DHS awards $18.4M task order for polygraph services to Capital Center for Credibility Assessment Corp

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,360,382 ($18.4M)

Contractor: Capital Center for Credibility Assessment Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2025-03-13

End Date: 2026-05-31

Contract Duration: 444 days

Daily Burn Rate: $41.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TASK ORDER FOR POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION SERVICES TO UNDER BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT.

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22315

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $18.4 million to CAPITAL CENTER FOR CREDIBILITY ASSESSMENT CORPORATION for work described as: TASK ORDER FOR POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION SERVICES TO UNDER BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT. Key points: 1. Contract awarded under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for polygraph examination services. 2. The contract has a duration of 444 days, ending May 31, 2026. 3. Services are being procured by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) within DHS. 4. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, indicating predictable costs. 5. This task order represents a significant investment in personnel vetting and security. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541990, covering 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services'.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific task order is challenging without detailed service delivery metrics and comparable contract data for polygraph services. The total award amount of $18.4 million over approximately 1.5 years suggests a substantial operational need. However, the absence of specific performance metrics or unit cost breakdowns makes a definitive value-for-money assessment difficult. Further analysis would require understanding the volume of examinations performed and the average cost per examination.

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. This competitive process is generally expected to yield fair market prices. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a robust competitive environment was sought.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition process is favorable for taxpayers as it encourages competitive pricing and potentially higher quality services due to vendor rivalry.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) personnel and applicants requiring polygraph examinations. Services delivered include polygraph examinations essential for security clearances and background checks. The geographic impact is likely national, supporting CBP's nationwide operations. Workforce implications include the need for qualified polygraph examiners and support staff, potentially creating or sustaining jobs in this specialized field.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the services provided.
The total contract value is substantial, raising questions about the volume and necessity of the services procured.
Without specific unit cost data, it's hard to determine if the pricing is competitive for the services rendered.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The contract supports a critical national security function for CBP.

Sector Analysis

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector is vast, with specialized niches like polygraph examination services. While specific market size data for polygraph services is not readily available, it is a critical component of national security and personnel vetting across various government agencies. This contract fits within the broader landscape of government support services, where agencies rely on specialized contractors to fulfill unique operational requirements. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other government contracts for similar vetting or investigative services.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (sb) is false and that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss is false). This suggests that the competition was open to all responsible sources, and larger businesses likely participated or were awarded the contract. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses within this task order, which could be a missed opportunity for small business engagement in this specialized service area.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the contracting officer and program managers within U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG) would have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this award. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though specific performance monitoring details are often internal.

Related Government Programs

Department of Homeland Security Personnel Security Investigations
Federal Bureau of Investigation Polygraph Services
Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency Vetting Services
General Services Administration Professional Services Schedule (PSS)

Risk Flags

Potential for performance variability in specialized services.
Dependence on contractor's quality control and examiner expertise.
Need for robust government oversight to ensure compliance and effectiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $18.4 million to CAPITAL CENTER FOR CREDIBILITY ASSESSMENT CORPORATION. TASK ORDER FOR POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION SERVICES TO UNDER BLANKET PURCHASE AGREEMENT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CAPITAL CENTER FOR CREDIBILITY ASSESSMENT CORPORATION.

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 $18.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-03-13. End: 2026-05-31.

What is the historical spending pattern for polygraph examination services by CBP or DHS?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for polygraph services by CBP or DHS is crucial for understanding the scale and consistency of this requirement. Without access to specific historical contract data, it's difficult to provide exact figures. However, given the critical nature of border security and immigration enforcement, CBP likely has a sustained need for polygraph examinations for personnel vetting, applicant screening, and internal investigations. Spending in this area can fluctuate based on hiring initiatives, security threat levels, and policy changes. A review of past solicitations and awards for similar services would reveal trends in contract values, durations, and the number of contractors utilized. This context helps in assessing whether the current $18.4 million award is an anomaly or a continuation of established spending levels.

How does the per-unit cost of polygraph examinations under this contract compare to industry benchmarks?

Determining the per-unit cost of polygraph examinations under this contract requires additional data not present in the provided summary. The total award amount of $18.4 million is for a task order with a duration of 444 days. To calculate a per-unit cost, one would need to know the estimated number of polygraph examinations to be conducted over this period. Once the total number of examinations is known, it can be divided into the total contract value to derive an average cost per examination. This figure can then be compared against industry benchmarks, which can vary based on the complexity of the examination, the qualifications of the examiner, and the geographic location. Without the volume of services, a direct comparison to market rates or similar contracts is not feasible.

What is the track record of Capital Center for Credibility Assessment Corporation with federal contracts?

Capital Center for Credibility Assessment Corporation's track record with federal contracts is a key indicator of their reliability and performance capabilities. While the provided data confirms they were awarded this $18.4 million task order, a comprehensive assessment would involve reviewing their past performance on similar government contracts. This includes examining contract values, types of services rendered, performance ratings (if available), and any history of contract disputes or terminations. A positive track record suggests the contractor has a proven ability to meet government requirements, manage resources effectively, and deliver quality services. Conversely, a history of performance issues could indicate potential risks for this current task order. Further due diligence would involve searching federal procurement databases for their contract history.

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

The primary risks associated with this contract for polygraph examination services could include performance-related issues (e.g., examiner quality, timeliness of results), potential for contractor non-compliance with regulations, and budget overruns if the scope of work expands unexpectedly. Given that it's a Firm Fixed Price contract, budget overruns due to scope creep are less likely unless change orders are issued. Mitigation strategies typically involve robust contract oversight by the government, clear performance standards outlined in the task order, regular performance reviews, and adherence to established protocols for conducting polygraph examinations. The contractor's own quality control processes and adherence to ethical standards are also critical mitigation factors. The full and open competition award suggests a vetting of potential risks associated with the selected vendor.

How does the duration and value of this task order align with typical requirements for polygraph services?

The duration of this task order is 444 days (approximately 1.5 years), and the value is $18.4 million. To assess alignment with typical requirements, one would need to compare this to historical data on similar polygraph service contracts. If CBP or DHS frequently awards task orders in this value range and duration for polygraph services, then this award is consistent. If, however, this is significantly larger or longer than previous awards, it might indicate an increased demand for these services, a change in procurement strategy, or potentially a consolidation of services. Understanding the typical lifecycle and funding mechanisms for such specialized services within the agency is key to evaluating this alignment.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5680 KING CENTRE DR STE 600, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22315

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $18,360,382

Exercised Options: $18,360,382

Current Obligation: $18,360,382

Actual Outlays: $4,149,001

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70B06C23A00000069

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline