NOAA awards $3.18M contract for pelagic survey services to Quantech Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,183,900 ($3.2M)

Contractor: Quantech Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2024-04-01

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: CONDUCT THE LARGE PELAGIC SURVEY (LARGE PELAGIC INTERCEPT SURVEY (LPIS), LARGE PELAGIC BIOLOGICAL SURVEY (LPBS), LARGE PELAGIC TELEPHONE SURVEY (LPTS)). FOR EACH PERIOD, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO EXERCISE EITHER SURVEY A *OR* SURVEY B, BUT NOT BO

Place of Performance

Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20852

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $3.2 million to QUANTECH INC for work described as: CONDUCT THE LARGE PELAGIC SURVEY (LARGE PELAGIC INTERCEPT SURVEY (LPIS), LARGE PELAGIC BIOLOGICAL SURVEY (LPBS), LARGE PELAGIC TELEPHONE SURVEY (LPTS)). FOR EACH PERIOD, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO EXERCISE EITHER SURVEY A *OR* SURVEY B, BUT NOT BO Key points: 1. Contract focuses on administrative and management consulting for large pelagic surveys. 2. The contract allows for the exercise of either Survey A or Survey B, but not both. 3. This is a firm-fixed-price contract, indicating predictable costs for the government. 4. The contract duration is approximately three years, aligning with long-term research needs. 5. Quantech Inc. is the sole awardee under this full and open competition. 6. The contract is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $3.18 million for a three-year period for large pelagic survey services appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar NOAA contracts for scientific survey and data collection services suggests this pricing is within expected ranges. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty. However, a more granular comparison of the specific tasks and deliverables against market rates for consulting and survey administration would provide a more definitive value assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the process suggests a competitive environment. This approach is generally expected to yield fair market pricing and a selection of qualified contractors.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it promotes a competitive bidding process, which typically leads to better pricing and a wider selection of qualified service providers, maximizing the value of federal funds.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are NOAA and the scientific community, who will receive data from large pelagic surveys. Services delivered include administrative management and general management consulting for specific survey types (LPIS, LPBS, LPTS). The geographic impact is likely focused on areas where large pelagic species are found, potentially global oceans. Workforce implications may include employment for survey administrators, data analysts, and potentially field personnel managed by Quantech Inc.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if survey methodologies are not clearly defined.
Reliance on Quantech Inc.'s expertise for critical data collection and management.
Ensuring data integrity and accuracy throughout the survey process.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.
Contract duration allows for sustained data collection and analysis.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. This sector is crucial for supporting government research and data collection initiatives. The market for such services is competitive, with many firms offering specialized expertise. NOAA's spending in this area supports its mission to understand and predict changes in the Earth's environment.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss and sb fields) is false for this contract. Therefore, there are no direct small business set-aside provisions. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses would depend on Quantech Inc.'s internal policies and the specific needs of the survey execution, but are not mandated by the contract terms as presented.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are typically embedded in the contract's performance work statement and delivery schedules. Transparency is facilitated through federal contract databases, though detailed operational oversight specifics are internal to the agency.

Related Government Programs

Fisheries Management
Marine Ecosystem Research
Oceanographic Data Collection
Scientific Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Potential for data quality issues
Contractor performance risk
Scope definition clarity

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $3.2 million to QUANTECH INC. CONDUCT THE LARGE PELAGIC SURVEY (LARGE PELAGIC INTERCEPT SURVEY (LPIS), LARGE PELAGIC BIOLOGICAL SURVEY (LPBS), LARGE PELAGIC TELEPHONE SURVEY (LPTS)). FOR EACH PERIOD, THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO EXERCISE EITHER SURVEY A *OR* SURVEY B, BUT NOT BO

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is QUANTECH 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 $3.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.

What is Quantech Inc.'s track record with NOAA or similar federal agencies for conducting large-scale surveys?

Quantech Inc. has a history of performing various contract services for federal agencies. While specific details on their track record with NOAA for large pelagic surveys are not immediately available in this data snippet, their award under full and open competition suggests they met the qualifications and requirements set forth by NOAA. A deeper dive into Quantech's past performance reports and contract history with NOAA and other agencies would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their capabilities and reliability in executing similar scientific survey and data management contracts. This would include examining the types of surveys they have managed, the scale of those operations, and client satisfaction feedback.

How does the $3.18 million contract value compare to similar NOAA pelagic survey contracts?

The $3.18 million contract value for three years of large pelagic survey services appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized scientific consulting and data collection. Without specific details on the scope of work for comparable contracts, a precise benchmark is difficult. However, NOAA frequently awards contracts in the multi-million dollar range for scientific research, data acquisition, and environmental monitoring. Factors influencing cost include the complexity of survey methodologies (e.g., ship-based, acoustic, remote sensing), geographic scope, duration, and the level of data analysis required. This contract's value should be assessed against the specific deliverables and the intensity of the research activities it funds.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they mitigated?

Key risks include potential inaccuracies in data collection, challenges in accessing remote pelagic environments, and the possibility of contractor underperformance. Mitigation strategies likely involve NOAA's robust oversight, including performance monitoring, adherence to strict data quality protocols, and clear performance standards outlined in the contract. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract also incentivizes the contractor to manage costs effectively. Furthermore, the contract's structure, allowing for either Survey A or Survey B but not both, provides some flexibility while maintaining focus. NOAA's established procurement processes and contractor vetting aim to select capable firms, reducing the risk of non-performance.

How effective is the chosen survey methodology (LPIS, LPBS, LPTS) for understanding large pelagic populations?

The effectiveness of the Large Pelagic Intercept Survey (LPIS), Large Pelagic Biological Survey (LPBS), and Large Pelagic Telephone Survey (LPTS) depends on the specific ecological questions being addressed. LPIS and LPBS likely involve direct observation or sampling, providing biological data, while LPTS might gather information on fishing effort or perceptions. Combining these methods can offer a more comprehensive understanding of pelagic species distribution, abundance, and associated human activities. However, the 'telephone survey' component (LPTS) might be less direct for biological assessment and more for socio-economic or effort data. NOAA's choice of these methods suggests they are deemed appropriate for their research objectives, likely aiming to integrate different data streams for a holistic view.

What is the historical spending trend for large pelagic survey services by NOAA?

Historical spending data for large pelagic survey services by NOAA would reveal trends in investment in this area of marine research. Analyzing past contracts, including their values, durations, and awarded vendors, can indicate whether NOAA's commitment to pelagic research is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable. Such analysis could also highlight shifts in preferred methodologies or a concentration of awards among specific contractors. Without access to NOAA's historical contract database specifically filtered for 'large pelagic surveys,' it's challenging to provide precise spending trends. However, NOAA's overall budget and strategic priorities related to ocean health and fisheries management would provide broader context for this spending.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: NF-FKS100-23-01774

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6110 EXECUTIVE BLVD, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20852

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $7,414,805

Exercised Options: $3,183,900

Current Obligation: $3,183,900

Actual Outlays: $1,663,975

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA18D00CZ

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline