Bechtel National awarded $170.9M for professional services, with a significant portion for specialized studies

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $170,949,474 ($170.9M)

Contractor: Bechtel National, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2005-06-07

End Date: 2010-10-31

Contract Duration: 1,972 days

Daily Burn Rate: $86.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: 200512!502505!9700!HDTRA1!DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY !DTRA0101D0011 !A!N! !N!0014 ! !20050607!20051130!070342758!070342758!094878980!N!BECHTEL NATIONAL, INC !8180 GREENSBORO DR STE 900!MC LEAN !VA!22102!00000! !GG!* !* !GEORGIA !+000015376898!N!N!000000000000!B599!OTHER SPECIAL STUDIES&ANALYSES !S1 !SERVICES !000 !* !541690!E! !5!B!S! ! ! !20200930!B! ! !A! !D!U!J!1!001!N!1B!Z!N!Z! ! !N!M!N! ! ! ! ! !A!A!000!A!B!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! !

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $170.9 million to BECHTEL NATIONAL, INC. for work described as: 200512!502505!9700!HDTRA1!DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY !DTRA0101D0011 !A!N! !N!0014 ! !20050607!20051130!070342758!070342758!094878980!N!BECHTEL NATIONAL, INC !8180 GREENSBORO DR STE 900!MC LEAN !VA!22102!00000! !GG!* !* … Key points: 1. Contract value indicates a substantial investment in specialized technical services. 2. The firm fixed-price structure suggests a defined scope and predictable costs. 3. A single award indicates a focused engagement with one primary contractor. 4. The contract duration spans over five years, implying a long-term need. 5. Services fall under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' a broad category.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $170.9 million over approximately five years is substantial for professional services. Benchmarking this against similar broad professional services contracts is challenging due to the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code. However, the duration and value suggest a significant scope of work. The firm fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government, but the lack of specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns makes a precise value-for-money assessment difficult without further context on deliverables.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a competitive process was intended. This approach generally aims to foster price discovery and ensure the government receives competitive offers.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining services at competitive prices by allowing a wide range of qualified contractors to participate.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is likely the Department of Defense, specifically the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, receiving specialized technical and analytical support. Services delivered are broadly categorized as professional, scientific, and technical, likely supporting agency missions related to threat reduction. Geographic impact is not specified but is likely concentrated around agency operations or project sites. Workforce implications would involve skilled professionals in scientific, technical, and analytical fields.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Broad NAICS code makes it difficult to assess if specialized expertise was truly required or if a more specific category could have yielded better competition.
Lack of detailed performance metrics or deliverables in the provided data hinders assessment of actual service quality and impact.
The substantial contract value without clear performance indicators raises questions about potential overspending or scope creep over its long duration.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
Firm fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Long-term contract duration indicates a sustained need and potential for stable support.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls under the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically NAICS code 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services). This is a broad category encompassing a wide array of specialized services. Spending in this sector by the federal government is significant, supporting various agency missions. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without knowing the specific nature of the 'other' services provided, but large contracts in this area often support complex research, analysis, or program management.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss and sb fields) was not a primary set-aside or focus for this contract. There is no indication of specific small business subcontracting goals or achievements. This suggests the contract was likely awarded to a large business capable of handling the scope and complexity, with limited direct impact on the small business ecosystem unless Bechtel National, Inc. actively engages small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within the Defense Threat Reduction Agency. Accountability is primarily driven by the firm fixed-price contract terms, requiring delivery of specified services. Transparency is limited by the public availability of detailed performance reports or audits, though contract awards are generally public record. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Defense Threat Reduction Agency Support Services
Professional and Technical Services Contracts
Department of Defense Contract Awards
Federal Acquisition Support Services

