DHS Awards $4.9M for Camera Installation to Integral Blue LLC, No Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $4,905 ($4.9K)
Contractor: Integral Blue LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2024-09-30
End Date: 2025-07-31
Contract Duration: 304 days
Daily Burn Rate: $16/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: INSTALLATION OF CAMERAS
Place of Performance
Location: DETROIT, WAYNE County, MICHIGAN, 48226
State: Michigan Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $4,904.92 to INTEGRAL BLUE LLC for work described as: INSTALLATION OF CAMERAS Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $4.9 million for camera installation. 2. Sole-source award to Integral Blue LLC raises competition concerns. 3. Potential for inflated pricing due to lack of competitive bidding. 4. The contract falls under Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction, but the service is camera installation.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $4.9 million for camera installation is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price is fair and reasonable compared to market rates for similar camera installation services.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and was awarded as a sole-source purchase order. This lack of competition limits price discovery and may lead to a higher cost for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition suggests taxpayers may be paying a premium for these camera installation services.
Public Impact
Increased surveillance capabilities for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Potential impact on privacy concerns related to widespread camera deployment. Investment in infrastructure security and monitoring.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpricing
- Unclear sector alignment (construction vs. IT/surveillance)
Positive Signals
- Addresses a stated need for surveillance equipment
- Firm fixed price contract provides some cost certainty
Sector Analysis
The contract is categorized under Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction, which seems unusual for camera installation. Typically, such services fall under IT or security equipment procurement. Benchmarking against similar construction projects is not directly applicable.
Small Business Impact
The award was made to Integral Blue LLC, and there is no indication that small businesses were involved in the subcontracting or bidding process. Further analysis is needed to determine if small business participation was considered.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny from oversight bodies to ensure the justification for non-competition is sound and that taxpayer funds are being used efficiently.
Related Government Programs
- Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
- Department of Homeland Security Contracting
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks transparency.
- Potential for inflated pricing due to no competition.
- Unclear alignment of contract category (construction) with service (camera installation).
- Limited information on small business participation.
- Need for justification of non-competitive award.
Tags
highway-street-and-bridge-construction, department-of-homeland-security, mi, purchase-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $4,904.92 to INTEGRAL BLUE LLC. INSTALLATION OF CAMERAS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is INTEGRAL BLUE 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 $4,904.92.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-09-30. End: 2025-07-31.
What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive methods explored?
The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' and awarded as a sole-source purchase order. A thorough review would require access to the contract file to understand the specific justification, such as urgency, unique capabilities, or lack of available sources. Without this, it's impossible to confirm if alternative competitive methods were adequately explored.
How does the $4.9 million price compare to industry benchmarks for similar camera installation projects, especially considering the lack of competition?
Given this was a sole-source award, a direct comparison to industry benchmarks is challenging without knowing the specifics of the cameras and installation scope. However, the absence of competition inherently raises concerns about potential overpricing. A detailed cost analysis comparing unit prices for cameras, installation labor, and associated services against market rates would be necessary to assess value.
What is the expected effectiveness of these cameras in enhancing border security or other ICE operational goals, and how will their performance be measured?
The data does not provide details on the specific types of cameras, their intended deployment locations, or performance metrics. Effectiveness will depend on the technology chosen, integration with existing systems, and clear objectives set by ICE. Measuring success would likely involve tracking incident detection rates, response times, and overall situational awareness improvements.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Construction › Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction › Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction
Product/Service Code: INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT › INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1060 CENTRE RD, AUBURN HILLS, MI, 48326
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $4,905
Exercised Options: $4,905
Current Obligation: $4,905
Actual Outlays: $4,905
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-09-30
Current End Date: 2025-07-31
Potential End Date: 2025-07-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-07
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