DHS awarded $39.8M for security guards in Texas, with AHTNA Support & Training Services LLC as the contractor

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $39,816,072 ($39.8M)

Contractor: Ahtna Support & Training Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2019-11-18

End Date: 2020-11-30

Contract Duration: 378 days

Daily Burn Rate: $105.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PIDC GUARD SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: LOS FRESNOS, CAMERON County, TEXAS, 78566

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $39.8 million to AHTNA SUPPORT & TRAINING SERVICES LLC for work described as: PIDC GUARD SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract value represents a significant investment in security services for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). 2. Competition was conducted under a 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' clause, suggesting a specific reason for excluding some sources initially. 3. The contract was awarded as a Delivery Order, indicating it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. 4. The fixed-price contract type suggests that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns. 5. The duration of the contract was 378 days, indicating a short-term need for these services. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 561612 points to specialized security guard services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific delivery order is challenging without knowing the terms of the parent IDIQ contract. However, the total award of nearly $40 million for a one-year period for security guard services in Texas suggests a substantial expenditure. Further analysis would require comparing the per-hour or per-guard rates against similar contracts awarded by ICE or DHS for comparable services and geographic locations. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides some cost certainty for the government, but the overall value for money depends on the quality and effectiveness of the services rendered.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This specific procurement method implies that while the competition was intended to be broad, certain sources were excluded for reasons not detailed in the provided data. This could be due to pre-qualification requirements, specific capabilities needed, or other factors. The number of bidders is not specified, making it difficult to fully assess the level of competition and its impact on price discovery. A limited competition, even if initially 'full and open' with exclusions, may result in less aggressive pricing compared to a truly unrestricted full and open competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The limited competition may have resulted in higher prices for taxpayers than could have been achieved in a broader, unrestricted competition. It is crucial to understand the rationale behind the source exclusions to determine if they were justified and did not unduly restrict competition.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries of this contract are U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations, which rely on security personnel for facility and operational security. The services delivered include security guards and patrol services, essential for maintaining order and safety at ICE facilities. The geographic impact is concentrated in Texas (ST: TX, SN: TEXAS), where ICE has significant operational presence. The contract supports jobs within the security services industry, specifically for guards and related support staff employed by AHTNA SUPPORT & TRAINING SERVICES LLC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The 'exclusion of sources' clause in the competition method warrants further investigation to ensure it was justified and did not limit fair market access.
Without knowing the specific performance metrics and outcomes, it's difficult to assess the true effectiveness and value of the security services provided.
The reliance on a single delivery order under a potentially larger IDIQ contract raises questions about the long-term strategy for security services procurement.

Positive Signals

The contract was awarded using a firm fixed-price (FFP) type, which shifts cost overrun risk to the contractor, providing budget predictability for the government.
The award to AHTNA SUPPORT & TRAINING SERVICES LLC, a specific contractor, suggests they met the requirements for this specialized service.
The contract duration of over a year indicates a sustained need for these security services, implying a level of operational importance.

Sector Analysis

The security guard services sector is a significant part of the broader private security industry. This contract falls under NAICS code 561612, which covers establishments primarily engaged in providing security guards and patrol services. The market for government security contracts is substantial, with agencies like DHS and its components (ICE) being major clients. Spending in this sector is often driven by national security concerns, facility protection, and law enforcement support. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale security guard contracts awarded by federal agencies, particularly those for similar operational environments and geographic regions.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (SB: false) and small business set-asides (SS: false) were not applicable to this specific contract award. This suggests that the contract was not specifically targeted towards small businesses, nor did it appear to be a subcontracting opportunity flowing down from a small business prime. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this particular award is likely minimal, unless the prime contractor has its own robust small business subcontracting plan that is not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the purview of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) contracting officers and program managers within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). As a delivery order under a larger contract, oversight would likely involve monitoring contractor performance against the statement of work, ensuring compliance with contract terms, and managing payments. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS-NG (where this data originates). Specific Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction would depend on the nature of any potential issues, with the DHS Office of Inspector General being the relevant body for investigating fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Department of Homeland Security - Facilities Management
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement - Operational Support
Federal Protective Service Contracts
General Services Administration - Security Services Schedules
Department of Justice - Detention Facility Security

Risk Flags

Limited competition due to 'exclusion of sources'.
Lack of detailed performance metrics for value assessment.
Potential for higher costs due to limited competition.
Need for further investigation into the justification for source exclusion.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $39.8 million to AHTNA SUPPORT & TRAINING SERVICES LLC. PIDC GUARD SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AHTNA SUPPORT & TRAINING SERVICES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $39.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-11-18. End: 2020-11-30.

