DOJ's $2M HVAC and generator contract awarded to Brothers Mechanical Services LLC for DEA's Merrifield Plant

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,992,714 ($2.0M)

Contractor: Brothers Mechanical Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2020-09-24

End Date: 2026-03-27

Contract Duration: 2,010 days

Daily Burn Rate: $991/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: HVAC, UPS&PED GENERATOR, ATS FIRE SUPPRESSION AND INFRARED SCAN ON ELECTRICAL PANELS FOR DEA'S MERRIFIELD PLANT LOCATED IN FAIRFAX, VA. THIS IS A $0 ACTION NO FUNDING IS BEING ADDED AT THIS TIME.

Place of Performance

Location: MANASSAS, PRINCE WILLIAM County, VIRGINIA, 20109

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $2.0 million to BROTHERS MECHANICAL SERVICES LLC for work described as: HVAC, UPS&PED GENERATOR, ATS FIRE SUPPRESSION AND INFRARED SCAN ON ELECTRICAL PANELS FOR DEA'S MERRIFIELD PLANT LOCATED IN FAIRFAX, VA. THIS IS A $0 ACTION NO FUNDING IS BEING ADDED AT THIS TIME. Key points: 1. Contract awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a focus on smaller value procurements. 2. The contract has a long duration (2020-2026), indicating a need for sustained services. 3. The contract is Firm Fixed Price, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 4. No funding added at this time, implying this is a placeholder or administrative action. 5. The contract is for facilities management services, crucial for operational continuity. 6. The awardee, Brothers Mechanical Services LLC, is a relatively new entity in federal contracting based on the provided data.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The provided data indicates a $0 action with no funding added at this time, making a direct value-for-money assessment difficult. The total action obligation is listed as $1,992,713.74, but without current funding, this figure represents potential future spending. Benchmarking against similar HVAC and generator maintenance contracts would be necessary to assess pricing, but the lack of immediate funding complicates this. The contract's long duration suggests a need for consistent service, but the current funding status raises questions about its immediate value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under SAP (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), which typically involves a less extensive competition process than full and open competition. While the specific number of bidders is not provided, SAP awards often involve fewer than three bids. This limited competition may result in less aggressive pricing compared to a fully competed contract, but it can also expedite the acquisition process for necessary services.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, limited competition under SAP can mean potentially higher prices than could be achieved through broader competition. However, it also ensures that essential services are procured efficiently, preventing potential disruptions that could lead to greater costs.

Public Impact

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) benefits from the maintenance of critical infrastructure at its Merrifield Plant. Services include HVAC, UPS, generator, and fire suppression system maintenance, ensuring operational continuity. The contract impacts facilities management and maintenance workforce in the Fairfax, VA area. Ensures a secure and functional environment for DEA operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of current funding makes assessing the true value and contractor performance challenging.
The long contract duration without immediate funding raises questions about planning and resource allocation.
Limited competition under SAP may not yield the best possible pricing for taxpayers.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract shifts cost risk to the contractor.
Contract addresses critical infrastructure maintenance for a key federal agency.
Awarded under SAP, which can facilitate timely acquisition of services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Facilities Management and Maintenance sector, a critical component of government operations. The market for these services is substantial, encompassing a wide range of specialized trades and technical expertise. This specific contract for HVAC, power generation, and fire suppression systems addresses essential building infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other government contracts for similar facility maintenance services across various agencies and geographic locations.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate if this contract included a small business set-aside. As it was competed under SAP, there is a possibility for small business participation, but without specific details on the awardee's size or subcontracting plans, its impact on the small business ecosystem is unclear. Further investigation into subcontracting requirements would be needed to assess the impact.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration. The contract's status as a 'Purchase Order' suggests it is managed through established procurement channels. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases, but the 'limited' competition aspect means fewer details might be publicly available regarding the bidding process. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

DEA Facilities Maintenance
Federal Building Operations
Government HVAC Services
Emergency Power Systems Contracts
Federal IT Infrastructure Support

Risk Flags

Potential for unfunded contract
Limited competition under SAP
Long duration without immediate funding
Unclear contractor performance history

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $2.0 million to BROTHERS MECHANICAL SERVICES LLC. HVAC, UPS&PED GENERATOR, ATS FIRE SUPPRESSION AND INFRARED SCAN ON ELECTRICAL PANELS FOR DEA'S MERRIFIELD PLANT LOCATED IN FAIRFAX, VA. THIS IS A $0 ACTION NO FUNDING IS BEING ADDED AT THIS TIME.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BROTHERS MECHANICAL SERVICES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Drug Enforcement Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-09-24. End: 2026-03-27.

What is the current funding status and projected spending for this contract?

The provided data explicitly states this is a '$0 action' with 'NO FUNDING IS BEING ADDED AT THIS TIME.' The total action obligation is listed as $1,992,713.74, which represents the maximum potential value of the contract over its period of performance (September 24, 2020, to March 27, 2026). However, without current funding, no actual spending has occurred under this specific action. This suggests the contract may be administrative, a placeholder for future funding, or part of a larger, unfunded plan. A thorough review of subsequent contract modifications and funding actions would be necessary to determine the actual expenditure and current status.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar federal contracts for HVAC and generator maintenance?

A direct price comparison is challenging due to the contract's current $0 funding status and the limited competition under SAP. The total action obligation of $1,992,713.74 over approximately six years (2020-2026) provides a rough annual potential value. However, without knowing the specific services, maintenance schedules, and equipment covered, and without knowing the number of bidders and their proposed prices, a robust benchmark is not feasible. Typically, a competitive analysis would involve comparing the proposed rates for labor, parts, and response times against historical data for similar contracts awarded by agencies like the GSA or other departments with comparable facility needs. The Firm Fixed Price nature shifts risk but doesn't inherently guarantee optimal pricing without strong competition.

What are the specific risks associated with a long-duration contract with no immediate funding?

Several risks are associated with a long-duration contract ($1.99M potential value over 6 years) that currently has $0 funding. Firstly, there's a risk of 'contract dusting' or obsolescence if funding is never allocated, leading to wasted administrative effort. Secondly, if funding is eventually added, the market conditions (labor rates, material costs) may have changed significantly, potentially leading to less favorable pricing than if procured when initially planned. Thirdly, the contractor might face challenges maintaining readiness or key personnel over an extended period without guaranteed work, potentially impacting service quality when funding is eventually released. Finally, it raises questions about the agency's budgeting and planning accuracy, potentially indicating inefficient resource allocation or shifting priorities.

What is the track record of Brothers Mechanical Services LLC in federal contracting?

Based on the provided data, Brothers Mechanical Services LLC appears to be a relatively new or less prolific entity in federal contracting. The data indicates this is a single award action with a total obligation of $1,992,713.74. Without further information on other contracts awarded to this entity, it's difficult to establish a comprehensive track record. A deeper dive into federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) would be necessary to identify any prior awards, performance history, past performance evaluations, and any potential issues or successes. Assessing their experience with similar types of critical infrastructure maintenance would be key to understanding their capability.

How does the use of Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) impact the value and oversight of this contract?

Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) are designed for purchases up to $250,000 (or higher thresholds for certain types of acquisitions), aiming to streamline the procurement process for smaller value contracts. Using SAP for a potential $1.99M contract (even if currently unfunded) is unusual and might indicate a phased approach or a misunderstanding of SAP thresholds. SAP typically involves less stringent documentation and competition requirements compared to full and open competition. This can lead to faster award times but potentially less robust price competition and reduced transparency. Oversight under SAP might rely more heavily on agency-specific internal controls and contractor self-certification, although the FAR still mandates fair and reasonable pricing and performance standards.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Facilities Management Services

Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8996 MIKE GARCIA DR, MANASSAS, VA, 20109

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,208,281

Exercised Options: $2,080,089

Current Obligation: $1,992,714

Actual Outlays: $1,400,073

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline