Homeland Security awards $7.37M for armed protective services in West Virginia

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,370,723 ($7.4M)

Contractor: Patronus Systems Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2024-12-01

End Date: 2025-09-30

Contract Duration: 303 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ARMED PROTECTIVE SECURITY OFFICERS (PSO) IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

Place of Performance

Location: HUNTINGTON, CABELL County, WEST VIRGINIA, 25701

State: West Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $7.4 million to PATRONUS SYSTEMS INC for work described as: ARMED PROTECTIVE SECURITY OFFICERS (PSO) IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Patronus Systems Inc. for security guard services. 2. Service period spans from December 2024 to September 2025. 3. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, indicating predictable costs. 4. This is a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 561612 for Security Guards and Patrol Services. 6. The contract is for services within the state of West Virginia.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount is $7.37 million for a period of approximately 303 days. Without specific performance metrics or comparison data for similar armed protective services contracts in West Virginia, it is difficult to definitively assess value for money. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government. However, the absence of detailed cost breakdowns or benchmarks makes a thorough price assessment challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources'. This indicates that while the competition was initially intended to be full and open, certain sources were excluded, potentially narrowing the competitive pool. The specific reasons for exclusion are not detailed here, which could impact the breadth of competition and price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: While the competition was intended to be broad, the exclusion of sources may have limited the number of potential bidders, potentially impacting the most competitive pricing achievable for taxpayers.

Public Impact

Residents and federal facilities in West Virginia will benefit from enhanced security. The contract ensures the provision of armed protective security officers. Services are geographically focused within the state of West Virginia. The contract supports jobs for security personnel in the region.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for limited competition due to exclusion of sources.
Lack of detailed cost breakdown makes value assessment difficult.
Performance metrics and quality control details are not provided.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost predictability.
Awarded to a single contractor for a defined period.
Services are essential for homeland security operations.

Sector Analysis

The security services sector is a significant part of the broader professional, scientific, and technical services industry. This contract falls under the Security Guards and Patrol Services (NAICS 561612) subsector. The market for government security contracts is competitive, with numerous firms offering a range of services from unarmed guards to highly specialized armed personnel. Benchmarking this contract's value would require comparison to similar armed PSO contracts awarded by federal agencies in other states or regions, considering factors like threat levels and service requirements.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business set-aside was not utilized (ss: false) and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements (sb: false). This suggests that the contract was not specifically targeted towards small businesses, and there are no explicit requirements for the prime contractor to engage small businesses for subcontracting opportunities. The impact on the small business ecosystem is therefore neutral to potentially negative if larger firms are awarded contracts that could have been set aside.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Homeland Security's contracting and program management offices. Specific accountability measures would be detailed in the contract's statement of work and performance standards. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases, but detailed operational oversight and Inspector General jurisdiction would depend on the specific terms and any potential investigations or audits initiated.

Related Government Programs

Federal Protective Service Contracts
Department of Homeland Security Security Services
State-Specific Security Guard Contracts
Armed Guard Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition due to exclusion of sources.
Lack of detailed performance metrics.
Absence of specific risk mitigation details in summary data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $7.4 million to PATRONUS SYSTEMS INC. ARMED PROTECTIVE SECURITY OFFICERS (PSO) IN THE STATE OF WEST VIRGINIA

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PATRONUS SYSTEMS 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 $7.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-12-01. End: 2025-09-30.

What is the historical spending pattern for armed protective security officers in West Virginia by the Department of Homeland Security?

Historical spending data for armed protective security officers (PSO) specifically within West Virginia by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is not readily available in this dataset. This award of $7.37 million represents a specific instance of spending for the period of December 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. To understand historical patterns, one would need to analyze DHS contract awards for similar services (NAICS 561612) in West Virginia over previous fiscal years. This would involve querying federal procurement databases like FPDS or USASpending.gov for contracts with similar descriptions, agencies, and geographic locations. Without this broader historical context, it's difficult to determine if this $7.37 million award is an increase, decrease, or consistent level of spending for these services in the state.

How does the per-unit cost of armed protective services in this contract compare to similar contracts nationwide?

A direct per-unit cost comparison for armed protective services is challenging without more granular data. The total award is $7.37 million for a period of 303 days. To establish a per-unit cost, we would need to know the number of officers deployed, the hours worked per officer, and the specific rates paid. For instance, if the contract stipulated 50 officers working 12-hour shifts, 7 days a week, we could calculate an approximate hourly rate. Benchmarking this against similar contracts nationwide requires access to data on the number of hours or officers contracted, the specific duties, and the geographic location's cost of living and labor market. Generally, armed security services are more expensive than unarmed services due to higher training, licensing, and risk mitigation requirements. Without specific unit metrics (e.g., cost per hour per officer), a precise comparison is not feasible.

What are the specific risks associated with contracting armed protective services, and how are they mitigated in this contract?

Contracting armed protective services carries inherent risks, including the potential for use of force incidents, mishandling of firearms, and escalation of situations. Mitigating these risks typically involves stringent contractor vetting, rigorous background checks for personnel, comprehensive training requirements (including de-escalation techniques and rules of engagement), and clear performance standards. This contract, awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' implies a vetting process for potential bidders. The firm fixed-price nature helps manage cost risks. However, the provided data does not detail specific risk mitigation strategies outlined in the contract's statement of work, such as mandated use-of-force policies, regular performance reviews focused on safety incidents, or specific insurance requirements for the contractor. Further review of the contract document itself would be necessary to assess the adequacy of risk mitigation measures.

What is the track record of Patronus Systems Inc. in performing similar government contracts?

The provided data identifies Patronus Systems Inc. as the contractor for this $7.37 million award for armed protective services in West Virginia. To assess their track record, one would need to consult federal procurement databases (e.g., FPDS, SAM.gov) for past performance information. This would involve searching for previous contracts awarded to Patronus Systems Inc., particularly those involving security services, armed personnel, and government agencies. Key aspects to examine would include contract values, duration, performance ratings (if available), any past performance issues, protests, or terminations. A strong track record with successful completion of similar government contracts would indicate a lower performance risk for this new award. Conversely, a history of issues could raise concerns about the contractor's ability to meet the requirements effectively and on time.

How does the duration and value of this contract align with typical federal contracts for security guard services?

This contract has a duration of approximately 303 days (roughly 10 months) and a value of $7.37 million. Federal contracts for security guard services can vary significantly in duration and value depending on the scope of services, location, and threat level. Contracts can range from short-term, project-specific needs to multi-year requirements with extensive service areas. A $7.37 million award for a 10-month period suggests a substantial requirement, likely involving a significant number of personnel or high-intensity security operations. While not exceptionally long in duration, the value indicates a considerable investment. To assess alignment, one would compare this to other DHS or agency-wide contracts for armed protective services, looking at average contract lengths and award amounts for similar service levels and geographic coverage.

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

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3000 N WICKHAM RD STE 8, MELBOURNE, FL, 32935

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, 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: $7,370,723

Exercised Options: $7,370,723

Current Obligation: $7,370,723

Actual Outlays: $6,115,861

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70RFP320DE3000001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline