DHS awards $17.7M for program support, with Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs winning a competitive contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,705,391 ($17.7M)

Contractor: Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs, L.L.C.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2023-08-01

End Date: 2026-07-31

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $16.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROGRAM AND PROJECT SUPPORT SERVICES (PPSS)

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20229

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $17.7 million to CHEROKEE NATION STRATEGIC PROGRAMS, L.L.C. for work described as: PROGRAM AND PROJECT SUPPORT SERVICES (PPSS) Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process. 2. The contract value of $17.7 million is spread over three years, suggesting a moderate annual investment. 3. Fixed-price contract type suggests cost certainty for the government. 4. The award is a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541330 points to engineering services, a critical support function. 6. The contractor, Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs, L.L.C., has secured this award, highlighting their role in federal contracting.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $17.7 million over three years averages approximately $5.9 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar program and project support services contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the firm fixed-price structure generally aims for value by shifting cost risk to the contractor. The award amount appears reasonable for specialized support services within a large federal agency like DHS.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources,' which is a standard competitive procedure. While the exact number of bidders is not provided, this designation implies that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more innovative solutions compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive award process as it is designed to secure the best value for the government by fostering price reductions and service improvements among competing firms.

Public Impact

Federal agencies, specifically U.S. Customs and Border Protection within the Department of Homeland Security, will benefit from enhanced program and project support services. The services delivered are crucial for the effective management and execution of various programs and projects within CBP. The contract is geographically focused on the District of Columbia, indicating a concentration of support activities in the nation's capital. The contract supports specialized roles, potentially impacting the federal workforce through the need for skilled program and project management professionals.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics or service level agreements in the provided data makes it difficult to assess the quality of services delivered.
The 'delivery order' nature suggests this is one of potentially many orders under a larger IDIQ, making it hard to evaluate the overall value and scope without seeing the parent contract.
The exclusion of sources in the 'full and open' competition description warrants further investigation to understand the rationale and ensure no qualified small businesses were inadvertently excluded.

Positive Signals

The contract is awarded under full and open competition, indicating a fair and transparent bidding process.
The firm fixed-price contract type provides cost predictability for the government.
The contractor, Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs, L.L.C., is an established entity in federal contracting, suggesting a degree of reliability.
The contract duration of three years allows for sustained support and program continuity.

Sector Analysis

The federal sector for engineering services (NAICS 541330) is substantial, with agencies like DHS consistently requiring specialized technical and programmatic support. This contract fits within the broader category of professional services supporting government operations. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific nature of the 'program and project support services,' but engineering services contracts can range from tens of thousands to hundreds of millions of dollars.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a small business set-aside. However, the prime contractor may still engage small businesses as subcontractors, depending on their own subcontracting plans and the nature of the services required.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's contracting and program management offices within DHS. The firm fixed-price nature provides some cost control. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Specific accountability measures would be detailed in the contract's statement of work and performance standards, with potential oversight from DHS's Office of Inspector General if performance issues arise.

Related Government Programs

Department of Homeland Security - Program Management Support
U.S. Customs and Border Protection - Professional Services
Federal IT and Engineering Services Contracts
Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined.
Reliance on contractor's internal quality control for service delivery.
Limited visibility into specific performance metrics without further data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $17.7 million to CHEROKEE NATION STRATEGIC PROGRAMS, L.L.C.. PROGRAM AND PROJECT SUPPORT SERVICES (PPSS)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CHEROKEE NATION STRATEGIC PROGRAMS, L.L.C..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Customs and Border Protection).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-08-01. End: 2026-07-31.

What is the specific nature of the 'program and project support services' being provided under this contract?

The provided data identifies the contract under NAICS code 541330 (Engineering Services) and lists the service as 'PROGRAM AND PROJECT SUPPORT SERVICES (PPSS)'. While the specific tasks are not detailed, this typically involves providing expertise in project planning, execution, monitoring, and control. It can encompass areas like requirements analysis, risk management, scheduling, resource allocation, and stakeholder communication to ensure the successful delivery of government programs and projects. The exact scope would be defined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW).

How does the $17.7 million contract value compare to similar program support contracts awarded by DHS or CBP?

Without granular data on the specific services and duration of comparable contracts, a precise comparison is difficult. However, $17.7 million over three years ($5.9 million annually) represents a moderate-sized contract for specialized support services. Larger agencies like DHS often award multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts for program management and engineering support. This award appears to be within a typical range for such services, especially considering it's a delivery order potentially under a larger IDIQ vehicle.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the contractor's performance?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or metrics for this contract. Typically, for program and project support services, KPIs might include on-time delivery of milestones, adherence to budget, quality of reports and analyses, effectiveness of risk mitigation strategies, and client satisfaction. These metrics would be detailed in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and evaluated by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) throughout the contract period.

What is the track record of Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs, L.L.C. in delivering similar services to the federal government?

Cherokee Nation Strategic Programs, L.L.C. (CNSP) has a history of contracting with the federal government, often in areas related to program management, logistics, and technical support. While specific performance details for this exact contract are not yet available due to its recent award, CNSP generally operates within the federal contracting space. A deeper dive into their contract history, past performance evaluations (if publicly available), and any awards or penalties would provide a more comprehensive view of their track record.

What is the potential impact of this contract on future spending for similar services within DHS?

This contract, being a delivery order, suggests it's part of a broader strategy or existing IDIQ contract for program and project support services. Its successful execution could lead to future task orders under the same IDIQ or influence the structure and scope of subsequent solicitations for similar services within DHS and CBP. If the services provided prove highly valuable and cost-effective, it could reinforce the agency's reliance on such support contracts.

Are there any identified risks associated with this contract, such as cost overruns or performance deficiencies?

The primary risks for a firm fixed-price contract like this are contractor performance deficiencies and potential scope creep if not managed tightly. Since it's a recent award, specific performance risks are not yet evident. However, general risks in program support include challenges in accurately defining requirements, managing complex interdependencies, and ensuring effective communication across stakeholders. The government's oversight and the contractor's project management capabilities are key to mitigating these risks.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 70B01C23R00000029

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2 W. 2ND ST., STE 1500-28, TULSA, OK, 74103

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $24,436,187

Exercised Options: $17,705,391

Current Obligation: $17,705,391

Actual Outlays: $11,502,576

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $2,370,922

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAD20D8141

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline