FEMA's Risk Map Program awarded $16.3M contract to Accenture Federal Services for program management

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,274,766 ($16.3M)

Contractor: Accenture Federal Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2009-05-01

End Date: 2010-07-31

Contract Duration: 456 days

Daily Burn Rate: $35.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE FEMA RISK MAP PROGRAM FOR THE PERIOD OF 1 MAY 2009 UNTIL 31 JULY 2010.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20598

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $16.3 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC for work described as: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE FEMA RISK MAP PROGRAM FOR THE PERIOD OF 1 MAY 2009 UNTIL 31 JULY 2010. Key points: 1. Contract focused on program management for FEMA's Risk Map initiative. 2. Awarded via full and open competition, indicating broad market access. 3. Contract duration was 15 months, suggesting a defined project scope. 4. The contract type was Cost Plus Award Fee, incentivizing performance. 5. Accenture Federal Services, a large established contractor, received the award. 6. The contract was awarded by the Department of Homeland Security. 7. The contract was managed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $16.3 million over 15 months for program management services appears reasonable for a federal agency like FEMA. Without specific deliverables or performance metrics, a direct value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, the Cost Plus Award Fee structure suggests an attempt to link payment to performance, which can be a positive indicator if well-managed. Benchmarking against similar program management contracts for large-scale federal initiatives would provide a clearer picture of its cost-effectiveness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The presence of 4 bidders (no=4) suggests a competitive environment, which typically leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government. The level of competition is a positive sign for ensuring a fair market price was achieved.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process helps ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down costs and encouraging innovation among bidders.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security, receiving program management support. The services delivered were administrative and program management for the Risk Map Program. The geographic impact is likely national, given FEMA's mandate, though specific locations are not detailed. Workforce implications would involve personnel from Accenture Federal Services supporting the program.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Award Fee contracts can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
The specific performance metrics for the award fee are not detailed, making it hard to assess the incentive structure's effectiveness.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
The contractor, Accenture Federal Services, is a well-established entity with significant federal contracting experience.
The Cost Plus Award Fee structure, if properly managed, can incentivize high performance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically focusing on program management and administrative support. The federal government is a significant consumer of such services to manage complex initiatives like FEMA's Risk Map Program. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other large-scale program management contracts awarded by agencies like DHS, GSA, or DoD, often in the hundreds of millions or billions of dollars annually for comprehensive support.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. This suggests that the primary award went to a large business, and the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this specific contract is likely minimal unless subcontracting occurred outside the scope of this summary.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program officials within FEMA. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure implies performance monitoring to determine award fee payments. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

FEMA Risk Mapping, Assessment, and Planning (Risk MAP) Program
Department of Homeland Security Program Management Support
Federal Emergency Management Agency Contracts
Administrative Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Award Fee contract type requires careful monitoring of costs and performance.
Performance metrics for award fee determination are not specified in the provided data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $16.3 million to ACCENTURE FEDERAL SERVICES LLC. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR THE FEMA RISK MAP PROGRAM FOR THE PERIOD OF 1 MAY 2009 UNTIL 31 JULY 2010.

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 (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $16.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-05-01. End: 2010-07-31.

What were the specific performance objectives tied to the award fee for Accenture Federal Services?

The provided data does not detail the specific performance objectives or metrics that were used to determine the award fee for Accenture Federal Services. Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contracts typically outline key performance areas (KPAs) and associated criteria in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) or a separate award fee plan. These might include timely delivery of reports, adherence to budget, quality of program management, stakeholder satisfaction, and achievement of milestones related to the Risk Map Program. Without access to the contract's detailed clauses, it's impossible to ascertain the exact criteria. However, the effectiveness of a CPAF contract hinges on clearly defined, measurable, and achievable performance standards that align with the program's goals.

How does the $16.3 million contract value compare to other FEMA program management contracts of similar duration?

Comparing the $16.3 million contract value for 15 months of program management services requires access to a broader dataset of FEMA contracts. However, for a program as critical as FEMA's Risk Map Program, which involves complex data analysis, mapping, and stakeholder engagement across the nation, this value appears within a reasonable range for comprehensive management support. Federal program management contracts can vary significantly based on scope, complexity, and the number of personnel required. A contract of this value for a 15-month period suggests a substantial effort, likely involving a dedicated team of professionals. Benchmarking against other FEMA contracts for similar large-scale, multi-year initiatives would be necessary for a precise comparison.

What is the track record of Accenture Federal Services in managing FEMA or similar large-scale federal programs?

Accenture Federal Services (AFS) has a significant track record of managing large-scale federal programs across various agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), of which FEMA is a part. AFS has historically been involved in complex IT modernization, data analytics, and program management initiatives for government clients. While specific details of their past performance on FEMA's Risk Map Program are not provided in this data snippet, their general experience suggests they possess the capabilities to handle such contracts. A comprehensive assessment would involve reviewing past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS) and other contract awards to gauge their success in delivering on similar federal contracts.

What are the potential risks associated with a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract structure for this program?

The primary risk associated with a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract is the potential for cost growth if the government's oversight and management of the contractor's costs are insufficient. Unlike fixed-price contracts, CPAF allows the contractor to recover all allowable costs plus a base fee, plus an award fee that is earned based on performance. If the performance criteria are not clearly defined, measurable, and rigorously assessed, the government might end up paying higher fees than warranted. Additionally, there's a risk that the contractor might focus on achieving award fee criteria at the expense of other important, but less incentivized, aspects of the program. Effective management requires robust cost tracking and performance evaluation by the government.

How has FEMA's spending on program management services evolved over time, and does this contract represent a significant shift?

Analyzing FEMA's historical spending on program management services would require access to multi-year spending data. This single contract award from 2009-2010 does not provide enough context to determine trends or shifts in FEMA's overall spending patterns. FEMA's budget and contracting needs can fluctuate based on disaster frequency, legislative mandates, and strategic priorities. The Risk Map Program itself is a continuous effort, and spending on its management would likely vary year over year. To assess if this contract represents a significant shift, one would need to compare its value and scope against other program management contracts awarded by FEMA during the same period and in subsequent years.

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) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Accenture Public Limited Company (UEI: 985015354)

Address: 11951 FREEDOM DR, RESTON, VA, 11

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $18,911,039

Exercised Options: $16,274,766

Current Obligation: $16,274,766

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSFEHQ09D0156

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline