University of Tokyo awarded $7.9M purchase order for research services by U.S. Geological Survey

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,929 ($7.9K)

Contractor: THE University of Tokyo

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2026-04-01

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $22/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: UNIV. OF TOKYO, XMAS STATION AGREEMENT

Place of Performance

Location: DENVER, JEFFERSON County, COLORADO, 80225

State: Colorado Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $7,928.77 to THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO for work described as: UNIV. OF TOKYO, XMAS STATION AGREEMENT Key points: 1. The contract value of $7.9 million for a 364-day period suggests a significant investment in specialized research. 2. As a 'Not Competed' award, the lack of a competitive bidding process raises questions about potential price efficiencies. 3. The firm fixed-price contract type offers cost certainty for the government, but may limit flexibility. 4. The award to a foreign institution, while potentially justified by unique expertise, warrants scrutiny regarding domestic capability utilization. 5. The duration of the contract aligns with typical project-based research funding cycles. 6. The specific nature of the 'Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools' NAICS code indicates a focus on academic and research collaboration.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The $7.9 million award for a one-year period, without a competitive process, makes a direct value-for-money assessment difficult. Benchmarking against similar research contracts with U.S. institutions is challenging due to the international nature of the award. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost predictability, but the absence of competition means there's no market-driven validation of the pricing. Without further details on the scope of work and deliverables, it's hard to ascertain if this represents a fair market price.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a 'Not Competed' basis, indicating that a full and open competition was not conducted. The specific justification for this sole-source award is not provided in the data. Without a competitive process, it is impossible to determine the number of potential bidders or the level of market interest. This approach limits the government's ability to explore a range of solutions and potentially secure more favorable pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition means taxpayers may not have received the benefit of a lower price that could have resulted from a bidding war among multiple qualified vendors.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are researchers at the University of Tokyo, who will receive funding for their specialized services. The U.S. Geological Survey will receive services related to scientific research and data collection, contributing to its mission. The geographic impact is primarily focused on the research activities conducted by the University of Tokyo, with potential indirect benefits to U.S. scientific understanding. Workforce implications are likely confined to the academic and research staff at the University of Tokyo.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
Award to a foreign entity raises questions about maximizing domestic research capabilities.
Limited transparency on the justification for sole-source award.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Award to a specialized institution suggests access to unique expertise.
Contract duration is aligned with typical research project timelines.

Sector Analysis

The award falls within the broader 'Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools' sector, often characterized by research and development activities. Federal spending in this area typically supports scientific advancement, innovation, and specialized knowledge acquisition. The market for such services is often niche, with specific institutions possessing unique capabilities. Benchmarking is difficult as it depends heavily on the specialized nature of the research, but large federal investments in university research are common across various scientific disciplines.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to involve any small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements based on the provided data. The award is to a large academic institution, and there is no indication of efforts to engage small businesses in this specific procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the U.S. Geological Survey, a bureau within the Department of the Interior. Accountability measures would be tied to the terms and deliverables outlined in the purchase order. Transparency is limited by the sole-source nature of the award and the lack of detailed justification. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

National Science Foundation Research Grants
Department of Energy Research Programs
National Institutes of Health Research Contracts
NASA Research and Development

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Foreign contractor
Lack of competition justification

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $7,928.77 to THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO. UNIV. OF TOKYO, XMAS STATION AGREEMENT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THE UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (U.S. Geological Survey).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $7,928.77.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.

What specific research services is the University of Tokyo providing under this agreement?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'UNIV. OF TOKYO, XMAS STATION AGREEMENT' and falls under the NAICS code '611310' (Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools). While the specific research services are not detailed, this classification suggests the work is academic or professional in nature, likely involving scientific research, data analysis, or specialized expertise that the U.S. Geological Survey requires. The 'XMAS STATION AGREEMENT' might refer to a specific research project, location, or methodology, but without further context, the exact nature of the services remains unspecified. Further inquiry would be needed to understand the precise scientific or technical contributions expected from the University of Tokyo.

Why was this contract not competed, and what was the justification for a sole-source award?

The data explicitly states the contract was 'NOT COMPETED' and is categorized as a 'sole-source' award. Federal procurement regulations typically require full and open competition unless specific exceptions apply, such as the availability of unique capabilities, urgent needs, or limited sources. The justification for this sole-source award is not provided in the given data. To understand why competition was bypassed, one would need to review the contract file, which should contain a formal justification document (e.g., a Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition - JOFOC). This document would detail the rationale, such as the University of Tokyo possessing unique expertise, proprietary technology, or being the only responsible source capable of meeting the government's requirements within the specified timeframe and scope.

How does the $7.9 million cost compare to similar research contracts awarded by the U.S. Geological Survey or other federal agencies?

Directly comparing the $7.9 million cost is challenging without knowing the specific research services rendered. However, federal agencies, including the USGS, frequently award contracts to universities for research and development. The value of $7.9 million for a one-year firm fixed-price purchase order is substantial, suggesting a significant research undertaking. Benchmarking would require identifying contracts with similar scope, duration, and complexity, ideally involving comparable institutions or research areas. Given the sole-source nature, a direct market-based comparison is difficult. However, large-scale research grants and contracts to academic institutions can range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the scientific field, project scale, and duration. The USGS's own spending on research services would be the most relevant benchmark, but this data point alone does not provide sufficient context for a definitive value assessment.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding a contract of this magnitude to a foreign institution?

Awarding a contract of this magnitude to a foreign institution like the University of Tokyo can present several risks. Firstly, there's the potential for higher costs due to currency exchange rates, international transaction fees, or the need for specialized international logistics, although the firm fixed-price contract aims to mitigate some of this. Secondly, intellectual property rights and data security can become more complex when dealing with international entities, requiring careful contract language and adherence to different legal frameworks. Thirdly, there's a strategic consideration: awarding significant research funds to foreign institutions might mean foregoing opportunities to develop or strengthen domestic research capabilities and expertise within U.S. universities and companies. Finally, oversight and monitoring can be more challenging due to geographical distance and differing regulatory environments, potentially increasing the risk of performance issues or non-compliance if not managed diligently.

What is the historical spending pattern of the U.S. Geological Survey on research services, and does this award represent a significant deviation?

The provided data only includes a single contract award and does not offer historical spending patterns for the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) on research services. To assess whether this $7.9 million award represents a significant deviation, one would need access to historical procurement data for the USGS. This would involve analyzing the total amount spent on research contracts annually, the types of services procured, the typical contract values, and the institutions (both domestic and international) that have received funding. Without this broader context, it's impossible to determine if this specific award is unusually large, represents a shift in procurement strategy, or falls within the agency's normal range of research investments. A comprehensive analysis of past USGS contracts would be necessary to identify any trends or anomalies.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools › Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7-3-1, HONGO, BUNKYO-KU

Business Categories: Category Business, Foreign Government, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $7,929

Exercised Options: $7,929

Current Obligation: $7,929

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline