FEMA Risk MAO Program Technical Services Contract Awarded to STARR for Over $17.8 Million

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,811,638 ($17.8M)

Contractor: Starr

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2009-12-01

End Date: 2011-01-31

Contract Duration: 426 days

Daily Burn Rate: $41.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PRODUCTION AND TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR THE FEMA RISK MAO PROGRAM 12/01/2009 - 11/30-2010

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20472

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $17.8 million to STARR for work described as: PRODUCTION AND TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR THE FEMA RISK MAO PROGRAM 12/01/2009 - 11/30-2010 Key points: 1. Contract focused on production and technical services for FEMA's Risk Management and Analysis Office (MAO) program. 2. Awarded to STARR, indicating a specific capability or established relationship for these services. 3. The contract duration extended beyond the initial period, suggesting ongoing needs or project evolution. 4. Services provided likely support critical disaster preparedness, mitigation, or response analysis for FEMA. 5. The cost-plus-award-fee structure incentivizes performance but requires careful oversight to manage costs. 6. The contract was awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a broad search for qualified vendors.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $17.8 million for a 14-month period (December 2009 - January 2011) appears substantial for specialized technical services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for FEMA's risk analysis support would be necessary for a precise value-for-money assessment. The cost-plus-award-fee (CPAF) pricing structure, while allowing for performance incentives, can sometimes lead to higher costs if not managed diligently. Without detailed performance metrics and award fee determinations, it's difficult to definitively assess if the final cost represented excellent value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under a 'full and open competition' solicitation, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The presence of 4 bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this specialized service. While four bidders provide some price discovery, the ultimate success of the competition in driving down costs depends on the specific technical requirements and the number of truly capable offerors in the market.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging a wider range of potential contractors to bid, which can lead to more competitive pricing and better service offerings.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and its Risk Management and Analysis Office (MAO), receiving essential technical support. Services delivered likely enhance FEMA's capabilities in risk assessment, data analysis, and program management related to natural disasters and other emergencies. The geographic impact is national, as FEMA's mission covers the entire United States and its territories. Workforce implications include the direct employment of technical and analytical staff by the contractor (STARR) and potentially indirect support roles within FEMA.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost-plus-award-fee contracts require robust oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and award fees are justified by performance.
The duration of the contract (426 days) suggests a potentially long-term need, which warrants ongoing evaluation of efficiency and effectiveness.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a broad market search and potential for competitive pricing.
The contract supports FEMA's critical mission in risk management, contributing to national preparedness and response efforts.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector (NAICS 541330), specifically supporting government programs. The market for specialized technical and analytical services for federal agencies, particularly in areas like emergency management and risk assessment, is significant. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other contracts awarded by FEMA or similar agencies for risk analysis, program support, and technical consulting services. The total value of $17.8 million over its period is a notable investment in maintaining and enhancing FEMA's risk management capabilities.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications specifically mandated for small businesses through a set-aside program. However, the prime contractor, STARR, may engage small businesses as subcontractors based on their own procurement strategies and the availability of specialized services needed for contract performance.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) contracting officers and program managers. As a cost-plus-award-fee contract, rigorous monitoring of expenditures, performance against stated objectives, and justification for award fees would be crucial. Transparency would be facilitated through contract reporting requirements. Depending on the nature of the services and potential for fraud, waste, or abuse, the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General (OIG) could also exercise jurisdiction for audits and investigations.

Related Government Programs

FEMA Risk Analysis Programs
Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation Services
Government Engineering and Technical Support Contracts
Homeland Security Program Management

Risk Flags

Cost-plus-award-fee structure requires diligent oversight.
Contract performance metrics and award fee justification need careful monitoring.
Potential for cost overruns if not managed effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $17.8 million to STARR. PRODUCTION AND TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR THE FEMA RISK MAO PROGRAM 12/01/2009 - 11/30-2010

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is STARR.

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 $17.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-12-01. End: 2011-01-31.

What specific technical services were provided under this contract for the FEMA Risk MAO Program?

While the specific details of 'production and technical services' are not fully elaborated in the provided data, they likely encompassed a range of activities crucial for FEMA's Risk Management and Analysis Office (MAO). This could include data collection, analysis, modeling, and reporting related to various risks (e.g., natural disasters, man-made threats). Services might also involve developing or maintaining risk assessment methodologies, supporting the creation of risk maps, providing technical expertise for program evaluations, and generating reports to inform policy and resource allocation. The 'production' aspect could refer to the creation of specific deliverables, such as risk assessments, technical documentation, or software tools.

How does the $17.8 million contract value compare to typical spending for similar FEMA risk management support services?

The $17.8 million contract value for approximately 14 months of service (December 2009 - January 2011) represents a significant investment. To benchmark this accurately, one would need to compare it against historical FEMA contracts for similar risk analysis, technical support, and program management services. Factors influencing this value include the complexity of the risks being analyzed, the scope of data management and modeling required, and the level of specialized expertise needed. Without direct comparable contract data, it's challenging to definitively state if it's high or low, but it indicates a substantial commitment to supporting FEMA's risk assessment functions during that period.

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

Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contracts, like the one awarded to STARR, present specific risks. The primary risk is that the 'cost-plus' nature means the government pays the contractor's allowable costs plus a fee. While the 'award fee' component is intended to incentivize superior performance, it requires a robust and objective performance evaluation system. If the evaluation criteria are not clearly defined or if oversight is lax, contractors might receive higher fees than warranted, potentially increasing the overall cost to the government. There's also a risk that the contractor may focus on activities that maximize their fee rather than the most critical mission objectives if the award criteria are misaligned. Diligent oversight is essential to mitigate these risks.

What was the track record of STARR in providing similar services to FEMA or other government agencies prior to this award?

Information regarding STARR's specific track record prior to this $17.8 million contract award is not detailed in the provided data. However, being awarded a significant contract by the Department of Homeland Security (FEMA) suggests they likely had demonstrated capabilities and potentially prior experience relevant to the requirements. Government contract awards, especially through full and open competition, typically involve a review of past performance. Further investigation into federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) or contractor performance assessment reports (CPARS) would be necessary to ascertain their detailed history and performance ratings on previous contracts.

How did the competition level (4 bidders) impact the pricing and potential for innovation in this contract?

With four bidders participating in the full and open competition, there was a moderate level of competition, which generally aids in price discovery and encourages contractors to offer competitive terms. This level of competition likely pressured bidders to propose reasonable pricing structures and demonstrate strong technical approaches to win the contract. While four bidders provide a basis for comparison, a higher number of bidders could potentially drive prices lower or foster greater innovation. The specific impact on innovation is harder to gauge without knowing the technical proposals submitted, but competitive pressure often encourages contractors to highlight innovative solutions.

What is the historical spending trend for FEMA's Risk MAO Program technical services, and how does this contract fit within it?

The provided data only details a single contract award ($17.8 million from Dec 2009 - Jan 2011). To understand historical spending trends for FEMA's Risk MAO Program technical services, one would need to analyze spending over multiple years and multiple contracts. This single award represents a specific investment during that timeframe. Without data on prior or subsequent contracts, it's impossible to determine if this $17.8 million was typical, an increase, or a decrease in spending for these services. Analyzing trends would require a broader dataset encompassing multiple fiscal years and contract actions related to the MAO program.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 12101 INDIAN CREEK CT, BELTSVILLE, MD, 20705

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,811,638

Exercised Options: $17,811,638

Current Obligation: $17,811,638

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSFEHQ09D0370

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline