Interior's National Park Service awards $165K contract for facility optimization strategy to ICF Incorporated

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $165,396 ($165.4K)

Contractor: ICF Incorporated, L.L.C.

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2026-04-01

End Date: 2027-04-05

Contract Duration: 369 days

Daily Burn Rate: $448/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: HIGH PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY, RESILIENCE. THIS TASK WILL CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO OPTIMIZE PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY AND RESILIENCE FOR FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS REQUIRED BY LAW AND POLICY, IDENTIFYING ACHIEVABLE AND COST-APPROPRIATE ACTIONS.

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22031

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $165,395.88 to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C. for work described as: HIGH PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY, RESILIENCE. THIS TASK WILL CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO OPTIMIZE PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY AND RESILIENCE FOR FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS REQUIRED BY LAW AND POLICY, IDENTIFYING ACHIEVABLE AND COST-APPROPRIATE ACTIONS. Key points: 1. Contract aims to enhance facility performance, efficiency, and resilience through strategic planning. 2. Focus on identifying cost-appropriate actions to meet legal and policy requirements. 3. The contract is a task order under a broader Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). 4. Services fall under Administrative Management and General Management Consulting. 5. The contract duration is approximately one year, ending in April 2027. 6. This award represents a small investment in strategic operational improvement for the NPS.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $165,395.88 appears reasonable for a strategic consulting engagement focused on optimizing facilities and operations. Benchmarking against similar management consulting contracts for federal agencies suggests this is within a typical range for developing comprehensive strategies. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government, and the scope appears well-defined to achieve specific outcomes related to performance, efficiency, and resilience.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This competitive process is expected to yield a fair price and ensure the selection of a contractor with the best capabilities to meet the government's needs. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the designation suggests a robust competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that drives down costs and encourages innovation, leading to better value for public funds.

Public Impact

The National Park Service (NPS) will benefit from improved operational strategies for its facilities. The public will indirectly benefit from more efficiently managed and resilient park infrastructure. The strategy developed is expected to have a nationwide impact on NPS facilities. The contract supports the government's mandate to maintain and optimize federal facilities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if 'comprehensive strategy' is not tightly managed.
Reliance on contractor's expertise for accurate assessment of 'cost-appropriate actions'.

Positive Signals

Clear objective to optimize performance, efficiency, and resilience.
Focus on actionable and cost-effective solutions.
Firm fixed-price contract provides budget predictability.
Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting competitive pricing.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically management and administrative consulting. The federal government is a significant consumer of these services to improve agency operations, develop strategies, and manage complex projects. The market for such consulting services is competitive, with numerous firms offering expertise in areas like operational efficiency, strategic planning, and facility management. This contract represents a small but important investment in ensuring the effective and efficient operation of critical federal assets.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses, and the contractor, ICF Incorporated, is a large business. There is no indication of specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses within the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal, though ICF may engage small businesses as subcontractors as part of its broader operations.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is a task order under a BPA, suggesting that the BPA itself likely has established oversight mechanisms. The firm fixed-price nature of the award provides a degree of financial oversight. Accountability will be managed through the contract's performance standards and deliverables, with the NPS Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) responsible for monitoring progress and ensuring compliance. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards.

Related Government Programs

Federal Facility Management
Strategic Planning Services
Operational Efficiency Consulting
Government Management Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Potential for strategy to be theoretical rather than practical.
Risk of underestimating costs for implementing recommended actions.
Ensuring contractor's deep understanding of NPS specific operational context.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $165,395.88 to ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C.. HIGH PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY, RESILIENCE. THIS TASK WILL CREATE A COMPREHENSIVE STRATEGY TO OPTIMIZE PERFORMANCE, EFFICIENCY AND RESILIENCE FOR FACILITIES AND OPERATIONS REQUIRED BY LAW AND POLICY, IDENTIFYING ACHIEVABLE AND COST-APPROPRIATE ACTIONS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ICF INCORPORATED, L.L.C..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (National Park Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $165,395.88.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2027-04-05.

What is the track record of ICF Incorporated in providing similar strategic consulting services to federal agencies, particularly within the Department of the Interior or National Park Service?

ICF Incorporated has a substantial track record of providing a wide range of consulting services to federal agencies, including the Department of the Interior and its various bureaus. Their expertise spans areas such as environmental consulting, program management, IT services, and strategic planning. For the National Park Service specifically, ICF has been involved in projects related to visitor experience, resource management, and operational planning. Their experience suggests a strong understanding of the unique challenges and requirements of managing federal lands and facilities. The agency's past performance evaluations and contract history with ICF would provide further insight into their reliability and effectiveness in delivering on similar complex strategic initiatives.

How does the awarded amount of $165,395.88 compare to the typical cost of developing a comprehensive facility optimization strategy for an agency like the National Park Service?

The awarded amount of approximately $165,000 for developing a comprehensive facility optimization strategy is considered moderate for a federal consulting engagement of this nature. The cost of such strategies can vary significantly based on the scope, complexity of the facilities, number of locations, and the depth of analysis required. Larger agencies with extensive and diverse facility portfolios might see strategy development contracts range from several hundred thousand to over a million dollars. Given that this is a task order under a BPA and likely focuses on specific aspects or a defined set of facilities, the $165K figure appears to be a reasonable investment for achieving actionable insights into performance, efficiency, and resilience, especially when compared to the potential long-term savings and improved operational effectiveness.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and what mitigation strategies are likely in place?

Primary risks for this contract include the potential for the 'comprehensive strategy' to be too theoretical and lack practical, implementable recommendations, or for the 'cost-appropriate actions' to be underestimated, leading to budget overruns if implemented. Another risk is the contractor's understanding of the NPS's unique operational environment and legal mandates. Mitigation strategies likely involve a clearly defined Statement of Work (SOW) with specific, measurable deliverables, regular progress reviews between the NPS COR and ICF, and a robust review process for the final strategy to ensure feasibility and alignment with NPS goals. The firm fixed-price nature also incentivizes ICF to manage costs effectively within the defined scope.

What is the expected program effectiveness or impact of this contract on the National Park Service's operations?

The expected effectiveness of this contract lies in its potential to significantly improve the operational performance, efficiency, and resilience of National Park Service facilities. By developing a comprehensive strategy, the NPS aims to identify and implement cost-effective measures that reduce waste, enhance resource utilization, and ensure facilities can withstand operational challenges and environmental changes. This could translate into tangible benefits such as reduced energy consumption, lower maintenance costs, improved safety, and enhanced visitor experiences due to better-maintained infrastructure. Ultimately, the contract aims to support the NPS's mission by ensuring its physical assets are managed in a sustainable and highly effective manner.

How does this contract's spending compare to historical federal spending on management and general management consulting services?

This contract, valued at $165,395.88, represents a relatively small portion of the overall federal spending on management and general management consulting services (NAICS code 541611). Federal agencies collectively spend billions of dollars annually on these services to support a wide array of functions, from strategic planning and organizational improvement to IT modernization and program management. While this specific award is modest, it is indicative of ongoing federal reliance on external expertise to address complex operational challenges. Compared to larger, multi-million dollar consulting engagements for major system implementations or agency-wide transformations, this contract is focused and targeted, reflecting a common approach to addressing specific needs within budget constraints.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PROTECTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: ICF International, Inc.

Address: 9300 LEE HWY, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $165,396

Exercised Options: $165,396

Current Obligation: $165,396

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: PRODUCTS OR SERVICES PURSUANT TO FAR 12.102(F)

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 140P2122A0008

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline