INC.. HR SUPPORT SERVICE (HC) IGF::CL::IGF

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SRA INTERNATIONAL, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Office of Personnel Management (Office of Personnel Management).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $33.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-05-22. End: 2014-03-31.

What is the track record of SRA International, Inc. in delivering similar HR support services to the federal government?

SRA International, Inc. has a history of providing IT and professional services to the federal government. While specific details on their HR support service delivery for professional development training would require a deeper dive into their contract history and past performance evaluations, their general experience in government contracting suggests a capacity to manage such requirements. Analyzing past performance reviews and any reported issues on previous OPM or similar agency contracts would offer a clearer picture of their reliability and effectiveness in this specific domain. It's important to note that SRA International was acquired by General Dynamics Information Technology in 2018, so current capabilities and track record would be under the General Dynamics umbrella.

How does the awarded amount of $32.97 million compare to similar HR support contracts for professional development?

The awarded amount of $32.97 million for approximately two years of HR support services, specifically focused on professional and management development training, needs to be benchmarked against similar contracts. Without access to a comprehensive database of comparable federal HR training contracts, a precise comparison is difficult. However, for a contract of this duration and scope, the value appears to be within a plausible range. Factors such as the number of employees to be trained, the complexity of the training modules, and the specific services included (e.g., curriculum development, delivery, evaluation) would influence the overall cost. A detailed analysis would involve identifying contracts with similar NAICS codes and service descriptions.

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

The provided data does not explicitly detail the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for HR support services focused on professional development, KPIs might include training completion rates, participant satisfaction scores, post-training knowledge assessments, and demonstrated application of learned skills in the workplace. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract implies that the contractor is responsible for meeting certain performance standards. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) would have established these metrics within the contract's statement of work to ensure the effectiveness and value of the training provided.

What is the historical spending pattern for HR support services at the Office of Personnel Management?

Analyzing the historical spending patterns for HR support services at the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) would provide context for this $32.97 million award. This specific contract, awarded in May 2012 with an end date in March 2014, represents a snapshot of spending during that period. To understand broader trends, one would need to examine OPM's procurement data over several fiscal years, looking at the total amount spent on HR support, training, and related services, as well as the number and types of contracts awarded in this category. This analysis could reveal whether spending has increased, decreased, or remained stable over time.

What are the potential risks associated with a firm fixed-price contract for professional development training?

A firm fixed-price (FFP) contract for professional development training aims to provide cost certainty. However, potential risks include the contractor under-delivering on quality to maximize profit, or conversely, the government not receiving the full value if the scope is too narrowly defined and fails to meet evolving needs. If the training requirements are complex or subject to change, an FFP contract can disincentivize the contractor from accommodating necessary modifications without significant change order requests, potentially leading to disputes or a less effective program. The government bears the risk of inadequate performance if the contractor cuts corners.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Business Schools and Computer and Management Training › Professional and Management Development Training

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Sterling Parent Inc. (UEI: 968838909)

Address: 4300 FAIR LAKES CT, FAIRFAX, VA, 11

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $32,970,875

Exercised Options: $32,970,875

Current Obligation: $32,970,875

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: OPM020700010

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline