City of San Diego awarded $3.45M contract for ocean outfall sampling and monitoring services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,449,815 ($3.4M)
Contractor: City of SAN Diego
Awarding Agency: Department of State
Start Date: 2023-10-01
End Date: 2026-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,095 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.2K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: OCEAN OUTFALL SAMPLING AND MONITORING
Place of Performance
Location: SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO County, CALIFORNIA, 92101
Plain-Language Summary
Department of State obligated $3.4 million to CITY OF SAN DIEGO for work described as: OCEAN OUTFALL SAMPLING AND MONITORING Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a sole-source basis, limiting price competition. 2. Services align with environmental monitoring needs for international water bodies. 3. Contract duration of three years suggests a stable, ongoing requirement. 4. Firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government. 5. Geographic focus on California indicates a specific regional environmental concern.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $3.45 million over three years for ocean outfall sampling and monitoring is difficult to benchmark without specific service details. As a sole-source award, there is no direct comparison to similar competitively bid contracts to assess value for money. The firm fixed-price nature offers predictability, but the absence of competition raises questions about whether the pricing reflects the best possible market rates.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning only one vendor was solicited. This approach bypasses the competitive bidding process, which typically drives down prices and encourages innovation. The lack of competition means that the City of San Diego did not benefit from multiple proposals and the associated price discovery mechanisms.
Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can potentially lead to higher costs for taxpayers as there is no market pressure to offer the most competitive pricing.
Public Impact
The City of San Diego benefits from essential environmental monitoring services. Services ensure compliance with regulations related to ocean outfalls. The geographic impact is localized to coastal areas in California. The contract supports specialized scientific and technical services.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition may result in suboptimal pricing.
- Limited transparency into the selection process due to sole-source award.
Positive Signals
- Firm fixed-price contract provides budget certainty.
- Contract addresses a critical environmental monitoring need.
Sector Analysis
The contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically environmental testing and laboratories. This sector is crucial for regulatory compliance and environmental protection. The market for such services can be specialized, but competition typically exists for standard testing and monitoring contracts. The sole-source nature of this award suggests unique circumstances or a lack of readily available alternatives.
Small Business Impact
This contract was not awarded to a small business, nor does it appear to have specific small business set-aside provisions. There is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal for this specific award.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of State's International Boundary and Water Commission. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract type, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services within the agreed budget. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award, with details of the justification for not competing not publicly available.
Related Government Programs
- Environmental Monitoring Services
- Water Quality Testing
- Coastal Management Programs
- International Environmental Agreements
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
- Potential for higher costs to taxpayers.
- Limited transparency in procurement process.
Tags
environmental-monitoring, sampling-and-testing, department-of-state, city-of-san-diego, international-boundary-and-water-commission, california, firm-fixed-price, definitive-contract, not-competed, sole-source, professional-scientific-and-technical-services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of State awarded $3.4 million to CITY OF SAN DIEGO. OCEAN OUTFALL SAMPLING AND MONITORING
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CITY OF SAN DIEGO.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of State (International Boundary and Water Commission: U.S.-Mexico).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $3.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.
What specific environmental parameters are being monitored under this contract?
The provided data does not specify the exact environmental parameters to be monitored. However, 'OCEAN OUTFALL SAMPLING AND MONITORING' typically involves assessing water quality, including parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, turbidity, nutrient levels (nitrogen, phosphorus), and potentially the presence of specific pollutants or pathogens, depending on the nature of the outfall and regulatory requirements. The contract's scope would detail these specific measurements.
What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
The data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED,' signifying a sole-source award. Justifications for sole-sourcing often include unique capabilities of the contractor, urgent and compelling needs where competition is not feasible, or when only one responsible source exists. Without further documentation from the agency, the specific reason for bypassing the competitive process for this ocean outfall monitoring contract remains unclear.
How does the $3.45 million contract value compare to historical spending on similar services by the City of San Diego or the Department of State?
Direct historical spending comparisons are not available in the provided data. However, a $3.45 million contract over three years ($1.15 million annually) for specialized environmental monitoring suggests a significant scope of work. Benchmarking would require access to historical contract data for similar services, considering factors like the number of sampling points, frequency of monitoring, and complexity of analyses. The sole-source nature complicates direct value comparisons.
What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source contract for environmental monitoring?
The primary risk of a sole-source contract is the potential for inflated costs due to the lack of competitive pressure. Taxpayers may not be receiving the best value for their money. Additionally, there's a risk of vendor lock-in, where the government becomes dependent on a single provider, potentially limiting future flexibility or access to more innovative solutions. Oversight becomes even more critical to ensure performance and fair pricing.
What is the track record of the City of San Diego in managing environmental monitoring contracts?
The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer insight into the City of San Diego's broader track record in managing environmental monitoring contracts. Assessing their history would require reviewing past contracts, performance evaluations, and any documented issues or successes in similar service procurements.
Are there any performance metrics or deliverables clearly defined in this contract?
The provided data does not detail the specific performance metrics or deliverables. However, firm fixed-price contracts for services like sampling and monitoring typically include detailed statements of work outlining the required tasks, frequency, locations, reporting formats, and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) measures that the contractor must meet.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Testing Laboratories and Services
Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PROTECTION
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 2024R3321001
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2392 KINCAID RD, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92101
Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. Local Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $8,950,400
Exercised Options: $8,950,400
Current Obligation: $3,449,815
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NOT OBTAINED - WAIVED
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-10-01
Current End Date: 2026-09-30
Potential End Date: 2028-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-06
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