State Department awards $23.7M for overseas security guard services to PAE Professional Services, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,683,473 ($23.7M)

Contractor: PAE Professional Services, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2004-08-06

End Date: 2011-01-10

Contract Duration: 2,348 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.1K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SECURITY GUARD SERVICES FOR OVERSEAS POST

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $23.7 million to PAE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LLC for work described as: SECURITY GUARD SERVICES FOR OVERSEAS POST Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in safeguarding diplomatic personnel and facilities abroad. 2. The firm fixed-price contract type suggests a clear understanding of scope and cost expectations. 3. A long duration of over 6 years indicates a stable, ongoing need for these critical services. 4. The specific NAICS code points to a specialized service within the security industry. 5. This award falls under the broader category of professional services supporting government operations.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific performance metrics or comparable overseas security contracts. The total award of $23.7 million over approximately six years averages to about $3.95 million annually. This figure needs to be assessed against the number of personnel, geographic locations covered, and the specific security requirements. Without more granular data on the scope of services and the number of personnel deployed, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. However, the duration and nature of the service suggest a substantial operational footprint.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The contract type is listed as 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER', which implies it was awarded under a pre-existing contract vehicle that was competed. However, the specific competition details for this particular delivery order are not provided in the data. It is unclear how many other entities were considered or if this was a task order under a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. The lack of specific bidder information prevents an assessment of the level of competition for this specific award.

Taxpayer Impact: The level of competition directly impacts taxpayer value. If this delivery order was competitively bid among multiple qualified vendors, it likely resulted in a more favorable price. If competition was limited or absent, there is a higher risk of overpayment.

Public Impact

Benefits diplomatic missions and personnel by providing essential security. Ensures the safety and operational continuity of U.S. overseas posts. Supports the U.S. Department of State's foreign policy and diplomatic engagement efforts. May involve the employment of security personnel, potentially including local hires at overseas locations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed competition information for this specific delivery order.
Absence of performance metrics to fully assess value for money.
Potential for cost overruns if scope was not precisely defined in the base contract.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a competitive delivery order, suggesting some level of prior competition.
Firm fixed-price contract type helps control costs.
Long contract duration indicates a stable and predictable need, allowing for efficient resource planning.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional and commercial services sector, specifically focusing on security services. The market for overseas security services is substantial, driven by government and private sector needs for protection in various global environments. PAE Professional Services, LLC is a known entity in this space, often competing for large government contracts. Benchmarking against similar contracts would require identifying other awards for security guard services at U.S. embassies and consulates, considering factors like geographic risk, personnel numbers, and specific security technology deployed.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business set-aside was not applicable ('ss': false, 'sb': false). This suggests the contract was not specifically targeted for small businesses. Therefore, the primary contractor, PAE Professional Services, LLC, is likely a large business. There is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans or opportunities for small businesses within this specific award, which limits the assessment of its impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the U.S. Department of State's contracting officers and program managers responsible for overseas security. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of cost control. Transparency would be enhanced by public reporting of performance reviews and any modifications to the contract. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Overseas Security Operations
Diplomatic Security Services
Guard Services Contracts
Department of State Contracts
Professional Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Contract duration is long, requiring sustained oversight.
Competition details for this specific delivery order are not fully transparent.
Performance metrics are not explicitly provided in the data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $23.7 million to PAE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LLC. SECURITY GUARD SERVICES FOR OVERSEAS POST

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PAE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $23.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-08-06. End: 2011-01-10.

What was the specific nature of the competition that led to this delivery order?

The provided data indicates the contract type as 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER'. This suggests that the delivery order itself was competed, likely under a larger, pre-existing contract vehicle (such as an IDIQ) that had previously undergone a full and open competition. However, the specific details regarding the number of bidders for this particular delivery order, the evaluation criteria used, and the source selection decision are not available in the provided data. Without this information, it's difficult to ascertain the precise level of competition and its potential impact on pricing and value for the taxpayer.

How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar security contracts for overseas posts?

The total award of $23,683,472.51 over a period of approximately 2,348 days (roughly 6.4 years) equates to an average annual cost of approximately $3.7 million. Comparing this figure requires detailed knowledge of the scope of services, the number of personnel, the geographic locations, and the specific security threats at each post. Contracts for security at overseas diplomatic facilities can vary significantly based on these factors. For instance, high-threat environments or posts requiring a large number of guards would naturally incur higher costs. Without specific benchmarks for comparable posts or services, it is difficult to definitively state whether this contract represents excellent, fair, or questionable value.

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

The provided data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for security guard services, KPIs might include metrics such as response times to incidents, adherence to post orders, guard attendance rates, successful prevention of unauthorized access, and incident reporting accuracy. The effectiveness of the contractor is usually assessed through regular performance evaluations conducted by the government contracting officer's representative (COR). The absence of explicit KPIs in the data limits a granular assessment of contractor performance and value realization.

What is the track record of PAE Professional Services, LLC in providing similar security services to the Department of State or other federal agencies?

PAE Professional Services, LLC (now part of PAE Inc., acquired by Amentum) has a significant history of providing a wide range of services to the U.S. government, including security, logistics, and technical support, particularly in complex overseas environments. They have held numerous contracts with agencies like the Department of Defense, Department of State, and USAID. Their track record generally includes experience in base operations support, security services, and facility management at various government installations and diplomatic posts worldwide. While specific performance details for this particular contract are not detailed here, PAE's extensive experience suggests a capacity to handle such requirements, though like any large contractor, they may have faced performance challenges on specific contracts over their history.

What is the historical spending trend for overseas security guard services by the Department of State?

Analyzing historical spending trends for overseas security guard services by the Department of State requires access to comprehensive federal procurement data over multiple fiscal years. This specific contract, awarded in 2004 and ending in 2011, represents a snapshot within a broader spending pattern. The Department of State consistently allocates significant resources to security for its personnel and facilities abroad, especially in high-risk locations. Spending in this category is influenced by geopolitical events, the number of diplomatic missions, and evolving security threats. Without a broader dataset, it's impossible to determine if the $23.7 million awarded here aligns with or deviates from historical spending averages or trends for similar services.

Are there any known risks associated with the contractor or the nature of these overseas security services?

Risks associated with overseas security contracts can be multifaceted. For the contractor, PAE Professional Services, LLC, risks include operational challenges in potentially unstable or remote environments, personnel safety, managing a large workforce, and ensuring compliance with local laws and regulations. For the government, risks include potential cost overruns if the scope is not well-defined, contractor performance failures leading to security breaches, and reputational damage. The nature of security services also carries inherent risks related to the use of force, accountability for actions of guards, and potential for incidents. The firm fixed-price contract type helps mitigate cost overrun risks but places more performance risk on the contractor.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Investigation and Security Services › Investigation and Personal Background Check Services

Product/Service Code: ALARM, SIGNAL, SECURITY DETECTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Altegrity, Inc. (UEI: 947236667)

Address: 7799 LEESBURG PIKE STE 400 S, FALLS CHURCH, VA, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,683,473

Exercised Options: $23,683,473

Current Obligation: $23,683,473

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS07F0385J

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline