DHS awards $19M for IT support, with a significant portion for facilities management

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,025,083 ($19.0M)

Contractor: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2010-09-28

End Date: 2011-10-30

Contract Duration: 397 days

Daily Burn Rate: $47.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: IT

Official Description: VERIFICATION INFORMATION SYSTEM (VIS) LOGICAL FOLLOW-ON (LFO)

Place of Performance

Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20850

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $19.0 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. for work described as: VERIFICATION INFORMATION SYSTEM (VIS) LOGICAL FOLLOW-ON (LFO) Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential IT infrastructure and data center operations. 2. General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. secured this award. 3. The contract was awarded under full and open competition. 4. This represents a Time and Materials contract type. 5. The contract duration was approximately 13 months. 6. The award value is within the mid-range for IT support contracts of this nature.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $19 million for approximately 13 months of IT support, specifically for facilities management and logical follow-on services, appears reasonable when benchmarked against similar government IT contracts. While specific per-unit costs are not detailed in the provided data, the overall award amount suggests a fair price for the scope of work, which includes maintaining critical IT infrastructure. Further analysis would require comparing the specific services rendered against industry standards and other awarded contracts for similar IT support functions.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through a full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The fact that it was competed openly suggests a healthy market for these services and likely led to competitive pricing. Without knowing the number of bids received, it's difficult to definitively assess the intensity of the competition, but the open nature is a positive indicator for price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can drive down costs and improve the quality of services received.

Public Impact

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) benefits from enhanced IT infrastructure stability. Ensures the continuity of critical IT operations supporting immigration services. The services are geographically focused on Maryland, where the contractor is based. Supports a workforce skilled in IT facilities management and data center operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns with Time and Materials contract type if not closely monitored.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical IT infrastructure could pose a risk.
Scope creep could increase costs beyond the initial award amount.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting competitive pricing.
Contractor has experience in providing IT services to the federal government.
Focus on essential IT facilities management ensures operational continuity.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology sector, specifically focusing on computer facilities management services. The market for IT support and facilities management within the federal government is substantial, with agencies consistently investing in maintaining and upgrading their IT infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar IT support contracts can vary widely based on scope, duration, and specific services, but this $19 million award is a moderate investment for critical infrastructure support.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that 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 a set-aside provision. The prime contractor, General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc., is a large business, and its engagement does not inherently create opportunities for small business subcontracting unless specified within the contract's broader terms, which are not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) contracting officers and program managers within the Department of Homeland Security. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract's performance standards and deliverables. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS, where this information is published. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

VIS LOGICAL FOLLOW-ON (LFO)
IT Facilities Management Services
Computer Systems Design Services
Department of Homeland Security IT Contracts
USCIS IT Support

Risk Flags

Time and Materials Contract Type
Potential for Cost Overruns
Contractor Dependence
Logical Follow-On Designation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $19.0 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.. VERIFICATION INFORMATION SYSTEM (VIS) LOGICAL FOLLOW-ON (LFO)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, 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 $19.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-09-28. End: 2011-10-30.

What is the track record of General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. in providing similar IT facilities management services to the federal government?

General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. (GDIT) has a long-standing and extensive track record of providing a wide array of IT services to various federal agencies, including complex facilities management, data center operations, and system integration. Their experience spans decades, encompassing support for critical national security, civilian agency, and defense IT infrastructure. GDIT has been a significant player in government contracting, often winning large-scale, multi-year contracts for IT modernization, sustainment, and operational support. Their past performance typically includes managing large IT workforces, ensuring high availability for mission-critical systems, and adhering to stringent security and compliance requirements. While this specific contract is for a follow-on to the VIS system, GDIT's broader portfolio demonstrates a capacity to handle such responsibilities effectively, though each contract's success is contingent on specific performance metrics and oversight.

How does the $19 million award compare to other federal contracts for similar IT facilities management services?

The $19 million award for approximately 13 months of IT facilities management and logical follow-on services for the VIS system is a moderate-sized contract within the federal IT landscape. Federal contracts for IT facilities management can range from a few million dollars for smaller, specialized tasks to hundreds of millions or even billions for comprehensive, long-term enterprise-wide support. For a specific system like VIS, this award suggests a focused scope of work, likely encompassing data center operations, hardware maintenance, network infrastructure support, and potentially some software-related facilities management. When compared to broader IT support contracts for agencies like the Department of Defense or NASA, $19 million might seem modest. However, for a specific system's logical follow-on, it represents a significant investment necessary to maintain operational continuity and support USCIS's mission-critical functions.

What are the primary risks associated with this Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for IT facilities management?

The primary risk associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract, such as this one for IT facilities management, is the potential for cost overruns if not managed diligently. T&M contracts pay the contractor for the actual labor hours expended and the cost of materials used. This structure can incentivize longer task durations or less efficient work if there isn't robust oversight and clear task definition. For IT facilities management, risks include scope creep, where additional tasks are added without formal modification, or inefficiencies in service delivery that drive up labor hours. To mitigate these risks, the government agency (USCIS) must implement strong project management, closely monitor labor hours and material costs, establish clear performance metrics, and ensure that tasks are well-defined and completed efficiently. Without such controls, the 'value for money' can be compromised compared to fixed-price contracts.

How effective is the 'full and open competition' approach in ensuring value for money for this type of IT support contract?

The 'full and open competition' approach is generally considered the most effective method for ensuring value for money in federal IT support contracts. By allowing all responsible sources to compete, it maximizes the pool of potential offerors, thereby increasing the likelihood of receiving competitive bids that reflect fair market prices. This broad competition drives innovation and efficiency as contractors strive to differentiate themselves on price, technical approach, and past performance. For IT facilities management, where service quality and reliability are paramount, open competition allows agencies to select contractors who not only offer competitive pricing but also demonstrate the technical expertise and operational capacity to meet demanding service level agreements. While T&M contracts inherently carry cost risks, the competitive pressure from an open bidding process helps to establish a reasonable baseline rate for labor and materials, making it more likely that the final cost aligns with the value delivered.

What are the historical spending patterns for VIS IT support or similar systems within DHS?

Historical spending patterns for the Verification Information System (VIS) IT support, or similar systems within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), would likely show a consistent need for funding to maintain and upgrade critical IT infrastructure. Agencies like USCIS, which manage large volumes of sensitive data and process significant numbers of applications, rely heavily on robust IT systems. Spending typically involves allocations for hardware, software licenses, network maintenance, cybersecurity measures, and personnel to operate and manage these systems. Follow-on contracts, like this one, often indicate a sustained requirement for these services, suggesting that previous spending was sufficient to maintain operations but perhaps not extensive enough for major upgrades, or that the system has reached a lifecycle stage requiring continued support. Analyzing past VIS contracts or comparable USCIS IT procurements would reveal trends in contract values, durations, and the types of services procured, providing context for the current $19 million award.

What are the implications of this contract being a 'logical follow-on' for the VIS system?

A 'logical follow-on' designation for the VIS system implies that this contract is a direct continuation or extension of previous work performed on the same system, likely by the same or a closely related contractor. This designation often suggests that the new contract builds upon existing infrastructure, knowledge, and processes established under prior efforts. For the government, it can streamline the procurement process and ensure continuity of operations by leveraging the contractor's familiarity with the system. However, it also raises questions about whether a full and open competition was truly feasible or if the follow-on nature might inadvertently limit competition in the future. The 'logical follow-on' status here, coupled with the 'full and open competition' award, indicates that despite the continuity, the agency ensured a competitive process was undertaken for this phase of support.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Facilities Management Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: HSSCCG-10-R-00005

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Computer Sciences Corporation (UEI: 009581091)

Address: 4151 LAFAYETTE CENTER DR STE 700, CHANTILLY, VA, 90

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $19,025,083

Exercised Options: $19,025,083

Current Obligation: $19,025,083

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HSHQDC06D00021

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline