DoD's $14.4M contract for law enforcement expertise awarded to Ho-Chunk Shared Services Company

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,432,586 ($14.4M)

Contractor: Ho-Chunk Shared Services Company

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-09-27

End Date: 2026-09-26

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $13.2K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT SUPPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL STAFF ASSISTANT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20301

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $14.4 million to HO-CHUNK SHARED SERVICES COMPANY for work described as: LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT SUPPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL STAFF ASSISTANT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT Key points: 1. Contract provides critical support for law enforcement policy and technical matters. 2. Awarded to a single entity, raising questions about competitive pricing. 3. Duration of 1095 days suggests a long-term need for these specialized services. 4. The contract's value is significant within the administrative management consulting sector. 5. Performance context is vital to ensure effective support for principal staff. 6. Sector positioning is within administrative and management consulting services for law enforcement.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more detailed service descriptions and comparable contract data. The fixed-price nature suggests cost certainty, but the lack of competition could lead to suboptimal pricing. Further analysis of the specific tasks and deliverables would be needed to assess true value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not openly competed. This limits the opportunity for multiple vendors to bid, potentially impacting price discovery and the government's ability to secure the most cost-effective solution. The rationale for the sole-source award would need to be examined to understand if it was justified by unique capabilities or circumstances.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can result in higher costs for taxpayers as competition is absent, potentially leading to less favorable pricing than in a fully competed scenario.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the principal staff within the Department of Defense requiring specialized law enforcement expertise. Services delivered include technical subject matter support and advisory functions. Geographic impact is likely concentrated within the Washington D.C. area where the headquarters are located. Workforce implications may involve leveraging the specialized skills of Ho-Chunk Shared Services Company's personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
Sole-source award raises concerns about the thoroughness of market research.
Performance metrics and oversight are crucial to ensure value delivery.

Positive Signals

Award to a single, potentially specialized, provider ensures continuity of expertise.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Long-term duration suggests a stable and ongoing requirement.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services sector (NAICS 541611). This sector encompasses a wide range of advisory and assistance services. The market size for such services to federal agencies is substantial, with significant spending allocated to specialized expertise. This contract represents a specific application of these services to support law enforcement functions within the Department of Defense.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans is not readily available for this contract. As it is a sole-source award, the typical mechanisms for engaging small businesses through competition or set-asides may not have been applicable. Further investigation into the contractor's own small business utilization would be necessary.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms for this contract would typically involve contract officers, program managers, and potentially an Inspector General's office within the Department of Defense. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance work statement and deliverables. Transparency would depend on the public availability of contract details and performance reports.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense Law Enforcement Support Programs
Federal Law Enforcement Advisory Services
Administrative and Management Consulting Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award may limit competitive pricing.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in provided data.
Potential for cost overruns if contractor's cost estimates are inaccurate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $14.4 million to HO-CHUNK SHARED SERVICES COMPANY. LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT SUPPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL STAFF ASSISTANT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HO-CHUNK SHARED SERVICES COMPANY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Washington Headquarters Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-27. End: 2026-09-26.

What is the specific nature of the 'law enforcement and technical subject matter expert support' being provided?

The contract specifies 'LAW ENFORCEMENT AND TECHNICAL SUBJECT MATTER EXPERT SUPPORT TO THE PRINCIPAL STAFF ASSISTANT FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT.' While the exact deliverables are not detailed in the provided data, this suggests the contractor provides specialized knowledge, analysis, and advice related to law enforcement policies, procedures, technologies, and operational matters. This support is directed towards a principal staff assistant, indicating a high-level advisory role that likely influences decision-making and strategy within the DoD's law enforcement domain. The 'technical' aspect implies support for areas such as forensic science, cybersecurity related to law enforcement, or specialized equipment and systems.

How does the $14.4 million contract value compare to similar law enforcement support contracts within the DoD?

Direct comparison of this $14.4 million contract to similar law enforcement support contracts within the DoD is difficult without access to a comprehensive database of all such contracts, including their specific scopes of work and durations. However, for a single-source, three-year contract (1095 days) providing high-level expert support, $14.4 million represents an average annual value of approximately $4.8 million. This figure is substantial and suggests a significant and ongoing need for specialized expertise. To provide a more precise benchmark, one would need to identify contracts with comparable service descriptions, agency components, and contract types, and then analyze their total values and annual spending rates.

What are the primary risks associated with a sole-source award for critical law enforcement support?

The primary risks associated with a sole-source award for critical law enforcement support include potential overpricing due to the lack of competitive pressure, reduced innovation from a single provider, and a diminished incentive for the contractor to perform at peak efficiency. There's also a risk that the government may not be aware of or able to access alternative solutions or providers that could offer better value or more advanced capabilities. Furthermore, sole-source awards can sometimes raise concerns about fairness and transparency in the procurement process, potentially leading to scrutiny if the justification for the sole-source nature is not robust.

What is the track record of Ho-Chunk Shared Services Company in providing similar expert support services to the federal government?

Information on the specific track record of Ho-Chunk Shared Services Company in providing 'law enforcement and technical subject matter expert support' is not detailed in the provided data. As a shared services company, its capabilities might be broad. To assess their track record, one would need to examine past performance evaluations, contract history, and any publicly available information regarding their experience with similar government contracts, particularly those involving law enforcement advisory or technical consulting. Understanding their past performance on contracts of similar size, scope, and complexity would be crucial for evaluating their suitability and reliability for this role.

How does the fixed-price contract type influence the risk allocation between the government and the contractor?

A Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract type, as indicated for this award, generally places the majority of the cost risk on the contractor. This means the contractor is obligated to complete the work for the agreed-upon price, regardless of their actual costs incurred. For the government, this provides cost certainty and predictability, as the total expenditure is known upfront. The risk for the government lies in ensuring the contractor has accurately estimated costs and that the fixed price represents fair value. If the contractor's costs exceed the fixed price, they absorb the loss; if costs are lower, they retain the profit. This structure incentivizes the contractor to manage their costs efficiently.

What are the potential implications of this contract on the broader federal law enforcement support ecosystem?

This contract, by awarding a significant sum to a single entity for specialized law enforcement support, could have several implications. It might signal a strategic decision by the DoD to consolidate such expertise within a specific provider, potentially reducing opportunities for other firms in this niche. Conversely, it could highlight a growing demand for highly specialized, integrated support services. The success or challenges encountered with this contract could influence future procurement strategies for similar services, potentially favoring sole-source or limited competition approaches if deemed efficient, or conversely, driving efforts towards broader competition if value or innovation is perceived to be lacking.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: HQ003423R0376

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Ho-Chunk, Inc.

Address: 818 ST AUGUSTINES DR, WINNEBAGO, NE, 68071

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Community Development Corporation, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Nonprofit Organization, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $24,258,437

Exercised Options: $14,432,586

Current Obligation: $14,432,586

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline