DHS awards $34.2M task order to Accenture for TSA recruitment support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $34,245,491 ($34.2M)

Contractor: Accenture Federal Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2021-09-01

End Date: 2022-02-28

Contract Duration: 180 days

Daily Burn Rate: $190.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: OPTION PERIOD 5 - TASK ORDER AWARD FOR RECRUITMENT AND HIRING OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES AND OTHER DIRECT COSTS

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22203

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $34.2 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC for work described as: OPTION PERIOD 5 - TASK ORDER AWARD FOR RECRUITMENT AND HIRING OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES AND OTHER DIRECT COSTS Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in human capital management for a critical security agency. 2. Accenture's established presence in federal IT and consulting suggests a strong understanding of government requirements. 3. The firm-fixed-price structure aims to control costs, but requires careful monitoring of scope creep. 4. This award falls within the broader context of federal efforts to modernize and streamline hiring processes. 5. The duration of 180 days indicates a focused, short-term need for specialized support. 6. The contract's focus on recruitment and hiring operations highlights the ongoing need for skilled personnel within TSA.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The task order value of $34.2 million for a 180-day period suggests a substantial per-day expenditure. Benchmarking against similar HR consulting services contracts is challenging without more granular data on the specific services provided. However, given the critical nature of recruitment and hiring operations for the TSA, the pricing may reflect the specialized expertise and rapid deployment required. The firm-fixed-price contract type indicates an expectation of cost control, but the overall value should be assessed against the tangible improvements in recruitment efficiency and candidate quality.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This competitive process is designed to foster price discovery and ensure the government receives the best value. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the full and open nature suggests a robust competitive environment, which typically leads to more favorable pricing and innovative solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by driving down costs through market forces and ensuring that the contract is awarded to the most capable and cost-effective provider.

Public Impact

Benefits TSA by enhancing recruitment and hiring operations, potentially leading to faster onboarding of essential personnel. Supports the delivery of critical human resources services necessary for maintaining TSA's operational capacity. Geographic impact is primarily national, as TSA operates at airports across the United States. Workforce implications include the potential for improved hiring experiences for candidates and more efficient processes for TSA HR staff.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in a firm-fixed-price contract if requirements are not clearly defined.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical hiring functions could pose a risk if performance falters.
The short duration may limit the contractor's ability to implement long-term strategic improvements.

Positive Signals

Accenture's extensive experience in federal contracting and HR services provides a strong foundation for successful performance.
The firm-fixed-price contract type incentivizes efficient service delivery.
Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive selection process that likely yielded a strong offer.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Human Resources Consulting Services sector, a segment of the broader professional services market. This sector is characterized by a mix of large, established federal contractors and specialized niche providers. Spending in this area is often driven by government-wide initiatives to improve workforce management, modernize HR systems, and address talent acquisition challenges. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other task orders or contracts for similar recruitment and HR support services across various federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded under full and open competition and does not indicate any specific small business set-aside. While Accenture Federal Services LLC is a large business, there is no information provided on subcontracting plans for small businesses. The impact on the small business ecosystem is therefore unclear, but typically, large prime contractors are encouraged or required to subcontract a portion of the work to small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this task order would likely be managed by the contracting officer's representative (COR) within the Transportation Security Administration. The firm-fixed-price contract type provides a degree of cost control. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Federal Workforce Development Programs
Department of Homeland Security Human Capital Management
Transportation Security Administration Personnel Services
Government-wide Human Resources Consulting Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep
Performance risk
Contract duration limitations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $34.2 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC. OPTION PERIOD 5 - TASK ORDER AWARD FOR RECRUITMENT AND HIRING OPERATIONS SUPPORT SERVICES AND OTHER DIRECT COSTS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Transportation Security Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $34.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-01. End: 2022-02-28.

What is Accenture Federal Services LLC's track record with the Department of Homeland Security and TSA?

Accenture Federal Services LLC has a significant history of contracting with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components, including the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Their past performance often includes large-scale IT modernization, cybersecurity, and management consulting services. For DHS and TSA specifically, Accenture has been involved in projects related to improving operational efficiency, data analytics, and human capital management. A review of federal procurement data would reveal the specific value and nature of these prior engagements, providing insight into their experience and success rates in supporting these agencies. This task order for recruitment and hiring operations support builds upon that established relationship and demonstrates continued trust in Accenture's capabilities to deliver specialized HR services.

How does the $34.2 million value compare to similar HR consulting contracts for federal agencies?

The $34.2 million value for a 180-day task order for recruitment and hiring operations support is substantial. To benchmark effectively, one would need to compare it against other task orders or contracts awarded for similar services, such as talent acquisition, HR process optimization, and workforce planning, across federal agencies of comparable size and complexity to TSA. Factors influencing this value include the scope of services (e.g., volume of hires supported, complexity of roles, geographic reach), the level of expertise required, and the urgency of the need. While specific comparable data is not readily available in this summary, the amount suggests a significant undertaking, potentially involving large-scale recruitment drives or the implementation of new hiring technologies and strategies for TSA.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

Key risks for this contract include potential scope creep, given the firm-fixed-price nature which requires precise definition of deliverables, and performance issues if Accenture fails to meet recruitment targets or quality standards. Another risk is over-reliance on a single contractor for critical hiring functions. Mitigation strategies likely involve robust contract management by the TSA COR, clear performance metrics and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) within the task order, and regular progress reviews. The full and open competition process itself acts as a risk mitigator by selecting a contractor based on demonstrated capability and past performance. Contingency planning for potential contractor underperformance would also be a standard risk management practice.

How effective is the firm-fixed-price contract type in ensuring value for money in this context?

The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type is generally favored for services where the scope of work is well-defined and unlikely to change significantly. For recruitment and hiring operations support, an FFP contract incentivizes the contractor, Accenture Federal Services LLC, to perform efficiently and deliver the agreed-upon services within the set price. This structure shifts the risk of cost overruns to the contractor, thereby providing cost certainty for the TSA. Value for money is realized if Accenture can deliver high-quality recruitment outcomes (e.g., timely hires, qualified candidates) at the agreed price. However, if the scope proves more complex than initially anticipated, the FFP structure could limit flexibility, potentially impacting the quality or completeness of services unless change orders are managed effectively.

What is the historical spending trend for recruitment and HR support services at TSA or DHS?

Analyzing historical spending trends for recruitment and HR support services at TSA or DHS would provide crucial context for this $34.2 million task order. Without specific historical data, it's difficult to determine if this award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of investment in these services. Factors influencing historical spending could include agency hiring needs, budget allocations, strategic initiatives to improve HR functions, and the use of contractors versus in-house capabilities. A trend analysis would involve examining annual spending on similar contract vehicles (e.g., GSA schedules, other IDIQs) over several fiscal years to identify patterns and understand the agency's long-term approach to outsourcing HR support functions.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Human Resources Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Novetta Solutions, LLC

Address: 800 NORTH GLEBE RD #300, ARLINGTON, VA, 22203

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $34,245,491

Exercised Options: $34,245,491

Current Obligation: $34,245,491

Actual Outlays: $386,851

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 45

Total Subaward Amount: $27,690,037

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSTS0116DHRM037

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline