DHS awarded $42.5M for Information Assurance Support, with General Dynamics Mission Systems Inc. as the contractor
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $42,552,187 ($42.6M)
Contractor: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2009-01-07
End Date: 2010-05-06
Contract Duration: 484 days
Daily Burn Rate: $87.9K/day
Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: IT
Official Description: INFORMATION ASSURANCE SUPPORT SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: BUFFALO, ERIE County, NEW YORK, 14225
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $42.6 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC. for work described as: INFORMATION ASSURANCE SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract value of $42.5 million for a 16-month period suggests a significant investment in information assurance capabilities. 2. Competition dynamics for this delivery order are not fully detailed, but the award was made under a competitive contract. 3. The primary risk indicator is the short performance period, which may limit the depth of impact and long-term strategic integration. 4. This contract falls under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services, indicating a focus on advisory and support functions. 5. The geographic location of the award in New York (NY) may point to specific operational needs or contractor presence in that region. 6. The use of 'Labor Hours' as the contract type suggests flexibility but requires careful monitoring of hours expended against deliverables.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The total award of $42.5 million over approximately 16 months averages to about $2.65 million per month. Without specific benchmarks for information assurance support services of this nature, it is difficult to definitively assess value for money. However, the duration and scope suggest a substantial engagement. Further analysis would require comparing the specific services rendered against industry standards and the pricing structure for similar government contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded as a 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER,' indicating that it was competed under a broader, pre-existing contract that allowed for open competition among eligible vendors. The specific number of bidders for this particular delivery order is not provided, but the 'full-and-open' designation implies a robust competitive process was intended. This level of competition generally aims to ensure fair pricing and access to a wide range of qualified contractors.
Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process, even for a delivery order, is beneficial for taxpayers as it drives down costs through market forces and encourages innovation among potential bidders.
Public Impact
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the primary beneficiary, receiving critical information assurance support. Services delivered likely include technical expertise, policy development, and strategic guidance related to cybersecurity and data protection. The geographic impact is centered around the contractor's operational base in New York (NY), but the services may support national-level security objectives. Workforce implications include the direct employment of personnel by General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc. for this contract, potentially requiring specialized cybersecurity skills.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Short performance period (484 days) may limit the ability to achieve deep, sustainable improvements in information assurance.
- Reliance on 'Labor Hours' pricing can lead to cost overruns if not meticulously managed and monitored.
- Lack of specific details on the competition for this delivery order makes it hard to gauge the full extent of price discovery.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under a competitive contract, suggesting a baseline level of market vetting.
- General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc. is a large, established defense and technology contractor with significant experience.
- The contract addresses a critical government function: information assurance and cybersecurity.
Sector Analysis
Information assurance and cybersecurity services are a rapidly growing sector within the broader IT and defense industries. Government spending in this area has been consistently high due to increasing cyber threats. This contract fits within the segment of professional services supporting government IT infrastructure and security operations. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within IT consulting and managed security services for federal agencies, often measured by contract value per year or per service type.
Small Business Impact
The contract indicates that small business participation was not a primary set-aside consideration, as 'sb' is false. This suggests the primary award was made to a large business. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this specific delivery order. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular contract appears limited, though the prime contractor may engage small businesses in their broader supply chain.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would fall under the Department of Homeland Security's contracting and program management offices. As a delivery order under a larger contract, specific oversight mechanisms would be detailed in the parent contract's terms. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected or identified during the contract's performance or close-out.
Related Government Programs
- Department of Homeland Security Cybersecurity Initiatives
- Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) Compliance Services
- IT Management Consulting Services
- General Dynamics Mission Systems Contracts
- Information Assurance Support Services
Risk Flags
- Short contract duration
- Labor Hours pricing model
- Limited detail on specific competition metrics for the delivery order
Tags
information-assurance, cybersecurity, department-of-homeland-security, general-dynamics-mission-systems, competitive-delivery-order, administrative-management-consulting, labor-hours, new-york, federal-contract, it-services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $42.6 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC.. INFORMATION ASSURANCE SUPPORT SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, 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 $42.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2009-01-07. End: 2010-05-06.
What specific information assurance services were provided under this contract?
The provided data indicates the contract was for 'INFORMATION ASSURANCE SUPPORT SERVICES' under NAICS code 541611 (Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services). While the specific deliverables are not detailed, this typically encompasses a range of activities such as risk assessments, security policy development, vulnerability management, incident response planning, security awareness training, and compliance support related to federal mandates like FISMA. The 'Labor Hours' contract type suggests that the contractor provided personnel to perform these services on an as-needed basis, rather than fixed-price deliverables.
How does the $42.5 million award compare to similar DHS information assurance contracts?
Comparing the $42.5 million award for a 16-month period (approximately $2.65 million per month) requires access to a broader dataset of DHS contracts for similar information assurance support services. Without specific benchmarks for the scope and complexity of services rendered, a direct comparison is challenging. However, for context, major federal cybersecurity and IT support contracts can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars annually, depending on the agency's size, mission criticality, and the breadth of services required. This award appears to be a significant, but not exceptionally large, investment for a focused support function.
What is the track record of General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc. with DHS contracts?
General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc. (GDMS) is a major defense contractor with a substantial history of performing work for various U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security. While this specific contract was awarded in 2009, GDMS has consistently secured large contracts across different federal departments for a wide array of IT, defense, and mission support services. Their track record generally indicates experience in complex systems integration, cybersecurity, and program management, suggesting they possess the capabilities to fulfill DHS requirements. A deeper dive into their performance history with DHS would involve reviewing past contract awards, performance evaluations (if publicly available), and any documented issues.
What are the potential risks associated with a 'Labor Hours' contract type for this service?
The 'Labor Hours' contract type, used here, carries inherent risks for the government, primarily related to cost control. Unlike fixed-price contracts, where the contractor assumes more risk for cost overruns, labor hour contracts pay for the time and materials expended. This means the total cost can escalate if the project takes longer than anticipated or if labor hours are not efficiently utilized. Effective management requires rigorous oversight, detailed timesheet tracking, and clear performance metrics to ensure that the hours billed directly correlate with valuable work performed and that the project stays within budget expectations. Without strong controls, there's a risk of inefficiency and increased costs.
How does the short performance period (484 days) impact the effectiveness of the information assurance support?
A performance period of 484 days (approximately 16 months) for a contract focused on information assurance support presents both opportunities and limitations. On the one hand, it allows for focused, short-term projects and rapid deployment of specific capabilities. On the other hand, information assurance is an ongoing, evolving discipline. A short contract duration may hinder the ability to implement deep, strategic changes, establish long-term security postures, or fully embed new processes and technologies within the agency. It might be more suitable for specific assessments, targeted enhancements, or bridging temporary capability gaps rather than comprehensive, long-term security transformation.
What does the 'full-and-open' competition designation imply for taxpayer value?
The 'full-and-open' competition designation signifies that the contract opportunity was made available to all responsible sources, without restrictions. This broad approach to competition is generally considered the most effective way to ensure taxpayer value. By allowing a wide range of potential bidders to compete, the government can leverage market forces to achieve lower prices, higher quality services, and greater innovation. It reduces the likelihood of paying inflated prices due to limited vendor pools and increases the chances of selecting a contractor that offers the best overall value proposition.
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: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: General Dynamics Corp (UEI: 001381284)
Address: 12450 FAIR LAKES CIR STE 200, FAIRFAX, VA, 22033
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $42,552,187
Exercised Options: $42,552,187
Current Obligation: $42,552,187
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS10F0237L
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2009-01-07
Current End Date: 2010-05-06
Potential End Date: 2010-05-06 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-09-24
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