What is the specific justification for the 'exclusion of sources' in the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' procurement method used for this contract?

The provided data does not specify the exact reasons for excluding certain sources. This procurement method typically implies that while the competition was intended to be open, specific vendors or types of vendors were deemed ineligible or unsuitable based on pre-defined criteria. Common reasons for such exclusions can include unique technical requirements, specialized capabilities, past performance issues with certain contractors, or specific socio-economic program requirements that were met by a limited pool. Without further documentation from the solicitation or award, it is impossible to definitively state the justification. However, such clauses can sometimes limit competition and potentially impact pricing, making transparency regarding the rationale crucial for assessing value for taxpayers.

How does the awarded price of approximately $39.8 million for one year of security guard services compare to market rates or similar federal contracts?

Directly comparing the total contract value of $39.8 million for a one-year period is difficult without granular data on the number of guards, hours worked, specific duties, and geographic locations within Texas. However, this figure represents a substantial investment. To benchmark effectively, one would need to analyze the per-hour billing rates or per-guard-per-day costs against other ICE or DHS contracts for similar security services in comparable regions. If this rate significantly exceeds benchmarks for standard security guard services, it could indicate potential overpricing or the inclusion of specialized, higher-cost services. Conversely, if it aligns with or is below market rates for highly specialized or high-risk environments, it might represent good value.

What is the track record of AHTNA SUPPORT & TRAINING SERVICES LLC in providing security guard services to federal agencies, particularly DHS/ICE?

The provided data identifies AHTNA SUPPORT & TRAINING SERVICES LLC as the contractor for this $39.8 million award. To assess their track record, one would need to examine their past performance history with federal agencies, specifically DHS and ICE. This includes reviewing previous contracts for similar services, their performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), any documented instances of contract disputes, awards, or penalties. A strong track record of successful performance, timely delivery, and adherence to contract requirements would indicate reliability. Conversely, a history of issues could raise concerns about the contractor's ability to meet the current contract's demands effectively and efficiently.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the effectiveness of the security guard services provided under this contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or performance standards established for this contract. Effective oversight and value assessment rely heavily on these metrics. Typical KPIs for security guard services might include response times to incidents, number of security breaches or incidents, adherence to post orders, guard presence and punctuality, effectiveness of access control, and overall client satisfaction. Without knowing these specific metrics and the contractor's performance against them, it is challenging to definitively assess the effectiveness of the services delivered and whether the government received adequate value for the $39.8 million expenditure.

What is the historical spending pattern for security guard services by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Texas?

The data shows a single award of $39.8 million for security guard services to AHTNA SUPPORT & TRAINING SERVICES LLC in Texas from November 2019 to November 2020. To understand historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze ICE's procurement data over several preceding years and potentially subsequent years, focusing on contracts with NAICS code 561612 within the state of Texas. This analysis would reveal trends in spending levels, the number and types of contracts awarded, the primary contractors utilized, and the average contract values. Such a review would help determine if this $39.8 million award represents a typical expenditure, an increase, or a decrease compared to historical norms for ICE's security needs in Texas.

What is the potential risk associated with the 'delivery order' contract type for this significant security service requirement?

The contract was issued as a 'Delivery Order,' which implies it is a task order under a larger Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract. While IDIQs offer flexibility, the risk associated with a delivery order of this magnitude ($39.8 million) lies in ensuring that the underlying IDIQ contract was competitively awarded and that the terms and pricing established within it are fair and reasonable. If the IDIQ itself was not well-competed or if this delivery order represents a disproportionately large portion of the IDIQ's ceiling, it could indicate potential risks. Furthermore, the specific terms and conditions of this delivery order, including performance expectations and payment schedules, need to be robustly managed to mitigate risks related to service quality and cost control.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Investigation and Security Services › Security Guards and Patrol Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: HSCEDM-14-R-00003

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Ahtna, Incorporated (UEI: 069586055)

Address: 110 W 38TH AVE STE 200D, ANCHORAGE, AK, 99503

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $39,816,072

Exercised Options: $39,816,072

Current Obligation: $39,816,072

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSCEDM15D00001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline