DHS Spends $17.16M on Information Sharing Program with TKC Communications, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $17,161,373 ($17.2M)
Contractor: TKC Communications, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security
Start Date: 2004-11-24
End Date: 2007-06-30
Contract Duration: 948 days
Daily Burn Rate: $18.1K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: INFORMATION SHARING AND COLLABORATION PROGRAM.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20585
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Homeland Security obligated $17.2 million to TKC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC for work described as: INFORMATION SHARING AND COLLABORATION PROGRAM. Key points: 1. The contract awarded to TKC Communications, LLC for $17.16 million focuses on an Information Sharing and Collaboration Program. 2. The specific sector is Wired Telecommunications Carriers, with the contract originating from the Department of Homeland Security. 3. The contract was not available for competition, raising potential concerns about price discovery and value. 4. The duration of the contract is 948 days, spanning from late 2004 to mid-2007.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $17.16 million for wired telecommunications services over approximately 2.5 years is difficult to benchmark without specific service details. The lack of competitive bidding makes a direct pricing assessment challenging.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' indicating a limited competition approach. This method may not have resulted in the most favorable pricing for taxpayers as alternative vendors were not considered.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of full and open competition could mean taxpayers paid more than necessary for these telecommunications services.
Public Impact
Citizens rely on secure and efficient information sharing for public safety and national security. The effectiveness of this program directly impacts inter-agency communication and collaboration. Transparency in government spending on critical infrastructure like telecommunications is vital for public trust.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition
- Lack of detailed pricing benchmarks
- Potential for overpayment due to non-competitive award
Positive Signals
- Program addresses critical information sharing needs
- Long-term contract provides stability for service delivery
Sector Analysis
The contract falls under the Wired Telecommunications Carriers sector, which is crucial for government operations. Spending benchmarks in this area can vary widely based on the specific services and duration.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication in the provided data whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
The award was made by the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Procurement Operations. Oversight would focus on ensuring the program met its objectives and the vendor fulfilled contractual obligations.
Related Government Programs
- Wired Telecommunications Carriers
- Department of Homeland Security Contracting
- Office of Procurement Operations Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for inflated costs
- Limited transparency on pricing justification
- Unclear performance metrics
Tags
wired-telecommunications-carriers, department-of-homeland-security, dc, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Homeland Security awarded $17.2 million to TKC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC. INFORMATION SHARING AND COLLABORATION PROGRAM.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is TKC COMMUNICATIONS, LLC.
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 $17.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2004-11-24. End: 2007-06-30.
What specific information sharing capabilities were provided under this contract, and how did they enhance DHS operations?
The contract details are limited, but the program's objective was 'INFORMATION SHARING AND COLLABORATION.' This likely involved establishing or enhancing communication networks and platforms to facilitate the secure and timely exchange of critical information between different agencies and entities within DHS and potentially partner organizations, improving situational awareness and response coordination.
Given the limited competition, what steps were taken to ensure the $17.16 million price was fair and reasonable?
When a contract is not available for full competition, agencies typically rely on other methods to determine price reasonableness, such as comparing prices to similar commercial items, using historical pricing data, or conducting market research. However, without specific documentation, it's difficult to ascertain the exact methods used in this instance to justify the $17.16 million expenditure.
How effectively did the 'Information Sharing and Collaboration Program' contribute to the Department of Homeland Security's mission during its operational period?
Assessing the program's effectiveness requires evaluating its impact on operational outcomes, such as improved response times, enhanced threat intelligence sharing, and better inter-agency coordination. Without performance metrics or post-award reviews, it's challenging to definitively state how effectively the program contributed to DHS's mission beyond the initial contract award.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) › Wired Telecommunications Carriers
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Nana Regional Corporation Inc (UEI: 079253761)
Address: 711 H ST STE 510, ANCHORAGE, AK, 99501
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $17,161,373
Exercised Options: $17,161,373
Current Obligation: $17,161,373
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HSHQPA04D00001
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2004-11-24
Current End Date: 2007-06-30
Potential End Date: 2007-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2017-08-30
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