Interior's Bureau of Reclamation awards $3.4M contract for facilitation services to Kearns & West Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,432,889 ($3.4M)
Contractor: Kearns & West Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2023-11-30
End Date: 2025-11-30
Contract Duration: 731 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: PROVIDE FACILITATION, COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND MEDIATION SERVICES TO THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION(USBR)/ BAY DELTA OFFICE (BDO).
Place of Performance
Location: SUPERIOR, BOULDER County, COLORADO, 80027
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $3.4 million to KEARNS & WEST INC for work described as: PROVIDE FACILITATION, COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND MEDIATION SERVICES TO THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION(USBR)/ BAY DELTA OFFICE (BDO). Key points: 1. The contract focuses on providing facilitation, collaborative problem-solving, and mediation services. 2. Kearns & West Inc. is the sole awardee for this specific delivery order. 3. The contract duration is 731 days, ending November 30, 2025. 4. The spending falls under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services'.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract is a Time and Materials type, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar facilitation contracts is difficult without more detailed service descriptions.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' suggesting a limited competition. This method may not have yielded the most competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers are funding professional services for conflict resolution and collaboration within the Bureau of Reclamation.
Public Impact
Supports critical water resource management and environmental issues in the Bay Delta region. Facilitation services are essential for complex stakeholder negotiations. Ensures collaborative approaches to problem-solving for the Bureau of Reclamation.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition may impact price efficiency.
- Time and Materials contract type carries inherent cost risk.
Positive Signals
- Essential services for complex environmental and resource management.
- Supports collaborative problem-solving for a key agency.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services, specifically related to facilitation and mediation. Spending in this category can vary widely depending on agency needs for expert consultation and conflict resolution.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were considered or excluded during the procurement process.
Oversight & Accountability
The award is a delivery order under a larger contract, implying some level of pre-existing oversight. However, the specific oversight for this order's execution and cost management needs to be monitored.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Department of the Interior Contracting
- Departmental Offices Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials contract.
- Limited competition may not result in the best value.
- Lack of transparency regarding the exclusion of other sources.
- No small business participation noted.
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, department-of-the-interior, co, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $3.4 million to KEARNS & WEST INC. PROVIDE FACILITATION, COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING, AND MEDIATION SERVICES TO THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION(USBR)/ BAY DELTA OFFICE (BDO).
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is KEARNS & WEST INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $3.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-11-30. End: 2025-11-30.
What is the specific scope of work for these facilitation services, and how does it align with the Bureau of Reclamation's strategic goals?
The scope involves providing facilitation, collaborative problem-solving, and mediation services to the Bureau of Reclamation's Bay Delta Office. This likely supports efforts to resolve complex water management, environmental, and stakeholder-related issues critical to the region's water security and ecological health, aligning with USBR's mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources.
What were the key factors leading to the exclusion of other sources in this 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' award?
The exclusion of sources typically occurs when only one responsible source is determined to be capable of meeting the agency's needs. This could be due to specialized expertise, unique qualifications, or specific requirements of the project that only Kearns & West Inc. could fulfill, as determined by the contracting agency.
How will the effectiveness of the facilitation and mediation services be measured to ensure value for taxpayer money?
Effectiveness is likely measured through client satisfaction, successful resolution of disputes or challenges, achievement of collaborative goals, and adherence to project timelines and budgets. Performance metrics should be clearly defined in the contract to ensure accountability and demonstrate the value derived from these specialized services.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: 140D0424Q0019
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 233 SANSOME ST, SAN FRANCISCO, CA, 94104
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $3,432,889
Exercised Options: $3,432,889
Current Obligation: $3,432,889
Actual Outlays: $3,432,889
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 140D0423D0077
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-11-30
Current End Date: 2025-11-30
Potential End Date: 2025-11-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-10
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