DoD's $11.6M engineering services contract with Astrion Group, LLC, awarded under full and open competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $11,590,973 ($11.6M)
Contractor: Astrion Group, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2014-03-18
End Date: 2020-09-30
Contract Duration: 2,388 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Defense
Official Description: IGF::CL,CT::IGF
Place of Performance
Location: VALLEY HEAD, DE KALB County, ALABAMA, 35989
State: Alabama Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $11.6 million to ASTRION GROUP, LLC for work described as: IGF::CL,CT::IGF Key points: 1. Contract awarded for engineering services, indicating a need for specialized technical expertise. 2. The contract duration of nearly 4 years suggests a significant, ongoing requirement. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 4. Awarded by the Department of the Army, highlighting defense-related infrastructure or operational support. 5. The use of a BPA Call indicates a streamlined procurement process for pre-negotiated services. 6. The contract was not set aside for small businesses, suggesting a focus on large-scale capabilities.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this specific engineering services contract is challenging without more detailed service descriptions and comparable contract data. The total award amount of $11.6 million over approximately four years suggests a moderate investment. However, without knowing the specific engineering tasks performed, it's difficult to assess if the pricing was competitive or if it represents good value for money. Further analysis would require comparing the per-unit costs or labor rates against industry benchmarks for similar engineering support provided to the Department of Defense.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. This approach generally fosters a competitive environment, encouraging multiple bidders to present their best pricing and technical solutions. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the full and open nature suggests a robust competition was intended, which can lead to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government compared to limited or sole-source procurements.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it maximizes the pool of potential offerors, increasing the likelihood of receiving competitive pricing and innovative solutions, thereby optimizing the use of public funds.
Public Impact
The Department of the Army benefits from specialized engineering expertise to support its missions. Services delivered likely include design, analysis, testing, or technical consultation related to military systems or infrastructure. The geographic impact is primarily within Alabama, where the contractor is located. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for engineers and technical staff at Astrion Group, LLC.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the quality and effectiveness of engineering services provided.
- The duration of the contract without clear performance milestones raises questions about ongoing oversight and value realization.
- Limited transparency on the specific engineering tasks performed hinders a thorough value-for-money assessment.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
- Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
- The contract was awarded to Astrion Group, LLC, a known entity in the contracting space.
Sector Analysis
Engineering services represent a significant sector within government contracting, encompassing a wide range of technical support for infrastructure, defense systems, and research and development. The market is characterized by specialized firms capable of providing expertise in areas like civil, mechanical, electrical, and aerospace engineering. Spending in this sector is often driven by large-scale government projects and ongoing operational needs. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing the average cost of similar engineering support contracts awarded by the Department of Defense or other federal agencies for projects of similar scope and complexity.
Small Business Impact
This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it appear to have specific small business subcontracting requirements indicated in the provided data. This suggests that the primary contractor, Astrion Group, LLC, is expected to perform the majority of the work with its own resources or through larger, non-small business subcontractors. The impact on the small business ecosystem is neutral to potentially negative if opportunities that could have been set aside for small businesses were instead competed broadly.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the contracting officer and the relevant program managers within the Department of the Army. As a BPA Call award, the underlying Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) likely has established terms and conditions that include reporting and oversight mechanisms. Transparency is moderate, as the award is publicly available, but detailed performance reports or specific task orders may not be readily accessible. The Inspector General's office for the Department of Defense could investigate if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.
Related Government Programs
- Department of Defense Engineering Services
- Army Corps of Engineers Support Contracts
- Defense Infrastructure Projects
- Professional Services Contracts
Risk Flags
- Lack of detailed performance data.
- Limited insight into specific engineering tasks performed.
- Potential for scope creep or unforeseen costs in fixed-price engineering contracts.
Tags
defense, department-of-defense, department-of-the-army, engineering-services, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, bpa-call, alabama, professional-services, large-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $11.6 million to ASTRION GROUP, LLC. IGF::CL,CT::IGF
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ASTRION GROUP, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $11.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2014-03-18. End: 2020-09-30.
What specific engineering services were provided under this contract?
The provided data indicates the contract was for 'Engineering Services' (NAICS 541330) awarded to Astrion Group, LLC by the Department of the Army. However, the specific nature of these services is not detailed. Typically, engineering services procured by the Army can range widely, including but not limited to architectural and engineering design for facilities, systems engineering for military platforms, technical consulting, environmental engineering, and construction management support. Without access to the individual task orders or a more detailed contract description, it is impossible to specify the exact services rendered. This lack of specificity makes it challenging to benchmark performance or cost-effectiveness accurately.
How does the $11.6 million award compare to similar engineering contracts for the Department of the Army?
Comparing the $11.6 million award to similar contracts requires access to a broader dataset of Department of the Army engineering service procurements with comparable scope and duration. The provided data shows this contract spanned from March 2014 to September 2020 (approximately 6.5 years, though the duration field shows 2388 days, which is closer to 6.5 years). The average annual value was roughly $1.78 million ($11.6M / 6.5 years). To assess value, one would need to compare this annual average against the average annual value of other engineering services contracts awarded by the Army for similar types of support (e.g., infrastructure design, systems engineering) over a similar timeframe. Without this comparative data, it's difficult to definitively state if this award was high, low, or average.
What is Astrion Group, LLC's track record with federal contracts, particularly with the Department of Defense?
Astrion Group, LLC has a history of receiving federal contracts, including those with the Department of Defense. The provided data shows this specific contract was awarded in 2014 and completed in 2020. Further investigation into federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) would reveal the full extent of their contract history, including other agencies served, contract types, award amounts, and performance ratings, if available. A comprehensive review would help assess their experience, reliability, and past performance in delivering services, especially complex engineering solutions, to the DoD.
What are the potential risks associated with a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract for engineering services?
While Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contracts offer cost certainty to the government, they can introduce risks, particularly for complex engineering services. If the scope of work is not precisely defined or if unforeseen technical challenges arise, the contractor may incur higher costs than anticipated. This could lead to the contractor seeking change orders, potentially increasing the overall cost, or in extreme cases, impacting the quality of deliverables if the contractor attempts to cut corners to maintain profitability. For the government, the risk lies in potentially overpaying if the contractor's initial price was too high due to a lack of competition or if the contractor is highly efficient and the government could have secured a lower price. Effective oversight is crucial to manage these risks.
How does the use of a BPA Call impact competition and pricing for these engineering services?
A Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call is a method used to procure goods or services from pre-established BPA contracts. This implies that Astrion Group, LLC likely held a broader BPA with the government, and this award represents a specific order placed against that BPA. Using a BPA Call generally streamlines the procurement process, potentially reducing administrative costs and lead times. However, the level of competition for the BPA itself is critical. If the underlying BPA was awarded competitively, then subsequent calls against it can still yield good pricing. If the BPA was not competitively awarded or if calls are placed without further competition (depending on BPA terms), it could limit price discovery for individual orders. The data indicates this was a 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' award, suggesting the BPA itself or the process leading to this call involved broad competition.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering 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
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 308 VOYAGER WAY, SUITE 200, HUNTSVILLE, AL, 35806
Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $19,989,464
Exercised Options: $11,590,973
Current Obligation: $11,590,973
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: W31P4Q14A0008
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2014-03-18
Current End Date: 2020-09-30
Potential End Date: 2020-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-08
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