State Department awards $30.25M for passport support, with Stanley Associates Inc. managing IT facilities

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $30,250,000 ($30.3M)

Contractor: Stanley Associates, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2010-05-18

End Date: 2011-03-19

Contract Duration: 305 days

Daily Burn Rate: $99.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: INCREMENTAL FUNDING FOR TASK 3 - PASSPORT SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20520

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $30.3 million to STANLEY ASSOCIATES, INC. for work described as: INCREMENTAL FUNDING FOR TASK 3 - PASSPORT SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in essential IT infrastructure for passport services. 2. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The duration of the contract is relatively short, indicating potential for reassessment or re-competition. 4. The fixed-price contract type shifts performance risk to the contractor. 5. The specific NAICS code points to a focus on computer facilities management. 6. The contract is geographically concentrated in Washington D.C.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more detailed service descriptions and performance metrics. The award amount of $30.25 million for a 305-day period suggests a substantial per-diem cost. Comparing it to similar IT facilities management contracts would require access to a broader dataset of government IT procurements. The fixed-price nature of the contract implies that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which can be a positive indicator of value if managed effectively.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The presence of two bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific requirement. While two bidders are better than one, a higher number of bidders typically leads to more robust price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down prices through market forces.

Public Impact

Citizens applying for or renewing passports benefit from the reliable operation of passport support systems. The contract ensures the continuity of critical IT infrastructure supporting passport processing. The primary geographic impact is within the District of Columbia, where the services are likely performed. The contract supports IT professionals and potentially other roles involved in facilities management.

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 scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical IT infrastructure could pose a risk if performance falters.

Positive Signals

Fixed-price contract structure incentivizes contractor efficiency and cost control.
Full and open competition suggests a fair process and potential for competitive pricing.
The contractor, Stanley Associates, Inc., has a track record of performing government contracts.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on computer facilities management. The IT services market for government contracts is substantial, with agencies increasingly relying on external vendors for specialized support. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other contracts for IT infrastructure management, data center operations, and related support services across various federal agencies. The market size for IT services is vast, with agencies like the Department of State having significant ongoing needs.

Small Business Impact

The contract details indicate that small business participation was not a specific set-aside requirement (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the competition was open to all eligible businesses, including large corporations. There is no explicit mention of subcontracting goals for small businesses within the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless the prime contractor voluntarily engages small businesses for subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the Department of State. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract type, which holds the contractor responsible for delivering services within the agreed-upon price. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, where award details are publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any issues of fraud, waste, or abuse arise.

Related Government Programs

Passport Services IT Modernization
Department of State IT Infrastructure Support
Federal Civilian Agency IT Services
Computer Facilities Management Contracts

Risk Flags

Short contract duration may indicate a need for future re-evaluation or potential transition challenges.
Limited number of bidders (2) could suggest potential for improved price competition in future procurements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $30.3 million to STANLEY ASSOCIATES, INC.. INCREMENTAL FUNDING FOR TASK 3 - PASSPORT SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is STANLEY ASSOCIATES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $30.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-05-18. End: 2011-03-19.

What is the historical spending pattern for passport support services by the Department of State?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for passport support services requires a deep dive into the Department of State's budget and contract databases over several fiscal years. This specific contract, valued at $30.25 million for a period of approximately 10 months, represents a significant but potentially isolated expenditure for Task 3 - Passport Support Services. To understand the broader pattern, one would need to aggregate spending on similar IT facilities management and support services related to passport operations. This would involve identifying all contracts with relevant NAICS codes (e.g., 541513) awarded by the Bureau of Consular Affairs or other relevant State Department entities over multiple years. Trends in spending could reveal increasing reliance on outsourced IT support, shifts in technology adoption, or changes in contract values due to inflation or evolving service requirements. Without access to this aggregated historical data, it is difficult to place this single award within a larger fiscal context.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar IT facilities management contracts awarded by the government?

Directly comparing the pricing of this $30.25 million contract for passport support services to similar IT facilities management contracts is challenging without granular data on the specific services rendered, labor categories, and overhead rates. The provided data indicates a firm-fixed-price award for Computer Facilities Management Services (NAICS 541513) to Stanley Associates, Inc. To conduct a robust comparison, one would need to identify contracts with similar scope, duration (305 days), and agency (Department of State or other civilian agencies) and analyze their total values and per-diem costs. Benchmarking tools and databases that track government contract pricing could provide insights into average costs for IT infrastructure management. Factors such as geographic location (District of Columbia), security requirements, and the level of technical expertise required would significantly influence pricing. A higher number of bidders in a competitive process generally leads to more favorable pricing for the government.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided data does not explicitly detail the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. However, for a contract focused on Computer Facilities Management Services (NAICS 541513) supporting passport operations, typical KPIs would likely revolve around system uptime and availability, response times for incident resolution, performance of network infrastructure, data center operational efficiency, and adherence to security protocols. SLAs would define the acceptable thresholds for these KPIs, specifying consequences for non-performance, such as service credits or penalties. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract suggests that the contractor is incentivized to meet these performance standards to avoid financial repercussions. A thorough review of the contract's statement of work (SOW) and associated performance work statement (PWS) would be necessary to ascertain the specific KPIs and SLAs.

What is Stanley Associates, Inc.'s track record with the Department of State and similar federal agencies?

Stanley Associates, Inc. has a history of performing contracts with federal agencies, including the Department of State. To assess their track record specifically with the Department of State, one would need to examine past awards and performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS) for this company. Their experience in IT facilities management and support services is indicated by this award. A comprehensive review would involve looking at the types of services they have provided, the contract values, durations, and any reported performance issues or commendations. Understanding their past performance on similar contracts, particularly those involving critical IT infrastructure and sensitive government operations, provides insight into their capability to successfully execute this current award.

What are the potential risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Potential risks associated with this contract include performance failures by the contractor (Stanley Associates, Inc.), leading to disruptions in passport services; cost overruns if the fixed-price structure is not managed effectively by the contractor; and security vulnerabilities within the IT facilities. Mitigation strategies are embedded within the contract structure and oversight processes. The firm-fixed-price nature shifts financial risk to the contractor. The Department of State's program office and contracting officer are responsible for monitoring performance against the Statement of Work and any associated Service Level Agreements (SLAs). Regular reporting, site visits, and performance reviews are standard mitigation techniques. Furthermore, robust cybersecurity measures and compliance with federal IT security mandates are crucial for mitigating security risks.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Facilities Management Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Groupe CGI Inc (UEI: 246801237)

Address: 3101 WILSON BLVD STE 700, ARLINGTON, VA, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Federally Funded Research and Development Corp, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $30,250,000

Exercised Options: $30,250,000

Current Obligation: $30,250,000

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: SAQMMA08D0051

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline