USFWS awards $254K contract for facilitation services to Kearns & West Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $253,846 ($253.8K)

Contractor: Kearns & West Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2024-01-30

End Date: 2026-01-31

Contract Duration: 732 days

Daily Burn Rate: $347/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 SERVICES TO THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS)

Place of Performance

Location: SAN FRANCISCO, SAN FRANCISCO County, CALIFORNIA, 94104

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $253,845.84 to KEARNS & WEST INC for work described as: PROVIDE FACILITATION, COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING SERVICES TO THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS) Key points: 1. Contract focuses on specialized facilitation and problem-solving, indicating a need for expert external support. 2. The contract duration of two years suggests a medium-term engagement for ongoing support. 3. Awarded under full and open competition, implying a competitive process was utilized. 4. The service category 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' is broad, requiring further detail on specific deliverables. 5. The contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges if not closely managed. 6. The small business set-aside status is false, meaning it was not specifically targeted for small business participation.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $254,000 over two years for facilitation services appears reasonable for specialized expertise. Benchmarking against similar contracts for facilitation and collaborative problem-solving is difficult without more specific details on the scope of work. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure warrants close monitoring to ensure costs remain within expectations and do not escalate beyond the anticipated value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' which suggests that while the competition was intended to be broad, specific sources may have been excluded for defined reasons. The number of bidders is not provided, making it difficult to fully assess the level of competition. A robust competitive process typically leads to better price discovery and value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it aims to secure the best value through a wide range of potential providers.

Public Impact

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is the primary beneficiary, receiving support for its internal processes. The services delivered are facilitation and collaborative problem-solving, aimed at improving operational effectiveness. The geographic impact is likely national, given the USFWS's mission, though specific project locations are not detailed. Workforce implications are indirect, potentially improving the efficiency and effectiveness of existing USFWS staff through better internal processes.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not managed diligently.
Lack of specific detail on deliverables makes it hard to assess performance metrics.
The 'after exclusion of sources' clause in the competition type warrants understanding the rationale for exclusions.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive marketplace was accessed.
The contractor, Kearns & West Inc., likely has relevant expertise in facilitation and problem-solving.
The contract duration provides stability for the USFWS to implement facilitated solutions.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, specifically under NAICS code 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services). This broad category encompasses a wide array of specialized services. The market for facilitation and conflict resolution services is competitive, with numerous firms offering expertise to government agencies. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without a precise definition of the facilitation services required, but government spending on professional services remains substantial.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The competition was open, allowing all eligible firms, regardless of size, to participate.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight of this contract would typically reside with the contracting officer and program managers within the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance against the Statement of Work and the terms of the Time and Materials contract. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases, though specific internal facilitation processes may not be publicly disclosed.

Related Government Programs

USFWS Operational Support Contracts
Federal Facilitation and Mediation Services
Professional and Technical Services for Environmental Agencies

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes outcome assessment difficult.
Rationale for 'exclusion of sources' in competition type is unclear.
Broad NAICS code limits understanding of specific services procured.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $253,845.84 to KEARNS & WEST INC. PROVIDE FACILITATION, COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING SERVICES TO THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS)

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 $253,845.84.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-01-30. End: 2026-01-31.

What specific types of facilitation and problem-solving challenges will Kearns & West Inc. address for the USFWS?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'PROVIDE FACILITATION, COLLABORATIVE PROBLEM-SOLVING SERVICES TO THE U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE (USFWS)'. However, it does not specify the exact nature of these challenges. These could range from facilitating internal strategic planning sessions, mediating inter-agency or stakeholder conflicts related to conservation efforts, improving communication protocols within the agency, or assisting in the resolution of complex environmental policy issues. Without a detailed Statement of Work or task orders, the precise application of these services remains undefined. Understanding the specific problems Kearns & West will help solve is crucial for assessing the contract's impact and value.

How does the pricing structure (Time and Materials) compare to other government facilitation contracts?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are common for services where the scope of work is not clearly defined at the outset or is expected to evolve. For facilitation services, T&M can be advantageous if the duration and intensity of sessions are unpredictable. However, it shifts the cost risk to the government, as the final price depends on the actual hours worked and materials used. Many government agencies prefer Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contracts for well-defined services to ensure budget certainty. When T&M is used, robust oversight, detailed timesheets, and clear ceilings are essential. Benchmarking T&M rates for facilitation services against market data or similar government contracts would require access to specific hourly rates and overhead structures, which are not publicly available in this dataset.

What is the track record of Kearns & West Inc. in performing similar government contracts?

Kearns & West Inc. is a consulting firm specializing in facilitation, stakeholder engagement, and strategic planning. While this specific contract is for $253,845.84 with the USFWS, their broader experience likely includes numerous other public and private sector engagements. To assess their track record for this specific type of federal work, one would typically review their past performance evaluations on federal contracts, such as those available through the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). A review of these systems would reveal their history of meeting deadlines, managing budgets, and delivering quality services on similar projects, providing insight into their reliability and capability for the USFWS.

What are the potential risks associated with a 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' award type?

The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' (F&O CAES) award type indicates that the agency initially intended to conduct a broad competition but subsequently excluded certain potential sources. The risks depend heavily on the reasons for exclusion. If sources were excluded due to specific technical requirements or unique capabilities that only a limited number of firms possessed, the risk might be a reduction in overall competition, potentially leading to higher prices or less innovative solutions. Conversely, if exclusions were based on factors like past performance issues or inability to meet basic qualifications, then the remaining competition might still yield good value. Transparency regarding the justification for excluding sources is key to assessing this risk. Without this justification, there's a potential risk that the competition was unnecessarily limited.

How does the $254K contract value compare to overall USFWS spending on professional services?

The $254,000 awarded to Kearns & West Inc. represents a relatively small portion of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's (USFWS) overall budget, which typically runs into billions of dollars annually. USFWS spends significant amounts on a wide array of professional, scientific, and technical services to support its mission, including biological consulting, environmental assessments, legal services, and IT support. This particular contract is for specialized facilitation, suggesting it addresses a specific, perhaps niche, need within the agency. To contextualize its value, one would need to compare it against the total annual expenditure on similar facilitation or conflict resolution services, or against the agency's total spending on all professional services. However, even as a smaller contract, its effectiveness in improving USFWS operations could yield disproportionately large benefits.

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: 140D0424Q0201

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: $253,846

Exercised Options: $253,846

Current Obligation: $253,846

Actual Outlays: $253,846

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 140D0423D0077

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline