NOAA Awards $9.1M for Environmental Satellite RF Engineering Support to Science & Technology Corporation
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $9,113,034 ($9.1M)
Contractor: Science & Technology Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2025-03-31
End Date: 2027-03-30
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $12.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: HAMPTON, HAMPTON CITY County, VIRGINIA, 23666
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $9.1 million to SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION for work described as: ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Science & Technology Corporation for critical RF engineering support. 2. The contract falls under R&D in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 3. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The award value of $9.1M over two years requires scrutiny for value for money.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $9.1M over two years for specialized RF engineering support appears reasonable, but a direct comparison to similar NOAA contracts is needed for a definitive assessment. Benchmarking against industry standards for similar R&D services would provide further context.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating a robust process to solicit bids. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing, though the specific impact on this contract's final price requires further analysis of the bidding outcomes.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the best value for the $9.1M investment in essential environmental satellite engineering services.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operation and advancement of environmental satellite technology. Supports critical weather forecasting and climate monitoring capabilities. Potential for innovation in RF engineering for environmental applications. Investment in scientific research and development infrastructure.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns in complex R&D projects.
- Dependence on a single contractor for specialized expertise.
- Scope creep in research and development contracts.
Positive Signals
- Utilizes full and open competition.
- Supports critical national infrastructure (environmental monitoring).
- Firm fixed price contract type limits cost risk.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector, specifically focusing on environmental satellite RF engineering. Spending in this niche R&D area is crucial for maintaining and improving national capabilities in weather forecasting and climate science.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses and does not specify any small business subcontracting goals. Further investigation is needed to determine if opportunities for small businesses were considered or missed in this procurement.
Oversight & Accountability
The award is managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a key agency for environmental research. Oversight should focus on performance metrics, adherence to scope, and justification for any contract modifications to ensure accountability and taxpayer value.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Contract value requires detailed justification for R&D scope.
- Potential for scope creep in research and development.
- Need for clear performance metrics for specialized engineering services.
- Analysis of 'exclusion of sources' rationale is important.
- Small business participation should be reviewed.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-commerce, va, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $9.1 million to SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. ENVIRONMENTAL SATELLITE RADIO FREQUENCY (RF) ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION.
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 $9.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-03-31. End: 2027-03-30.
What specific RF engineering challenges does this contract address, and how does the awarded value reflect the complexity and criticality of these challenges?
This contract addresses complex Radio Frequency (RF) engineering challenges related to environmental satellites, likely encompassing design, testing, and maintenance of communication systems. The $9.1M value suggests significant technical requirements and the need for specialized expertise. A detailed breakdown of the scope of work and the specific technical hurdles is necessary to fully assess if the pricing adequately reflects the project's complexity and its critical role in NOAA's mission.
Given the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' award type, what was the rationale for excluding certain sources, and how did this impact the competitive landscape and final pricing?
The 'exclusion of sources' clause within full and open competition typically means that while the competition was broadly open, specific sources were identified and potentially excluded based on pre-defined criteria or prior performance. The rationale for exclusion needs to be documented to ensure fairness and prevent anti-competitive practices. Understanding this rationale is key to assessing if the competitive landscape was appropriately broad and if the final pricing truly reflects optimal market competition.
How will the effectiveness of the RF engineering support be measured, and what are the key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure the $9.1M investment yields tangible benefits for environmental monit
Effectiveness will likely be measured through KPIs such as system uptime, signal integrity, data transmission reliability, and successful implementation of new RF technologies or upgrades. NOAA's oversight will be crucial in tracking these metrics against contract requirements. Tangible benefits include improved accuracy and timeliness of weather forecasts, enhanced climate data collection, and the overall resilience of the environmental satellite network, justifying the significant investment.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: 1332KP25R0001
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 21 ENTERPRISE PKWY STE 150, HAMPTON, VA, 23666
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $21,201,804
Exercised Options: $12,433,567
Current Obligation: $9,113,034
Actual Outlays: $2,691,584
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 1305M423DNEEA0016
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-03-31
Current End Date: 2027-03-30
Potential End Date: 2030-03-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-17
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