Risk Flags

Broad NAICS code may obscure specific service details.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in summary data.
Long contract duration without clear task order breakdown.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $170.9 million to BECHTEL NATIONAL, INC.. 200512!502505!9700!HDTRA1!DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY !DTRA0101D0011 !A!N! !N!0014 ! !20050607!20051130!070342758!070342758!094878980!N!BECHTEL NATIONAL, INC !8180 GREENSBORO DR STE 900!MC LEAN !VA!22102!00000! !GG!* !* !GEORGIA !+000015376898!N!N!000000000000!B599!OTHER SPECIAL STUDIES&ANALYSES !S1 !SERVICES !000 !* !541690!E! !5!B!S! ! ! !20200

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BECHTEL NATIONAL, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Threat Reduction Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $170.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-06-07. End: 2010-10-31.

What specific types of 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' were provided under this contract?

The provided data uses the broad NAICS code 541990, 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.' This category is a catch-all for services not classified under more specific NAICS codes within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector. Without access to the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or detailed task orders, it is impossible to determine the precise nature of the services. These could range from specialized scientific research and analysis, program management support, technical consulting, environmental services, to a variety of other highly specialized functions that do not fit neatly into other categories. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) mission suggests these services likely relate to areas such as weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threat assessment, nonproliferation, consequence management, or related scientific and technical advisory roles.

How does the $170.9 million contract value compare to similar DTRA contracts for specialized studies and analyses?

Comparing this $170.9 million contract value to similar Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) contracts requires access to a comprehensive database of DTRA's historical and current procurements, specifically those categorized under broad professional services or specialized studies. The provided data indicates this contract, awarded in 2005 and ending in 2010, had a duration of approximately 1972 days (over 5 years). A value of roughly $170 million over five years averages to about $34 million per year. To assess if this is high or low, one would need to benchmark it against other DTRA contracts for similar types of services, considering factors like contract duration, scope complexity, and the specific threat reduction areas addressed. Without such comparative data, it's difficult to definitively state whether this represents a typical, high, or low investment for DTRA's specialized needs during that period.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or deliverables associated with this contract?

The provided data summary does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or detailed deliverables for this contract. Contracts of this nature, especially those under a broad NAICS code and awarded as Firm Fixed Price (FFP), typically outline specific tasks, milestones, and reporting requirements in an accompanying Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS). The FFP structure implies that the contractor, Bechtel National, Inc., is responsible for delivering the agreed-upon services within the fixed price. Accountability would be measured against the successful completion of these defined tasks and deliverables. However, without access to the SOW/PWS, a granular assessment of performance expectations and how they were met is not possible from the given data alone.

What is Bechtel National, Inc.'s track record with the Defense Threat Reduction Agency prior to and after this contract?

The provided data indicates Bechtel National, Inc. was awarded this specific contract (HDTRA1-05-D-0011) by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). To assess their broader track record, one would need to analyze federal procurement databases for other contracts awarded to Bechtel National, Inc. by DTRA, both before and after the 2005-2010 period of this contract. This would involve looking at the number of awards, total dollar value of those awards, the types of services rendered, and potentially performance ratings if available. A history of successful contract performance, particularly in relevant areas like technical analysis or program support for DTRA's mission, would suggest reliability. Conversely, a pattern of issues or disputes could indicate higher risk. Without this broader historical context, it's difficult to fully evaluate their established relationship and performance with DTRA.

How did the 'full and open competition' process for this contract ensure competitive pricing?

The designation 'full and open competition' signifies that the solicitation was made available to all responsible sources, and any responsible source could submit an offer. This process is designed to maximize competition by removing barriers to entry for potential bidders. For this contract, it implies that multiple companies were likely invited to bid, and the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) evaluated these proposals based on established criteria, which typically include technical approach, past performance, and price. The competitive nature of the bidding process itself is intended to drive down prices as contractors vie for the award. While the specific number of bidders isn't provided, the 'full and open' approach generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government compared to sole-source or limited competition scenarios.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Bechtel Group, Inc.

Address: 5275 WESTVIEW DR, FREDERICK, MD, 21703

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DTRA0101D0011

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline