DHS awards $2.7M contract for strategic communications and support services to LEMPUGH INC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,732,901 ($2.7M)

Contractor: Lempugh Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2025-09-30

End Date: 2026-03-29

Contract Duration: 180 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & SUPPORT SERVICES.

Place of Performance

Location: COLUMBIA, HOWARD County, MARYLAND, 21044

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $2.7 million to LEMPUGH INC for work described as: STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & SUPPORT SERVICES. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on strategic communications and support, a critical function for agency messaging and public outreach. 2. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process. 3. The contract duration is 180 days, indicating a short-term need for these services. 4. The fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 5. The agency is the Department of Homeland Security, a large federal entity with significant communication needs. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541810 points to advertising agencies as the service provider.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $2.7 million for 180 days of strategic communications support appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar contracts for specialized communication services would provide further context, but the fixed-price nature suggests a degree of cost control. The award to a single entity implies a focused approach to service delivery.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The number of bidders is not specified, but this method generally fosters competitive pricing and allows the government to select the best value offering. The open competition suggests a healthy market for these services.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the competitive pricing that full and open competition typically encourages, ensuring that the government is not overpaying for essential strategic communications support.

Public Impact

The Department of Homeland Security benefits from enhanced strategic communication capabilities. The public may receive clearer and more consistent messaging from DHS on critical issues. The contract supports the agency's mission to secure the nation. Workforce implications are likely limited to the contractor's personnel and potentially internal DHS liaisons.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical communications could pose a risk if performance falters.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Strategic communications are vital for agency effectiveness and public trust.

Sector Analysis

The strategic communications and support services sector is a vital component of government operations, encompassing advertising, public relations, and media outreach. This contract falls under the advertising agencies NAICS code (541810). The market for these services is competitive, with numerous firms capable of supporting federal agencies. Spending in this area is often tied to agency-specific initiatives, public awareness campaigns, and crisis communications.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary impact on the small business ecosystem would be through potential subcontracting opportunities, which are not detailed in this award notice. Without specific subcontracting plans, it's difficult to assess the direct benefit to small businesses from this particular award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Homeland Security's contracting officers and program managers. The firm fixed-price nature provides some cost control. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Public Relations Services
Advertising Services
Media Campaigns
Government Communications Support

Risk Flags

Contract Duration
Contract Value
Contractor Performance History (Unknown)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $2.7 million to LEMPUGH INC. STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & SUPPORT SERVICES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LEMPUGH INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Office of Procurement Operations).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-30. End: 2026-03-29.

What is the track record of LEMPUGH INC. in performing similar federal contracts?

Information regarding LEMPUGH INC.'s specific track record with federal contracts, particularly those involving strategic communications and support services for agencies like DHS, is not detailed in the provided data. A thorough review of past performance evaluations, contract history in systems like SAM.gov or FPDS, and any reported issues or commendations would be necessary to fully assess their capabilities and reliability. Without this historical data, it is difficult to gauge their experience level and past success in fulfilling similar government requirements.

How does the awarded amount compare to similar strategic communication contracts?

The awarded amount of approximately $2.7 million for 180 days of strategic communications and support services needs to be benchmarked against comparable federal contracts. Factors such as the specific deliverables, the level of expertise required, the geographic scope of services, and the agency's needs influence pricing. Without access to a database of similar contracts, it's challenging to definitively state if this represents excellent, fair, or questionable value. However, the full and open competition suggests an attempt to secure competitive pricing.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract?

Key risks for this contract include potential performance issues from the contractor, LEMPUGH INC., if their capabilities do not fully align with DHS's expectations. There's also a risk of scope creep, where the requirements may expand beyond the initial agreement, potentially leading to cost overruns or delays, although the firm fixed-price structure aims to mitigate this. Another consideration is the reliance on a single contractor for critical communications; any disruption in service could impact DHS's ability to communicate effectively with the public or stakeholders.

How effective are strategic communication services for agencies like DHS?

Strategic communication services are highly effective and essential for agencies like the Department of Homeland Security. They enable the agency to clearly articulate its mission, policies, and activities to the public, stakeholders, and internal personnel. Effective communication builds public trust, manages crises, disseminates critical information (e.g., during natural disasters or security threats), and supports the overall achievement of the agency's objectives. The quality of these services directly impacts public perception and the agency's operational success.

What is the historical spending pattern for strategic communications at DHS?

Historical spending patterns for strategic communications at the Department of Homeland Security are not provided in this data. To analyze this, one would need to examine past contract awards for similar services (NAICS 541810, public relations, advertising, etc.) over several fiscal years. This would reveal trends in spending levels, the types of contractors utilized, and the duration and value of previous agreements. Understanding historical spending can help contextualize the current $2.7 million award and identify any significant shifts in the agency's investment in these services.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services › Advertising Agencies

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 70RCSJ25Q00000162

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5950 SYMPHONY WOODS RD STE 500, COLUMBIA, MD, 21044

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $5,453,854

Exercised Options: $2,732,901

Current Obligation: $2,732,901

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $1,186,080

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA22D00DN

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline