NOAA Awards $4.9M for Technical Support to Panama City Lab, Competition Method Unclear

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,891,185 ($4.9M)

Contractor: Technical and Engineering Support Alliance, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2021-06-16

End Date: 2026-09-29

Contract Duration: 1,931 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE PANAMA CITY LABORATORY FOR NOAA FISHERIES, SOUTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER

Place of Performance

Location: BEAUFORT, CARTERET County, NORTH CAROLINA, 28516

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $4.9 million to TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT ALLIANCE, LLC for work described as: TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE PANAMA CITY LABORATORY FOR NOAA FISHERIES, SOUTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER Key points: 1. Spending focuses on specialized technical and scientific support services. 2. The contract value is moderate for this service category. 3. Potential for cost overruns exists with Time and Materials pricing. 4. The specific sector is professional, scientific, and technical services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's Time and Materials pricing structure presents a risk for cost control. Benchmarking against similar NOAA contracts for technical support is needed to assess value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the Time and Materials pricing could limit price discovery and potentially lead to higher costs than fixed-price contracts.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential scientific support services. The Time and Materials contract type warrants close monitoring to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Public Impact

Supports critical NOAA Fisheries research and operations in the Southeast. Ensures continuity of scientific data collection and analysis. Benefits the scientific community through reliable support services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials pricing
Lack of specific performance metrics in provided data

Positive Signals

Full and open competition
Supports critical scientific mission

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, which is crucial for government research and development. Benchmarks for similar support services vary widely based on specialization and duration.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded to a small business, indicating a lack of opportunity for small business participation in this specific procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is crucial, especially given the Time and Materials contract type, to ensure adherence to scope and prevent cost creep.

Related Government Programs

All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Department of Commerce Contracting
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in the provided data.
Limited visibility into the specific technical services rendered.
No small business participation noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $4.9 million to TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT ALLIANCE, LLC. TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE PANAMA CITY LABORATORY FOR NOAA FISHERIES, SOUTHEAST FISHERIES SCIENCE CENTER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT ALLIANCE, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-06-16. End: 2026-09-29.

What specific technical and scientific expertise does TECHNICAL AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT ALLIANCE, LLC provide to the Panama City Laboratory?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.' Specific details on the expertise would likely be found in the Statement of Work (SOW) or contract award documentation. This could range from laboratory equipment maintenance and calibration to data analysis support, environmental monitoring, or specialized scientific research assistance.

How does the Time and Materials pricing structure impact the government's ability to control costs for these technical support services?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts can increase costs if not closely managed. The government pays for the actual labor hours and material costs incurred by the contractor. Without strong oversight, defined labor categories, and potentially cost ceilings, there's a risk of inflated hours or unnecessary material purchases, leading to higher overall spending than anticipated.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the effectiveness of the technical support provided under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Effective measurement would typically involve metrics related to response times for technical issues, successful completion of assigned tasks, quality of deliverables (e.g., reports, analyses), and adherence to project timelines. These KPIs are essential for evaluating contractor performance and ensuring mission objectives are met.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVERVAT SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 15850 CRABBS BRANCH WAY STE 380, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20855

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Joint Venture Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Joint Venture Women Owned Small Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,039,390

Exercised Options: $9,039,390

Current Obligation: $4,891,185

Actual Outlays: $2,237,361

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 1305M418DNFFK0008

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline