Interior's National Park Service awards $317K for book conservation, citing limited competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $317,267 ($317.3K)

Contractor: CCI Construction and Energy Services, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2026-04-02

End Date: 2027-08-06

Contract Duration: 491 days

Daily Burn Rate: $646/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE, CONSERVATION, AND ENGINEERING (HACE) FY26 BOOK CONSERVATION SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: LOWELL, MIDDLESEX County, MASSACHUSETTS, 01852

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $317,266.99 to CCI CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY SERVICES, LLC for work described as: HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE, CONSERVATION, AND ENGINEERING (HACE) FY26 BOOK CONSERVATION SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded via purchase order, indicating a streamlined procurement process. 2. Firm fixed-price contract type suggests predictable costs for the government. 3. The contract duration spans over a year, ensuring sustained conservation efforts. 4. The awardee, CCI CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY SERVICES, LLC, is a single entity for this service. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541990 covers 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services'. 6. This award represents a small portion of the Department of the Interior's overall spending.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific book conservation contract is challenging without more detailed cost breakdowns or comparable service contracts. The firm fixed-price nature provides cost certainty, but the absence of competitive bidding makes it difficult to assess if the price represents optimal value for money. Further analysis would require understanding the scope of work, the specific conservation techniques required, and the rarity or condition of the materials being conserved.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. The data indicates 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' which suggests specific circumstances or justifications for not soliciting bids from other qualified companies. This approach limits the government's ability to leverage market competition to drive down prices and potentially discover innovative solutions from a wider pool of providers.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can lead to higher costs for taxpayers as the government may not benefit from the price reductions typically achieved through competitive bidding processes.

Public Impact

Preserves historical documents and artifacts managed by the National Park Service. Ensures the long-term availability of valuable historical texts for research and public access. Supports the preservation mission of the Department of the Interior. Benefits researchers, historians, and the public who rely on access to historical archives.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may result in a higher price than a competitively bid contract.
Sole-source awards can limit transparency and public trust in procurement processes.
Reliance on a single vendor could pose risks if performance issues arise or if the vendor's capacity is exceeded.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Awarding a purchase order suggests a potentially efficient and streamlined procurement.
The contract duration allows for sustained and consistent conservation services.

Sector Analysis

The professional, scientific, and technical services sector is broad, encompassing a wide range of specialized expertise. Within this sector, conservation services for historical artifacts, such as books, represent a niche but critical area for cultural heritage institutions. The National Park Service's need for such specialized services highlights the importance of preserving national historical assets. Comparable spending benchmarks for specialized conservation services are difficult to establish without more granular data on the specific types of materials and conservation techniques employed.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it indicate any specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses. The sole-source nature of the award further limits opportunities for small businesses to participate in this particular procurement. The impact on the small business ecosystem for conservation services is therefore minimal for this specific contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of the Interior's internal procurement and program management offices. As a purchase order, it is subject to standard financial controls and auditing procedures. The National Park Service is responsible for monitoring contractor performance and ensuring compliance with the terms of the agreement. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award.

Related Government Programs

National Park Service Preservation Programs
Department of the Interior Archives and Records Management
Federal Cultural Heritage Preservation Initiatives

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits price competition.
Lack of detailed service scope in provided data.
Limited information on contractor's specific conservation expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $317,266.99 to CCI CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY SERVICES, LLC. HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE, CONSERVATION, AND ENGINEERING (HACE) FY26 BOOK CONSERVATION SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CCI CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY SERVICES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $317,266.99.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-02. End: 2027-08-06.

What specific conservation services are included in this $317,266.99 contract for book conservation?

The provided data does not detail the specific conservation services included in the $317,266.99 contract. Typically, book conservation can encompass a range of activities such as cleaning, deacidification, repair of bindings and pages, stabilization of materials, and environmental monitoring. The scope would depend on the condition of the books, their historical significance, and the preservation goals of the National Park Service. Without a detailed statement of work, it is impossible to ascertain the precise services rendered under this award.

Why was this contract awarded on a sole-source basis instead of being competed?

The data indicates the contract was awarded as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' which is a classification for sole-source procurements. The specific justification for this sole-source award is not provided in the data. Common reasons for sole-source awards include situations where only one vendor possesses the unique capability, expertise, or proprietary technology required for the service, or in cases of urgent and compelling need where competition is not feasible. Further investigation into the contract file or agency justifications would be necessary to understand the precise rationale.

How does the $317,266.99 award compare to historical spending on book conservation by the National Park Service?

The provided data does not include historical spending figures for book conservation by the National Park Service, making a direct comparison impossible. To assess this, one would need to access historical procurement data for the agency, specifically looking for contracts with similar NAICS codes or service descriptions related to archival and artifact conservation. Understanding the agency's typical investment in such services would provide context for the current award's magnitude and frequency.

What is the track record of CCI CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY SERVICES, LLC in providing conservation services?

The provided data does not offer specific details on the track record of CCI CONSTRUCTION AND ENERGY SERVICES, LLC in providing conservation services. While the company is listed as the awardee, information regarding their past performance, expertise in book conservation, client references, or previous government contracts in this specific area is not available. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing the company's profile, past performance evaluations, and potentially other contracts they have held.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for specialized conservation services?

Sole-source awards for specialized services like book conservation carry several potential risks. Firstly, the absence of competition can lead to higher costs for the government, as the vendor may not be incentivized to offer the most competitive pricing. Secondly, it limits the government's ability to explore a wider range of potential solutions or innovative approaches that might be offered by other qualified firms. Lastly, reliance on a single provider can create a vulnerability if that provider experiences performance issues, financial instability, or capacity limitations, potentially disrupting critical conservation efforts.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, ALTER REAL PROPERTY › MAINT, ALTER, REPAIR NONBUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 140P4326Q0010

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 111 WEST 16TH AVENUE, ANCHORAGE, AK, 99501

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $317,267

Exercised Options: $317,267

Current Obligation: $317,267

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline