OPM awarded $27.7M for USAJOBS website support to Monster Government Solutions, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $27,745,936 ($27.7M)

Contractor: Monster Government Solutions, LLC

Awarding Agency: Office of Personnel Management

Start Date: 2005-09-23

End Date: 2010-07-28

Contract Duration: 1,769 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15.7K/day

Number of Offers Received: 15

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: OPM USAJOBS WEBSITE SUPPORT.

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 $27.7 million to MONSTER GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC for work described as: OPM USAJOBS WEBSITE SUPPORT. Key points: 1. Contract awarded for administrative management and general management consulting services. 2. The contract duration was 1769 days. 3. The contract was a Firm Fixed Price type. 4. The award was made to a single contractor. 5. The contract was not set aside for small businesses. 6. The contract was awarded in the District of Columbia.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount of $27.7 million over approximately 4.8 years for website support services suggests a moderate annual expenditure. Without specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns, it is difficult to definitively benchmark the value for money. However, the fixed-price nature of the contract implies that the contractor bore the risk of cost overruns, which can be a positive indicator for the government if the scope was well-defined.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was awarded to Monster Government Solutions, LLC, with no indication of a competitive bidding process. A sole-source award typically means that only one vendor was considered capable of meeting the government's needs, or that the circumstances did not permit or require full and open competition. This limits the government's ability to leverage market competition to drive down prices and ensure the best possible value.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can potentially lead to higher costs for taxpayers as the government does not benefit from competitive pricing pressures. It also raises questions about whether alternative solutions or vendors were adequately explored.

Public Impact

Federal employees and job seekers benefit from the continued operation and support of the USAJOBS website. The contract ensures the availability and functionality of a critical platform for federal employment. The services delivered are essential for managing the federal workforce recruitment process. The geographic impact is nationwide, as USAJOBS serves all federal agencies and applicants across the United States.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may have resulted in a higher price than a competitive award.
Sole-source awards can reduce transparency in the procurement process.
The long duration of the contract (nearly 5 years) could lead to vendor lock-in if not managed carefully.

Positive Signals

The contract provided essential support for a critical government function (USAJOBS).
Firm Fixed Price contract type shifts cost risk to the contractor.
The award was made to a known entity, potentially ensuring continuity of service.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the administrative management and general management consulting services sector, specifically related to IT support and platform management for a government-facing website. The market for such services is broad, encompassing companies that specialize in government IT solutions, web development, and operational support. The value of this contract is relatively modest within the broader federal IT spending landscape, but significant for the specific function it supports.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it appear to have specific subcontracting requirements mentioned. This means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific contract were likely limited, unless they were part of a larger team or subcontracted by the prime vendor independently. The absence of small business considerations in the award details suggests a focus on the prime contractor's capabilities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) contracting officers and program managers. The effectiveness of oversight depends on the clarity of the contract's performance work statement, regular performance reviews, and adherence to federal procurement regulations. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, but detailed performance and cost data may not always be publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Federal IT Modernization Programs
Government Website Development and Maintenance
Human Resources Information Systems Support
USAJOBS Platform Operations

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competition.
Potential for cost overruns if scope was not well-defined.
Lack of public detail on performance metrics and outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Office of Personnel Management awarded $27.7 million to MONSTER GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC. OPM USAJOBS WEBSITE SUPPORT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MONSTER GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC.

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 $27.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-09-23. End: 2010-07-28.

What was the specific scope of work for the USAJOBS website support?

The contract data indicates the scope was 'OPM USAJOBS WEBSITE SUPPORT.' This generally encompasses a range of services necessary for the ongoing operation, maintenance, and potential enhancement of the USAJOBS platform. These services could include technical support, system administration, database management, security patching, performance monitoring, bug fixing, and potentially minor updates or feature additions. The exact deliverables and service level agreements would have been detailed in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS), which is not provided in the summary data. The duration of nearly five years suggests a comprehensive, long-term support requirement.

How does the $27.7 million award compare to similar federal website support contracts?

Benchmarking this $27.7 million award requires comparison with contracts for similar-sized federal websites or critical IT platforms. For a platform as central as USAJOBS, which serves as the primary portal for federal job applications, this amount over nearly five years (approximately $5.77 million annually) appears to be within a reasonable range for comprehensive support, especially considering potential security, uptime, and scalability requirements. However, without knowing the specific technical complexity, user load, and scope of services (e.g., development vs. pure maintenance), a precise comparison is difficult. Contracts for less critical or smaller agency websites would naturally be lower, while support for highly complex, mission-critical systems could be significantly higher.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for this type of service?

The primary risk of a sole-source award for USAJOBS website support is the potential for inflated costs due to the lack of competitive pressure. Without competing bids, the government may pay more than it would in a fully competitive environment. Another risk is reduced innovation, as the incumbent contractor may have less incentive to proactively propose cost-saving efficiencies or cutting-edge solutions. Furthermore, sole-source awards can sometimes indicate a lack of market research or an over-reliance on a single vendor, potentially leading to vendor lock-in and difficulties in transitioning to alternative solutions in the future if needed. Ensuring robust contract management and performance monitoring becomes even more critical in sole-source situations.

What was the contractor's track record prior to this award?

The contractor, Monster Government Solutions, LLC, was awarded this contract in September 2005. Information regarding their specific track record immediately prior to this award is not detailed in the provided data. However, Monster Worldwide (the parent company) was a well-established player in the online job board and recruitment solutions space. Their experience in managing large-scale job platforms likely informed OPM's decision to award them this contract, potentially as a sole-source or limited-competition vehicle, based on their existing capabilities and familiarity with such systems. A deeper dive into their contract history and past performance evaluations would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment.

How has OPM's spending on USAJOBS website support evolved over time?

The provided data covers a single contract awarded in 2005 and ending in 2010, totaling $27.7 million. To understand the evolution of OPM's spending on USAJOBS website support, one would need to examine spending patterns before 2005 and after 2010. This would involve analyzing subsequent contracts awarded for the USAJOBS platform, including their values, durations, and contractors. Trends could reveal whether spending has increased or decreased, whether the platform has undergone significant upgrades requiring more investment, or if OPM has shifted towards different support models (e.g., in-house vs. outsourced, different contract types). Without this historical context, it's impossible to determine the spending evolution.

What performance metrics were likely used to evaluate the success of this contract?

For a contract supporting a critical platform like USAJOBS, performance metrics would likely focus on availability, reliability, performance, and security. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) could include: website uptime percentage (e.g., 99.9% availability), response times for key user actions (e.g., search results loading within X seconds), system error rates, security vulnerability remediation times, and user satisfaction scores. The contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) would detail these metrics, along with acceptable performance levels and any associated remedies or incentives for meeting or exceeding them. Successful completion would hinge on consistently meeting these defined standards.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Monster Worldwide Inc. (UEI: 050471754)

Address: 8280 GREENSBORO DR STE 900, MC LEAN, VA, 90

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $27,745,936

Exercised Options: $27,745,936

Current Obligation: $27,745,936

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS02F0010P

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline