National Park Service Awards $216K for Little Bighorn Exhibit Design to The Design Minds, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $216,456 ($216.5K)
Contractor: THE Design Minds, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2023-02-28
End Date: 2026-05-31
Contract Duration: 1,188 days
Daily Burn Rate: $182/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT EXHIBIT PLANNING & DESIGN
Place of Performance
Location: HARPERS FERRY, JEFFERSON County, WEST VIRGINIA, 25425
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $216,456 to THE DESIGN MINDS, INC. for work described as: LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT EXHIBIT PLANNING & DESIGN Key points: 1. Contract awarded for exhibit planning and design at Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. 2. The Design Minds, Inc. secured the contract. 3. The contract is for a duration of 1188 days. 4. The award was made under full and open competition after exclusion of sources. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $216,456 for exhibit planning and design appears reasonable for a specialized project of this nature. Benchmarking against similar historical site exhibit design contracts would provide a more definitive assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded using full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating a competitive process. This method generally promotes price discovery and ensures fair market value is obtained.
Taxpayer Impact: The relatively small contract value suggests a minimal direct taxpayer impact, primarily focused on enhancing a national monument's visitor experience.
Public Impact
Enhances visitor experience at a significant historical site. Preserves and interprets the history of the Little Bighorn Battlefield. Supports cultural heritage and education through improved exhibits.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep in exhibit design projects.
- Ensuring long-term durability and maintenance of exhibit materials.
Positive Signals
- Clear objective to improve visitor engagement.
- Use of competitive bidding process.
Sector Analysis
The contract falls under professional services, specifically interior design services for cultural and historical sites. Spending in this sector is often project-driven and focused on enhancing public access and interpretation of heritage assets.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved as prime contractors or subcontractors in this award. Further analysis would be needed to assess small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The National Park Service is responsible for overseeing this contract to ensure the exhibit design meets historical accuracy, educational goals, and quality standards within the allocated budget and timeline.
Related Government Programs
- Interior Design Services
- Department of the Interior Contracting
- National Park Service Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns if scope is not tightly managed.
- Risk of design not meeting historical accuracy or interpretive needs.
- Dependency on contractor's expertise for successful outcome.
- Long project duration increases exposure to unforeseen issues.
Tags
interior-design-services, department-of-the-interior, wv, delivery-order, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $216,456 to THE DESIGN MINDS, INC.. LITTLE BIGHORN BATTLEFIELD NATIONAL MONUMENT EXHIBIT PLANNING & DESIGN
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE DESIGN MINDS, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (National Park Service).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $216,456.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-02-28. End: 2026-05-31.
What is the specific scope of work for the exhibit planning and design services?
The scope of work likely includes conceptualization, schematic design, design development, construction documentation, and potentially oversight during fabrication and installation of exhibits for the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. This would involve research, content development, graphic design, and potentially interactive elements to interpret the historical events.
What are the key performance indicators for this contract to ensure successful project completion?
Key performance indicators could include adherence to the project schedule, delivery of high-quality design deliverables that meet historical accuracy and interpretive goals, staying within the firm fixed price budget, and successful collaboration with NPS stakeholders. Post-completion, visitor feedback and exhibit longevity could also be considered.
How will the effectiveness of the new exhibits be measured after implementation?
Effectiveness can be measured through visitor surveys and feedback forms to gauge understanding and engagement, observation of visitor interaction with exhibits, potential increases in visitor dwell time, and analysis of educational program participation related to the new exhibits. Long-term durability and maintenance records will also indicate effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Specialized Design Services › Interior Design 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: 140P2123Q0010
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 10364 MAIN ST, FAIRFAX, VA, 22030
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Other Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $216,456
Exercised Options: $216,456
Current Obligation: $216,456
Actual Outlays: $184,549
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 140P2122D0015
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-02-28
Current End Date: 2026-05-31
Potential End Date: 2026-05-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-07
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