State Department awards $24.5M task order for global visa support strategy to CGI Federal Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $24,550,475 ($24.6M)

Contractor: CGI Federal Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2013-09-03

End Date: 2020-09-02

Contract Duration: 2,556 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE TASK ORDER LAUNCHES A REGIONAL GLOBAL SUPPORT STRATEGY FOR IGF::OT::IGF VISA SERVICES PROGRAM FOR GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ESTONIA, LATVIA, SWEDEN, NORWAY, AUSTRIA, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY, AND FINLAND.

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22033

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $24.6 million to CGI FEDERAL INC. for work described as: THE TASK ORDER LAUNCHES A REGIONAL GLOBAL SUPPORT STRATEGY FOR IGF::OT::IGF VISA SERVICES PROGRAM FOR GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ESTONIA, LATVIA, SWEDEN, NORWAY, AUSTRIA, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY, AND FINLAND. Key points: 1. The contract supports a regional global support strategy for visa services across multiple European countries. 2. CGI Federal Inc. was awarded this delivery order under a larger contract. 3. The task order has a duration of 2556 days, spanning from September 2013 to September 2020. 4. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, indicating a set cost for the services. 5. This award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541513, relating to Computer Facilities Management Services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific task order is challenging without more granular data on the scope of services provided across the listed countries. The total award amount of $24.5 million over approximately seven years suggests a moderate annual spend. However, without comparable contract data for similar regional visa support strategies, it's difficult to definitively assess if this represents excellent value for money. The firm fixed-price nature provides cost certainty, but the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the services delivered would require further performance metrics.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This task order was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The fact that it was competed suggests that the Department of State sought to leverage market competition to obtain the best value. The number of bidders is not specified, but the 'full and open' designation implies a robust competitive environment, which generally leads to more competitive pricing and a wider range of innovative solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure cost-effective services for critical diplomatic functions. Full and open competition helps ensure that government funds are used efficiently by driving down prices and improving service quality.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are U.S. citizens and foreign nationals requiring visa services in Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Sweden, Norway, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, and Finland. The services delivered are crucial for facilitating international travel and diplomatic relations. The geographic impact is significant, covering a broad region of Central and Northern Europe. The contract likely supports a workforce involved in processing and managing visa applications and related services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep given the broad regional coverage and long duration.
Ensuring consistent service delivery quality across diverse geopolitical and cultural contexts.
Monitoring contractor performance to ensure adherence to service level agreements and program objectives.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing environment.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost predictability for the government.
Long-term nature of the task order may indicate a stable and reliable service provision.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically related to IT and facilities management supporting government operations. The market for global support services, including visa processing and related IT infrastructure, is competitive, with several large federal contractors capable of undertaking such complex, multi-national endeavors. The Department of State's spending in this area is substantial, reflecting the critical nature of diplomatic and consular services worldwide. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve other agencies managing large-scale international operations or IT support contracts.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, CGI Federal Inc., is likely a large business. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses within this specific task order. The absence of a small business set-aside suggests that the competition was open to all qualified offerors, and the focus was on the overall best value rather than specific small business participation goals for this particular award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this task order would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the Department of State responsible for visa services. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract structure, which obligates the contractor to deliver specified services at an agreed-upon price. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. While specific Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction for this task order isn't detailed, the Department of State's Office of Inspector General would have oversight authority over departmental spending and program effectiveness.

Related Government Programs

Department of State Consular Services
Visa Processing Operations
Global IT Support Contracts
Federal IT Management Services

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of technological obsolescence.
Multi-country scope introduces geopolitical and logistical complexities.
Dependence on IT infrastructure for critical diplomatic functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $24.6 million to CGI FEDERAL INC.. THE TASK ORDER LAUNCHES A REGIONAL GLOBAL SUPPORT STRATEGY FOR IGF::OT::IGF VISA SERVICES PROGRAM FOR GERMANY, SWITZERLAND, THE CZECH REPUBLIC, ESTONIA, LATVIA, SWEDEN, NORWAY, AUSTRIA, SLOVAKIA, HUNGARY, AND FINLAND.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CGI FEDERAL INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $24.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-09-03. End: 2020-09-02.

What specific IT and facilities management services are included under this task order for visa services?

The provided data indicates the task order supports a 'Regional Global Support Strategy for IGF::OT::IGF Visa Services Program'. While the NAICS code 541513 points to 'Computer Facilities Management Services', the exact scope of services is not detailed. This could encompass a range of activities such as maintaining IT infrastructure at consulates and embassies, providing technical support for visa application systems, managing network connectivity, ensuring data security, and potentially overseeing physical facilities related to visa processing operations across the ten listed European countries. A comprehensive understanding would require reviewing the Statement of Work (SOW) associated with the task order.

How does the $24.5 million award compare to historical spending on similar visa support contracts by the Department of State?

Direct comparison of this $24.5 million task order to historical spending on similar visa support contracts is difficult without access to detailed historical contract data for the Department of State. The award amount is spread over approximately seven years (2556 days), equating to an average annual spend of roughly $3.5 million. This figure needs to be contextualized against the number of countries supported (10) and the complexity of managing visa services across diverse regions. To assess historical value, one would need to analyze trends in IT and support service contracts for consular affairs, looking at contract values, durations, and the scope of services provided in previous periods or for different regions.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of CGI Federal Inc. in delivering visa support services under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of CGI Federal Inc. for this task order. However, typical KPIs for such contracts often include metrics related to visa application processing times, system uptime and availability, customer satisfaction (for applicants and internal users), data security compliance, and adherence to service level agreements (SLAs). The firm fixed-price nature of the contract implies that performance against defined objectives is crucial for the contractor to meet profitability targets. The Department of State would likely have established specific metrics within the contract's Statement of Work to monitor service delivery and contractor performance.

What is the risk profile associated with a long-term, multi-country IT support contract like this one?

Long-term, multi-country IT support contracts present several inherent risks. For this specific task order, risks could include technological obsolescence, as IT systems evolve rapidly over a seven-year period, potentially requiring significant upgrades or changes. Geopolitical instability in any of the ten supported countries could disrupt operations or necessitate changes in security protocols. Contractor performance risk is also present; ensuring consistent service quality and responsiveness across diverse locations and time zones can be challenging. Furthermore, managing vendor lock-in and ensuring data security and privacy across different national regulations are critical considerations. The Department of State would need robust oversight mechanisms to mitigate these risks.

How does the 'Computer Facilities Management Services' NAICS code align with the stated purpose of supporting visa services?

The NAICS code 541513, 'Computer Facilities Management Services,' aligns with the task order's objective of supporting visa services by focusing on the underlying IT infrastructure and operations. Managing visa services in the modern era heavily relies on robust IT systems for application processing, data management, background checks, and communication. Computer facilities management encompasses the maintenance, operation, and support of these critical IT resources. This includes ensuring the availability and reliability of servers, networks, data centers, and related hardware and software, which are essential for the efficient and secure functioning of visa operations across multiple international locations.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: CGI Inc (UEI: 248513116)

Address: 12601 FAIR LAKES CIR, 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: $24,799,401

Exercised Options: $24,799,401

Current Obligation: $24,550,475

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: SAQMMA10D0018

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline