NOAA awards $38,936 for Sea-Bird Instruments calibration and maintenance, a sole-source contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $38,936 ($38.9K)

Contractor: Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2026-04-07

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 23 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SEA-BIRD INSTRUMENTS CALIBRATION AND MAINTENANCE AGAINST IDIQ CONTRACT 1305M225D0032.

Place of Performance

Location: BELLEVUE, KING County, WASHINGTON, 98005

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $38,935.76 to SEA-BIRD ELECTRONICS, INC for work described as: SEA-BIRD INSTRUMENTS CALIBRATION AND MAINTENANCE AGAINST IDIQ CONTRACT 1305M225D0032. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc., the original equipment manufacturer. 2. Focus on essential calibration and maintenance services for scientific instruments. 3. Contract duration is short, indicating a need for immediate or recurring services. 4. No competition was sought for this specific delivery order. 5. The contract value is relatively small, suggesting a specialized or limited scope. 6. Services are critical for maintaining the accuracy of oceanic and atmospheric data collection.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $38,936 for calibration and maintenance appears reasonable for specialized scientific equipment. However, without a competitive bidding process, it is difficult to definitively benchmark the value for money. Comparing this to similar maintenance contracts for scientific instruments would provide better context. The fixed-price nature of the contract helps manage cost certainty for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This typically occurs when a specific manufacturer's product requires specialized knowledge or parts only available from that manufacturer, or when there's an urgent need that precludes a full competition. The lack of competition means potential cost savings from a bidding process were not realized.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can lead to higher prices for taxpayers as there is no market pressure to reduce costs. It also limits opportunities for other qualified vendors to secure government contracts.

Public Impact

Benefits the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) by ensuring the accuracy of its scientific instruments. Services delivered include calibration and maintenance, crucial for reliable data collection. Geographic impact is primarily within NOAA facilities where the instruments are located, likely in Washington state. Workforce implications are minimal, likely involving specialized technicians from Sea-Bird Electronics.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may result in higher costs than a competed contract.
Reliance on a single supplier for critical maintenance could pose a risk if the supplier faces disruptions.
Limited transparency into pricing due to sole-source nature.

Positive Signals

Award to the original equipment manufacturer ensures specialized knowledge and access to proprietary parts.
Fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for this specific delivery order.
Contract supports the continuity of NOAA's scientific data collection operations.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the 'Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing' sector (NAICS 334519). This sector includes companies that manufacture scientific and technical instruments. NOAA's reliance on Sea-Bird Electronics for calibration and maintenance highlights the specialized nature of scientific equipment procurement. Benchmarking comparable spending would require identifying other agencies that procure similar instrument maintenance services.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not competed and there is no indication of small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements. The award is to Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc., a specific manufacturer, suggesting that small businesses are unlikely to be directly involved as prime contractors in this instance. Further analysis would be needed to determine if any subcontracting opportunities exist within the scope of this delivery order.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would fall under the Department of Commerce's internal review processes and potentially the NOAA Inspector General. As a delivery order against an existing IDIQ, the initial contract vehicle likely underwent some level of review. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature, but contract award data is publicly available.

Related Government Programs

NOAA Scientific Instrument Maintenance
Oceanographic Equipment Services
Atmospheric Monitoring Technology
Federal IDIQ Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
Potential for higher costs due to lack of competition.
Dependency on a single supplier for critical maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $38,935.76 to SEA-BIRD ELECTRONICS, INC. SEA-BIRD INSTRUMENTS CALIBRATION AND MAINTENANCE AGAINST IDIQ CONTRACT 1305M225D0032.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SEA-BIRD ELECTRONICS, 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 $38,935.76.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-07. End: 2026-04-30.

What is the track record of Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. with federal contracts?

Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. has a history of receiving federal contracts, primarily from agencies involved in oceanographic and atmospheric research, such as NOAA and the Navy. Their awards typically relate to the sale, maintenance, and calibration of their specialized scientific instruments, including CTD sensors and related equipment. Analysis of past awards suggests a consistent relationship with government entities requiring their specific expertise and products. The values of these contracts vary, but often reflect the specialized nature and high cost of scientific instrumentation and its upkeep. Their track record indicates they are a recognized provider in this niche federal market.

How does the value of this contract compare to similar NOAA instrument maintenance contracts?

Direct comparison of this $38,936 delivery order to other NOAA instrument maintenance contracts is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of all such awards, especially those that might be sole-sourced or have different scopes. However, for calibration and maintenance of specialized scientific equipment, this value appears to be within a reasonable range for a single instrument or a small set of instruments over a short period. Larger, multi-year, or multi-instrument service contracts would naturally be significantly higher. The key factor here is the specialized nature of Sea-Bird instruments, which often command premium pricing for expert service.

What are the primary risks associated with this sole-source contract?

The primary risks associated with this sole-source contract stem from the lack of competition. Firstly, there is a risk of paying a higher price than might be achieved in a competitive bidding environment, as Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. faces no market pressure to offer the lowest possible cost. Secondly, there's a dependency risk; NOAA relies exclusively on Sea-Bird Electronics for the calibration and maintenance of these critical instruments. Any disruption to Sea-Bird's operations, such as supply chain issues, financial instability, or changes in their business focus, could directly impact NOAA's ability to maintain its scientific equipment. Lastly, the lack of transparency inherent in sole-source awards makes it harder to independently verify the fairness of the pricing.

How effective is this contract in ensuring the reliability of NOAA's oceanic and atmospheric data?

This contract is likely effective in ensuring the reliability of NOAA's oceanic and atmospheric data, provided Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. performs the calibration and maintenance services to the required standards. By engaging the original equipment manufacturer, NOAA ensures that the instruments are serviced by personnel with the most intimate knowledge of their design and operation, using potentially proprietary calibration procedures and parts. Accurate calibration is fundamental to the integrity of scientific measurements. Therefore, this contract directly supports the quality and trustworthiness of the data collected by these instruments, which is crucial for NOAA's mission.

What are historical spending patterns for Sea-Bird Instruments calibration and maintenance at NOAA?

Historical spending patterns for Sea-Bird Instruments calibration and maintenance at NOAA, based on publicly available data, show a recurring need for these services. NOAA has consistently awarded contracts to Sea-Bird Electronics, Inc. for similar purposes over multiple fiscal years. While the specific values of individual delivery orders fluctuate based on the scope and timing of instrument servicing, the overall trend indicates a sustained requirement for maintaining their specialized equipment. This suggests that Sea-Bird instruments are integral to NOAA's ongoing operations, and their upkeep represents a predictable, albeit specialized, segment of NOAA's procurement budget.

Could this service be provided by other qualified vendors, or is Sea-Bird Electronics the only option?

Whether other qualified vendors could provide calibration and maintenance for Sea-Bird instruments is a critical question for sole-source justifications. Typically, manufacturers like Sea-Bird Electronics develop proprietary technologies and calibration methodologies. While general instrument calibration services exist, they may lack the specific expertise, proprietary tools, or access to manufacturer-specific data required for optimal performance and warranty adherence of Sea-Bird's highly specialized scientific equipment. NOAA would have likely determined that Sea-Bird Electronics, as the original equipment manufacturer, possesses unique capabilities essential for this task, justifying the sole-source award to ensure instrument integrity and data accuracy.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing › Other Measuring and Controlling Device Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Danaher Corporation

Address: 13431 NE 20TH ST, BELLEVUE, WA, 98005

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $38,936

Exercised Options: $38,936

Current Obligation: $38,936

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 1305M225D0032

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline