DHS FEMA awards $19.5M for Risk Assessment, Mapping, and Planning Partners (RAMP-P) services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,543,307 ($19.5M)

Contractor: Risk Assessment, Mapping, and Planning Partners (ramp-P)

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2010-09-17

End Date: 2014-03-03

Contract Duration: 1,263 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: EXERCISE OPTION YEAR 1 AND MAKE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT.

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 $19.5 million to RISK ASSESSMENT, MAPPING, AND PLANNING PARTNERS (RAMP-P) for work described as: EXERCISE OPTION YEAR 1 AND MAKE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT. Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in critical infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust market for these specialized services. 3. Performance period of over three years indicates a need for sustained support in risk assessment and planning. 4. The cost-plus-award-fee structure incentivizes contractor performance and cost control. 5. This contract aligns with FEMA's mission to support communities before, during, and after disasters.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's total value of $19.5 million over its period of performance is substantial for specialized risk assessment and planning services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for large-scale federal risk management and mapping initiatives would provide a clearer picture of value for money. The cost-plus-award-fee (CPAF) pricing structure allows for flexibility and incentivizes performance, but requires careful oversight to ensure costs remain reasonable and that award fees are justified by exceptional performance.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded using full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified vendors had the opportunity to bid. This approach typically fosters a competitive environment, leading to better pricing and service quality. The presence of four bidders suggests a healthy market for these services, although the specific number of bids received is not detailed here. A competitive process is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive bidding process that is likely to drive down costs and improve the quality of risk assessment and planning services, ensuring federal funds are used efficiently for critical disaster preparedness.

Public Impact

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) benefits from enhanced capabilities in risk assessment and disaster planning. Communities nationwide will receive improved support for preparedness, mitigation, and response strategies. Geographic impact is nationwide, addressing risks across diverse environmental and demographic landscapes. The contract supports specialized technical expertise, potentially creating or sustaining jobs in engineering, mapping, and planning sectors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns inherent in cost-plus-award-fee contracts if not closely monitored.
Ensuring consistent quality and performance across all task orders and over the contract's duration.
Dependency on contractor expertise for critical national risk assessment functions.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive market and potential for value.
Cost-plus-award-fee structure incentivizes high performance and efficient service delivery.
Long performance period suggests a strategic, long-term commitment to risk management.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, specifically focusing on risk assessment, mapping, and planning. This is a critical area for government agencies like FEMA, which require specialized expertise to understand and mitigate potential threats from natural disasters and other hazards. The market for such services is competitive, with numerous firms offering a range of capabilities. Spending in this area is often driven by regulatory requirements, national security concerns, and the increasing frequency and severity of climate-related events.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). While this contract may not have been directly set aside for small businesses, the prime contractor could potentially engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill specific aspects of the work. The extent of small business subcontracting is not detailed, but it represents an opportunity to leverage specialized small business capabilities within the broader RAMP-P initiative.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) contracting officers and program managers. The cost-plus-award-fee structure necessitates diligent monitoring of contractor performance, costs, and adherence to task order requirements. Transparency is generally maintained through contract reporting mechanisms and performance reviews. While specific Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction is not detailed, FEMA's Office of Inspector General typically oversees agency contracts for waste, fraud, and abuse.

Related Government Programs

National Flood Insurance Program
Disaster Relief Fund
National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Assistance Programs

Risk Flags

Option Year 1 Exercise
Cost Plus Award Fee Structure
Engineering Services
Risk Assessment and Planning

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $19.5 million to RISK ASSESSMENT, MAPPING, AND PLANNING PARTNERS (RAMP-P). EXERCISE OPTION YEAR 1 AND MAKE ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES TO THE CONTRACT.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RISK ASSESSMENT, MAPPING, AND PLANNING PARTNERS (RAMP-P).

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 $19.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-09-17. End: 2014-03-03.

What is the historical spending trend for the Risk Assessment, Mapping, and Planning Partners (RAMP-P) contract or similar FEMA initiatives?

Analyzing historical spending for the RAMP-P contract specifically requires access to detailed contract award data beyond the initial exercise of option year 1. However, FEMA's overall budget for disaster preparedness, mitigation, and response has seen significant fluctuations, often driven by the scale and frequency of major disaster events. For instance, spending on hazard mitigation grants and disaster relief has increased in recent years due to heightened climate risks. Contracts supporting risk assessment and planning are typically funded through FEMA's program management and administrative accounts. Without specific historical data for RAMP-P, it's difficult to establish a precise trend, but it's reasonable to assume spending aligns with FEMA's strategic priorities in enhancing national resilience and preparedness, which have been consistently emphasized.

How does the awarded amount compare to the initial contract value and subsequent modifications?

The provided data indicates an award amount of $19,543,306.52 for the exercise of Option Year 1. This figure represents the value allocated for that specific option period. To understand the full contract value and its evolution, one would need to examine the base contract award amount and any other exercised options or modifications. The initial award date of 2010-09-17 suggests this contract has been in place for some time, and option years are exercised to extend its duration and funding. The $19.5 million for Option Year 1 is a significant increment, suggesting continued need and scope for the services provided under the RAMP-P contract.

What specific services are included under the 'Risk Assessment, Mapping, and Planning Partners (RAMP-P)' contract?

The 'Risk Assessment, Mapping, and Planning Partners (RAMP-P)' contract, awarded to support the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), encompasses a broad range of critical services aimed at enhancing national preparedness and resilience. These services typically include conducting comprehensive risk assessments to identify potential threats and vulnerabilities across various hazard types (e.g., floods, earthquakes, hurricanes). Mapping services involve creating detailed geospatial representations of risks, infrastructure, and affected areas. Planning support includes developing strategic plans for disaster mitigation, response, and recovery, as well as providing technical assistance to state, local, tribal, and territorial (SLTT) governments. The contract likely also involves data analysis, modeling, and the development of tools and frameworks to aid in decision-making for disaster management.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate contractor performance under this contract?

While specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the RAMP-P contract are not detailed in the provided data, contracts utilizing a Cost-Plus-Award-Fee (CPAF) structure typically tie award fees to the achievement of pre-defined performance objectives. These objectives often include metrics related to the timeliness and accuracy of risk assessments and mapping products, the quality and usability of planning documents, the effectiveness of technical assistance provided to partners, and overall project management efficiency. FEMA contracting officers would monitor adherence to schedules, budget controls, and the successful completion of task orders. Performance evaluations would likely involve regular reviews, stakeholder feedback, and assessments against established service level agreements to determine the extent of award fees earned by the contractor.

What is the track record of the prime contractor in delivering similar services to federal agencies?

Information regarding the specific prime contractor awarded the RAMP-P contract is not provided in the data snippet. To assess the contractor's track record, one would need to identify the awardee and then research their past performance on similar federal contracts. This would involve reviewing past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), examining their portfolio of completed projects, and looking for any history of contract disputes, awards, or significant achievements in areas like risk assessment, geospatial analysis, emergency management planning, and engineering services for agencies such as FEMA, DHS, or other relevant entities.

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: 200 ORCHARD RIDGE DRIVE, SUITE 101, GAITHERSBURG, MD, 20878

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $19,543,313

Exercised Options: $19,543,309

Current Obligation: $19,543,307

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSFEHQ09D0369

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline