DHS awarded over $25M for program management and analytical support to Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $25,416,822 ($25.4M)

Contractor: Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2008-07-22

End Date: 2013-01-22

Contract Duration: 1,645 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15.5K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROGRAM LEVEL MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE OFFICE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION (OIP), PROTECTIVE SECURITY COORDINATION DIVISION (PSCD), NATIONAL PROTECTION AND PROGRAMS DIRECTORATE (NPPD)

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22201

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $25.4 million to SYSTEMS PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, INC. for work described as: PROGRAM LEVEL MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE OFFICE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION (OIP), PROTECTIVE SECURITY COORDINATION DIVISION (PSCD), NATIONAL PROTECTION AND PROGRAMS DIRECTORATE (NPPD) Key points: 1. The contract provided essential program management and analytical support to the Office of Infrastructure Protection. 2. Services were delivered over a period of nearly five years, indicating a sustained need for these functions. 3. The fixed-price contract type suggests a clear scope of work and potential for cost control. 4. The agency utilized a competitive delivery order, implying multiple vendors were considered. 5. The contract's duration and value place it within a moderate spending category for management support services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's value of approximately $25.4 million over almost five years suggests a reasonable annual spend for specialized program management and analytical support. Benchmarking against similar contracts for administrative management and general management consulting services (NAICS 541611) would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the fixed-price nature of the contract is a positive indicator for cost predictability.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. While the exact number of bidders is not specified, the 'full-and-open' competition suggests a robust process aimed at achieving the best value. This level of competition generally leads to more competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified contractors.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers likely benefited from a more competitive pricing structure due to the full and open competition, ensuring that the government received services at a fair market rate.

Public Impact

The Office of Infrastructure Protection (OIP) and its Protective Security Coordination Division (PSCD) directly benefited from enhanced program management and analytical capabilities. These services supported the critical mission of protecting national infrastructure and ensuring security coordination. The contract contributed to the operational effectiveness of a key component within the Department of Homeland Security. While specific geographic or workforce impacts are not detailed, the support likely enabled more efficient federal operations in security and infrastructure protection.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics or outcome data makes it difficult to fully assess the impact of the services provided.
The duration of the contract (nearly 5 years) could indicate potential for vendor lock-in if not managed carefully.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a fair and transparent procurement process.
Fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The contract supported a critical national security function within DHS.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. This is a broad category encompassing a wide range of support services essential for government operations. Spending in this sector is significant across federal agencies, supporting everything from policy analysis to program execution. Comparable contracts often involve strategic planning, operational support, and analytical services for various government programs.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The prime contractor, Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc., is likely a mid-to-large-sized firm.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Procurement Operations, suggesting standard federal procurement oversight. As a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, oversight would likely involve contract officers and program managers within DHS. Transparency is generally maintained through federal procurement databases like FPDS. Specific Inspector General jurisdiction would depend on the nature of any potential issues arising from the contract's performance.

Related Government Programs

Department of Homeland Security Management Support
Infrastructure Protection Programs
National Security Support Services
Federal Program Management Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep given the nature of analytical support services.
Reliance on contractor expertise may create knowledge transfer challenges.
Performance metrics not readily available for full assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $25.4 million to SYSTEMS PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, INC.. PROGRAM LEVEL MANAGEMENT AND ANALYTICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE OFFICE OF INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION (OIP), PROTECTIVE SECURITY COORDINATION DIVISION (PSCD), NATIONAL PROTECTION AND PROGRAMS DIRECTORATE (NPPD)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SYSTEMS PLANNING AND ANALYSIS, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Office of Procurement Operations).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $25.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-07-22. End: 2013-01-22.

What was the specific nature of the 'program management and analytical support services' provided?

The contract data indicates the services were for the Office of Infrastructure Protection (OIP), Protective Security Coordination Division (PSCD), within the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) of DHS. This suggests the support was focused on managing and analyzing programs related to protecting critical national infrastructure and coordinating security efforts. Services likely included strategic planning, operational analysis, policy support, data analysis, and reporting to aid OIP and PSCD in their mission execution. The exact deliverables would be detailed in the Statement of Work (SOW) for the delivery order, which is not provided in this summary data.

How does the annual value of this contract compare to similar management consulting contracts within DHS or the federal government?

The total award was approximately $25.4 million over a period of 1645 days (roughly 4.5 years), averaging about $5.6 million per year. This annual value is moderate for specialized management and analytical support services within a large federal agency like DHS. Many federal contracts for similar services can range from a few million to tens of millions of dollars annually, depending on the scope, duration, and criticality of the program supported. Without specific benchmarking data for NAICS code 541611 within DHS for the period 2008-2013, it's difficult to provide a precise comparison, but the value appears consistent with substantial, ongoing program support.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the success of Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. under this contract?

The provided summary data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the contractor's performance. Typically, such metrics would be detailed in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and performance work statement (PWS). These could include timeliness of reports, accuracy of analyses, effectiveness of program management recommendations, or successful coordination support. The absence of this information in the summary prevents a detailed assessment of contractor performance beyond the fact that the contract was completed.

Were there any challenges or risks identified during the performance of this contract, and how were they mitigated?

The summary data does not explicitly detail any challenges or risks encountered during the contract's performance or the mitigation strategies employed. However, common risks in such contracts can include scope creep, changes in agency priorities, difficulties in data access or analysis, and personnel turnover. Given the contract's completion, it can be inferred that any such risks were either managed effectively by the contractor and the agency's contracting officer's representative (COR), or they did not significantly impede the delivery of required services. The fixed-price nature of the contract implies that the contractor bore the primary financial risk for cost overruns.

What is the track record of Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. in performing similar federal contracts, particularly within DHS?

Systems Planning and Analysis, Inc. (SPA) has a significant history of performing federal contracts, including those with the Department of Defense and other agencies. While this specific contract was for DHS, SPA is known for providing a range of analytical, engineering, and program management support services. Their expertise often lies in complex technical and strategic domains. A deeper dive into federal procurement databases would reveal the full extent of their contract history, including past performance evaluations, other agencies served, and the types of services rendered, providing a more comprehensive view of their track record.

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) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: HSHQDC-08-Q-00007

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2001 N BEAUREGARD ST., SUITE 100, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22311

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $25,416,822

Exercised Options: $25,416,822

Current Obligation: $25,416,822

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0338N

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline