NOAA's $17.6M fishing survey contract awarded to Gallup, Inc. for market research

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,645,008 ($17.6M)

Contractor: Gallup, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2023-01-01

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,550 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: OST FISHING EFFORT SURVEY

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20004

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $17.6 million to GALLUP, INC. for work described as: OST FISHING EFFORT SURVEY Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for a multi-year, large-scale survey effort. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process. 3. Potential risk indicators include contract duration and the need for consistent data collection. 4. Performance context is a long-term survey to inform fisheries management. 5. This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically market research. 6. The award to a well-established firm like Gallup may indicate a focus on reliability.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $17.6 million over approximately four years for a national survey is within a reasonable range for such extensive data collection and analysis. Benchmarking against similar large-scale public opinion and marketing research contracts suggests this pricing is competitive. The firm-fixed-price structure also provides cost certainty for the government, indicating good value if the deliverables meet expectations.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. With six bidders participating, the level of competition appears robust. This suggests that the government likely received competitive pricing and a range of qualified proposals, leading to a fair market price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers as it likely drove down costs and ensured the government secured the best value for its investment in critical fisheries data.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the fishing industry, who will receive data to inform management decisions. The services delivered include conducting surveys to gather data on fishing effort. The geographic impact is national, covering fishing activities across the United States. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for survey administrators, data collectors, and analysts at Gallup, Inc.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Contract duration of over four years requires sustained oversight to ensure continued performance and adherence to scope.
Reliance on a single contractor for a critical national survey necessitates robust performance monitoring.

Positive Signals

Award to a reputable firm like Gallup, Inc. suggests a high likelihood of successful execution.
The use of full and open competition indicates a commitment to obtaining the best possible outcome.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost predictability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically market research and public opinion polling. The market for such services is large and competitive, with numerous firms capable of conducting large-scale surveys. NOAA's spending on this type of service is crucial for gathering data that supports its mission of understanding and managing marine resources. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve other government agencies procuring similar survey research for policy and management purposes.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded under full and open competition and there is no indication of a small business set-aside. While Gallup, Inc. is a large business, there may be opportunities for small businesses to participate as subcontractors, particularly in data collection or regional support roles. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by NOAA contracting officers and program managers responsible for the fisheries survey. Accountability measures are built into the firm-fixed-price contract through deliverable requirements and performance standards. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, though specific performance metrics and data collection methodologies may be internal to the agency.

Related Government Programs

Fisheries Management Programs
Marine Resource Surveys
Economic Impact Studies
Public Opinion Research Contracts

Risk Flags

Contract Duration
Performance Monitoring
Data Integrity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $17.6 million to GALLUP, INC.. OST FISHING EFFORT SURVEY

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GALLUP, INC..

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 $17.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-01-01. End: 2027-03-31.

What is the historical spending pattern for NOAA's fishing effort surveys?

Analyzing NOAA's historical spending on fishing effort surveys requires accessing detailed procurement data over several years. Typically, such surveys are conducted periodically, and their cost can vary significantly based on scope, methodology, duration, and the contractor selected. Previous contracts might have been awarded to different entities or utilized different data collection techniques, potentially leading to different cost structures. Understanding these historical patterns is crucial for benchmarking the current $17.6 million award and assessing whether it represents an increase, decrease, or stable investment in this data collection effort. Without specific historical data points for this exact survey, a direct comparison is difficult, but trends in federal survey spending and inflation rates can provide a general context.

How does Gallup's pricing for this contract compare to other market research firms for similar government contracts?

Benchmarking Gallup's pricing requires comparing the proposed cost per unit (e.g., per survey respondent, per data point collected, per report generated) against similar contracts awarded to other firms for comparable government research. The $17.6 million contract value, spread over its duration, needs to be broken down into specific deliverables and their associated costs. Full and open competition with six bidders suggests that NOAA received multiple price proposals. A detailed analysis would involve comparing Gallup's proposed rates for personnel, overhead, and direct costs against the bids received from other competitors and against publicly available data on market research contract pricing. If Gallup's pricing is significantly lower or higher than the average of competitive bids, it warrants further investigation into the reasons why.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will NOAA measure Gallup's success?

Key performance indicators for this contract would likely focus on the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, and representativeness of the data collected. NOAA will measure Gallup's success by evaluating whether the survey methodology is sound, the data collection is executed according to plan, and the final reports meet all specified requirements. This includes adherence to sampling frames, response rates, data validation procedures, and the timely delivery of interim and final reports. Gallup's ability to manage the logistical challenges of a national survey, maintain data integrity, and provide actionable insights will be critical. Performance will likely be assessed through regular progress reviews, data quality checks, and the ultimate utility of the collected data for NOAA's fisheries management objectives.

What is the potential impact of this contract on NOAA's ability to manage fisheries resources effectively?

This contract is directly linked to NOAA's mission of managing fisheries resources. The data collected through the OST Fishing Effort Survey provides crucial insights into fishing activity, which is fundamental for stock assessments, setting catch limits, and developing conservation strategies. Effective data collection allows NOAA to understand fishing pressure, identify trends, and adapt management plans to ensure the sustainability of fish populations. Without accurate and comprehensive data on fishing effort, management decisions could be based on incomplete or outdated information, potentially leading to overfishing, economic hardship for the fishing industry, or ecological damage. Therefore, the successful execution of this contract is vital for informed and effective fisheries management.

Are there any specific risks associated with relying on a single contractor for such a long-term national survey?

Relying on a single contractor, even a reputable one like Gallup, for a multi-year national survey presents several risks. These include potential contractor performance degradation over time, loss of institutional knowledge if key personnel depart, and a reduced incentive for innovation if competition is perceived as minimal after the initial award. There's also the risk of vendor lock-in, making it difficult to switch contractors if issues arise. To mitigate these risks, NOAA must implement robust contract management, including regular performance reviews, clear communication channels, and mechanisms for addressing any performance deficiencies promptly. Maintaining strong oversight and potentially building in options for knowledge transfer or phased transitions can also help manage these long-term reliance risks.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling

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

Solicitation ID: 1305M322RNFFK0002

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 901 F ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20004

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,713,602

Exercised Options: $17,645,008

Current Obligation: $17,645,008

Actual Outlays: $12,811,341

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA19D003U

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline