DHS awards $9.67M for FOIA services to TechOp Solutions, highlighting administrative support needs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $9,674,585 ($9.7M)

Contractor: Techop Solutions International, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2023-01-21

End Date: 2026-02-27

Contract Duration: 1,133 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: AWARD OF FOIA SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: STAFFORD, STAFFORD County, VIRGINIA, 22556

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $9.7 million to TECHOP SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: AWARD OF FOIA SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in managing Freedom of Information Act requests. 2. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Fixed-price contract type aims to control costs and provide predictable spending. 4. The duration of the contract extends over three years, indicating a long-term need for these services. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 561110 points to general office administrative services. 6. The contract is a delivery order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $9.67 million over approximately three years for FOIA services appears reasonable given the scope of administrative support required by a large agency like DHS. Benchmarking against similar contracts for administrative and information management services would provide a clearer picture of value for money. The firm fixed-price structure helps in cost predictability, but the absence of detailed performance metrics makes a definitive value assessment challenging without further data.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources,' which typically means that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 5 bids indicates a moderate level of competition for this requirement. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award suggests that taxpayers are likely benefiting from a fair market price for the FOIA services provided.

Public Impact

Citizens and organizations seeking information from the U.S. Coast Guard will benefit from efficient FOIA processing. The contract ensures the delivery of essential administrative services related to public information requests. Services are primarily delivered within Virginia, where the contractor is located. The contract supports administrative roles, potentially impacting a workforce focused on information management and compliance.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if the volume of FOIA requests significantly exceeds projections.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical FOIA processing could pose a risk if performance falters.
Ensuring consistent quality and adherence to strict FOIA deadlines across the contract duration.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Long-term contract duration suggests a stable and ongoing need for these services, allowing for contractor investment in efficiency.

Sector Analysis

The administrative services sector, particularly those supporting government functions like information management and compliance, is a vital part of the broader professional services market. This contract for FOIA services falls under general office administrative services (NAICS 561110). Government spending in this area is driven by regulatory requirements and the need for efficient public access to information. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within contracts for records management, administrative support, and legal support services.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (sb: false) and the prime contractor, TechOp Solutions International, Inc., is not explicitly identified as a small business in this snippet. Therefore, the direct impact on small business set-asides is minimal. However, the potential for subcontracting opportunities with small businesses exists, depending on the contractor's strategy and the specific service requirements.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the U.S. Coast Guard contracting officer and program managers within the Department of Homeland Security. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract, requiring the contractor to deliver services as specified. Transparency is facilitated through public contract databases, though detailed performance reports are not always publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Freedom of Information Act Administration
General Office Administrative Services
Department of Homeland Security Contracts
U.S. Coast Guard Support Services
Information Management Services

Risk Flags

Potential for performance issues impacting FOIA compliance.
Risk of contractor personnel turnover affecting service continuity.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities in handling sensitive information.
Ensuring consistent quality and adherence to strict deadlines.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $9.7 million to TECHOP SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC.. AWARD OF FOIA SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TECHOP SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Coast Guard).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $9.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-01-21. End: 2026-02-27.

What is TechOp Solutions International, Inc.'s track record with federal FOIA contracts?

A comprehensive review of TechOp Solutions International, Inc.'s past performance on federal FOIA-related contracts would be necessary to fully assess their track record. This would involve examining contract databases like SAM.gov and FPDS for previous awards, performance evaluations (e.g., CPARS reports), and any documented issues or successes. Understanding their experience with similar agencies, contract types (firm fixed-price, time and materials), and the volume/complexity of requests handled previously would provide crucial context for evaluating their capability to fulfill the current DHS contract effectively. Without specific historical data on their FOIA performance, it's difficult to definitively gauge their expertise and reliability in this specialized area.

How does the $9.67 million award compare to similar FOIA service contracts?

To benchmark the $9.67 million award for FOIA services, one would need to compare it against contracts of similar scope, duration, and agency size. For instance, contracts awarded to other agencies for comprehensive FOIA processing, records management, and administrative support could serve as comparators. The average cost per request or per year of service would be a key metric. Given that this contract spans approximately three years, the annual value is roughly $3.22 million. If other large federal agencies are awarding similar multi-million dollar contracts for FOIA support, it suggests this figure is within a typical range. However, a detailed analysis would require access to specific contract details, including the number of requests processed, service level agreements, and specific deliverables, to ensure a like-for-like comparison.

What are the primary risks associated with this FOIA services contract?

Key risks associated with this FOIA services contract include potential performance deficiencies by the contractor, such as delays in processing requests or failure to meet quality standards, which could lead to non-compliance with FOIA regulations and public dissatisfaction. Another risk is the potential for cost overruns if the contract is not managed tightly, despite being firm fixed-price, especially if unforeseen complexities arise in the FOIA requests. Contractor personnel turnover could also impact service continuity and institutional knowledge. Furthermore, cybersecurity risks related to handling sensitive information within FOIA requests must be considered. Finally, the government faces the risk of inadequate competition in future contract renewals if the current contractor's performance is unsatisfactory or if market conditions change.

How effective is the current contract in ensuring timely and accurate FOIA responses?

The effectiveness of the current contract in ensuring timely and accurate FOIA responses cannot be definitively assessed solely from the award data. Effectiveness is primarily measured by the contractor's adherence to performance standards, response timelines mandated by FOIA, and the quality of information provided. Key performance indicators (KPIs) such as average response time, backlog reduction rates, and accuracy of redactions would need to be tracked and evaluated. The contracting officer's representative (COR) and program managers are responsible for monitoring these metrics. Without access to performance reports and quality assurance reviews, it is impossible to determine the contract's current effectiveness.

What are the historical spending patterns for FOIA services within DHS or the USCG?

To understand historical spending patterns for FOIA services within DHS or the USCG, one would need to analyze past contract awards for similar services over several fiscal years. This involves querying federal procurement data to identify previous contracts for FOIA administration, records management, and related support functions awarded by these agencies. Examining the total dollar amounts, contract types, and durations of these historical contracts would reveal trends in spending. For example, has spending increased, decreased, or remained stable? Were services previously handled in-house, or consistently outsourced? Understanding these patterns provides context for the current $9.67 million award and helps in forecasting future budgetary needs for FOIA support.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Office Administrative Services › Office Administrative Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 167 CHERRY HILL DR, STAFFORD, VA, 22556

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,674,585

Exercised Options: $9,674,585

Current Obligation: $9,674,585

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSHQDC16DP2026

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline