DHS FEMA awards $6,449 EEO accommodation support contract to Professionally Written, L.L.C

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,449 ($6.4K)

Contractor: Professionally Written, L.L.C.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2024-03-26

End Date: 2025-03-25

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $18/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER IS TO PROCURE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST(S) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BPA. THIS IS A LABOR HOUR (LH) CALL ORDER. PLEASE REFER TO THE PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT PWS) IN THE BPA R

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20472

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $6,449.2 to PROFESSIONALLY WRITTEN, L.L.C. for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER IS TO PROCURE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST(S) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BPA. THIS IS A LABOR HOUR (LH) CALL ORDER. PLEASE REFER TO THE PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT PWS) IN THE BPA R Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) reasonable accommodation requests. 2. Labor Hour (LH) contract type indicates payment based on hours worked. 3. Performance period spans one year, from March 2024 to March 2025. 4. Awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a focus on smaller value procurements. 5. Contract is a BPA Call, indicating it's a task order against a pre-existing Blanket Purchase Agreement. 6. The service category is Investigation and Personal Background Check Services (NAICS 561611).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $6,449.20 is relatively small, making direct comparison to larger contracts difficult. As a Labor Hour contract, the final cost is dependent on the hours expended. Without detailed performance metrics or a breakdown of labor rates, assessing value for money is challenging. However, the specialized nature of EEO accommodations suggests a need for expert services, which can justify costs if delivered effectively.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which allows for a broader range of competition for procurements under the simplified acquisition threshold. While the specific number of bidders is not provided, SAP generally encourages competition. The BPA Call structure implies that the underlying BPA was also competed, potentially leading to a competitive environment for this task order.

Taxpayer Impact: Competition under SAP is generally beneficial for taxpayers as it helps ensure fair pricing and prevents overspending on smaller procurements.

Public Impact

Federal employees within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requiring reasonable accommodations will benefit from this service. The service ensures compliance with EEO laws and promotes an inclusive work environment. The contract is geographically focused on Washington D.C. The contract supports specialized professional services, potentially impacting a small but critical segment of the DHS workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Labor Hour contracts can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the quality of service delivered.
The specialized nature of EEO accommodations requires careful vetting of contractor expertise.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a competitive process (SAP) for a task order against a BPA.
Focus on EEO accommodations supports a critical compliance function for the agency.
The contract duration is clearly defined, providing a predictable service period.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically related to investigation and personal background check services, with a focus on EEO compliance. The market for such specialized services includes firms offering HR consulting, legal support, and investigative services. While the dollar value is modest, it represents a niche but important area of government contracting that supports workforce management and legal compliance.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate if this contract was set aside for small businesses or if subcontracting opportunities exist. Given the small dollar value and the nature of the service, it's possible small businesses could be involved, but specific details are not available.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically be managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) contracting officer and program managers. As a BPA Call, the underlying BPA likely has its own oversight mechanisms. Transparency is facilitated by contract award databases, but detailed performance reviews are usually internal.

Related Government Programs

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) services
Federal Workforce Management
HR Consulting Services
Investigative Services

Risk Flags

Labor Hour contract type requires close monitoring to prevent cost overruns.
Limited information on specific performance metrics makes quality assessment difficult.
Specialized nature of EEO services necessitates careful contractor vetting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $6,449.2 to PROFESSIONALLY WRITTEN, L.L.C.. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CALL ORDER IS TO PROCURE EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY (EEO) REASONABLE ACCOMMODATION REQUEST(S) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BPA. THIS IS A LABOR HOUR (LH) CALL ORDER. PLEASE REFER TO THE PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT PWS) IN THE BPA R

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PROFESSIONALLY WRITTEN, L.L.C..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6,449.2.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-03-26. End: 2025-03-25.

What is the specific nature of the 'reasonable accommodation requests' being handled under this contract?

The contract's purpose is to procure Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) reasonable accommodation requests. This typically involves providing services to facilitate accommodations for federal employees with disabilities, as mandated by laws like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Services could include assessing accommodation needs, recommending solutions, procuring adaptive equipment, or providing expert consultation to ensure compliance with EEO regulations. The specific types of accommodations would depend on individual employee needs and agency policies, ranging from physical workspace modifications to assistive technology or modified work schedules.

How does the Labor Hour (LH) contract type affect cost predictability for this $6,449 award?

A Labor Hour (LH) contract type means the government pays the contractor based on the actual hours worked by the contractor's personnel at predetermined hourly rates. For a small award like $6,449, this introduces some cost uncertainty. While the total value is capped, the final expenditure within that cap depends entirely on the effort required. If the EEO accommodation requests are complex or require more time than initially estimated, the full $6,449 could be utilized. Conversely, if the tasks are simpler, the cost could be lower. Effective management and monitoring of labor hours are crucial to ensure the funds are used efficiently and the service is delivered within budget.

What does 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' signify for this BPA Call?

'COMPETED UNDER SAP' means the contract was awarded using Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). SAP is designed for procurements below the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000). This indicates that the procurement process was streamlined compared to larger contracts, but still required competition. For this BPA Call, it suggests that the task order itself was competed, likely among vendors holding the underlying Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA), or that the BPA itself was established through a competitive SAP process. This approach aims to balance efficiency with ensuring fair and reasonable pricing for smaller government purchases.

Can we benchmark the value of this contract against similar EEO accommodation services?

Benchmarking the value of this $6,449 contract is challenging due to its small size and specialized nature. EEO accommodation services can vary widely in scope and cost depending on the complexity of the accommodation, the duration of support required, and the specific expertise of the provider. Larger contracts for comprehensive HR consulting or disability management services would involve significantly higher dollar amounts and broader service offerings. This contract appears to be for targeted support, possibly for a limited number of cases or a specific period. Without more detailed information on the services rendered and the labor rates, a precise value comparison is difficult.

What are the potential risks associated with a Labor Hour contract for EEO services?

The primary risk with a Labor Hour contract for EEO services is the potential for cost overruns if the scope of work is not well-defined or if contractor hours are not diligently monitored. Since the contractor is paid for time spent, there's an incentive to bill for more hours, potentially leading to costs exceeding initial expectations, even within the contract ceiling. Another risk is ensuring the quality and effectiveness of the services provided; simply logging hours doesn't guarantee successful accommodation outcomes. The agency needs robust oversight to ensure that the hours billed translate into tangible, compliant, and effective EEO solutions for employees.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Investigation and Security Services › Investigation and Personal Background Check Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5909 NW EXPRESS WAY STE 275, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 73132

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,449

Exercised Options: $6,449

Current Obligation: $6,449

Actual Outlays: $6,449

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70FA4021A00000031

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline