DHS awards $23.1M for Program Management Services to Touchstone Consulting Group under full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,126,492 ($23.1M)

Contractor: Touchstone Consulting Group, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2008-09-27

End Date: 2011-05-26

Contract Duration: 971 days

Daily Burn Rate: $23.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20036

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $23.1 million to TOUCHSTONE CONSULTING GROUP, INC. for work described as: PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES Key points: 1. Spending of $23.1M over 3 years for management consulting. 2. Touchstone Consulting Group, Inc. is the sole awardee. 3. Contract awarded under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call. 4. Services fall under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting. 5. No small business participation noted.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award value is $23.1M. Without specific task order details or comparable contract data, assessing the value for money is difficult. The BPA Call mechanism suggests a framework for multiple potential orders.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a broad solicitation. However, the use of a BPA Call suggests that the initial competition might have been for the BPA itself, with subsequent calls potentially having less direct competition depending on the terms.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is generally positive for taxpayer value, aiming to secure the best prices. The total spending of $23.1M represents a significant investment.

Public Impact

Supports U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services operations. Provides essential administrative and general management consulting. Contract duration spans over 3 years. Awarded by the Department of Homeland Security.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific task order details makes value assessment challenging.
No small business participation noted.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Supports critical USCIS functions.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under professional services, specifically management consulting. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on agency needs and project scope. Benchmarks for similar large-scale consulting contracts are often agency-specific.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates no small business participation in this contract. This could be due to the nature of the services required, the size of the contract, or the specific solicitation strategy employed by the agency.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded under a BPA Call, which is a mechanism that can facilitate efficient procurement. Oversight would focus on the management of the BPA and individual task orders to ensure they align with the original competition and deliver value.

Related Government Programs

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Department of Homeland Security Contracting
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of detailed task order information.
No small business participation.
Potential for scope creep within BPA Call.
Limited transparency on specific service outcomes.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $23.1 million to TOUCHSTONE CONSULTING GROUP, INC.. PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TOUCHSTONE CONSULTING GROUP, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $23.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-09-27. End: 2011-05-26.

What specific program management services were provided under this contract, and how did they contribute to USCIS's mission?

The contract provided administrative management and general management consulting services. These likely supported USCIS in areas such as operational efficiency, strategic planning, process improvement, and program execution. The exact nature of the services would be detailed in individual task orders, which are not provided here, making a precise impact assessment difficult.

Given the $23.1M award value, what were the key risk factors considered during the full and open competition, and how were they mitigated?

Key risks could include contractor performance, cost overruns, and alignment with USCIS objectives. Mitigation strategies during a full and open competition typically involve rigorous evaluation criteria, performance metrics in the contract, and clear statement of work. The BPA Call structure might introduce risks related to task order scope creep or inconsistent pricing if not managed carefully.

How effective was the full and open competition and BPA Call mechanism in ensuring the best value for taxpayer dollars for these management consulting services?

Full and open competition is designed to maximize value by encouraging broad participation. The BPA Call mechanism can streamline ordering but requires careful management to maintain competitive pressure. Effectiveness hinges on the clarity of the BPA's terms, the competitiveness of the initial BPA award, and the process for subsequent task order competitions or pricing negotiations.

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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Sterling Parent Inc.

Address: 1920 N STREET NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20036

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $38,209,599

Exercised Options: $23,126,492

Current Obligation: $23,126,492

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F06LPA0010

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline