State Department Awards $3.4M for Santiago Embassy Design Services to Studio Ma, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,402,584 ($3.4M)
Contractor: Studio MA, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of State
Start Date: 2025-07-17
End Date: 2027-07-16
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN SERVICES FOR A EXISTING EMBASSY COMPOUND IN SANTIAGO EMBASSY - SANTIAGO, CHILE.
Plain-Language Summary
Department of State obligated $3.4 million to STUDIO MA, INC. for work described as: PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN SERVICES FOR A EXISTING EMBASSY COMPOUND IN SANTIAGO EMBASSY - SANTIAGO, CHILE. Key points: 1. The contract is for architectural services for an existing embassy compound in Santiago, Chile. 2. Studio Ma, Inc. was awarded the contract under full and open competition. 3. The contract duration is 729 days, with a firm fixed price. 4. This award represents a small portion of the Department of State's overall spending on facilities.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $3.4 million for architectural services appears reasonable given the scope of work for an embassy compound. Benchmarking against similar international facility design contracts would provide further validation.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust price discovery process. This method typically leads to competitive pricing as multiple firms can bid.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used efficiently through a competitive bidding process for essential embassy infrastructure.
Public Impact
Ensures the continued functionality and security of a U.S. diplomatic mission abroad. Supports U.S. foreign policy objectives by maintaining a strong presence in Chile. Provides employment opportunities for architectural and design professionals.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen design challenges arise.
- Dependency on contractor performance for timely and quality delivery.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Firm fixed price contract limits cost uncertainty.
- Clear project scope for embassy compound development.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the architectural services sector, which is crucial for government infrastructure projects. Spending in this area is often driven by the need to maintain and upgrade federal facilities globally.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, and there is no specific indication of small business participation in this award. Future solicitations could explore opportunities for small businesses in subcontracting roles.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of State is responsible for overseeing this contract to ensure adherence to the firm fixed price and project timelines. Regular performance reviews and site inspections will be critical for accountability.
Related Government Programs
- Architectural Services
- Department of State Contracting
- Department of State Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for scope creep impacting budget and timeline.
- Reliance on contractor's expertise for critical design elements.
- Geopolitical risks associated with operating in a foreign country.
- Long-term maintenance and operational costs not detailed in this award.
Tags
architectural-services, department-of-state, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of State awarded $3.4 million to STUDIO MA, INC.. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT AND DESIGN SERVICES FOR A EXISTING EMBASSY COMPOUND IN SANTIAGO EMBASSY - SANTIAGO, CHILE.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is STUDIO MA, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $3.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-07-17. End: 2027-07-16.
What is the estimated total cost of the embassy compound project, and how does this design contract fit into the overall budget?
The provided data only details the contract for development and design services, amounting to $3.4 million. Information regarding the total project budget for the Santiago embassy compound is not available in this dataset. Further investigation would be needed to ascertain the complete financial picture and how this design phase aligns with the overall capital investment.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this design contract, and how will success be measured?
Success for this architectural services contract will likely be measured by adherence to the firm fixed price, timely completion of design milestones, and the quality and completeness of the design documents. The Department of State will likely have specific deliverables and review processes to ensure the design meets functional, security, and aesthetic requirements for the embassy compound.
Are there any specific sustainability or energy efficiency requirements mandated for the embassy compound's design?
The provided data does not specify any sustainability or energy efficiency requirements for the design services contract. However, U.S. federal agencies are increasingly incorporating such mandates into their construction and renovation projects. It would be prudent to verify if these requirements were part of the solicitation or will be addressed during the design development phase.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Architectural Services
Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4035 E INDIAN SCHOOL RD, PHOENIX, AZ, 85018
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $3,402,584
Exercised Options: $3,402,584
Current Obligation: $3,402,584
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 19AQMM19D0072
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-07-17
Current End Date: 2027-07-16
Potential End Date: 2027-07-16 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-14
More Contracts from Studio MA, Inc.
- Project Development and Design Services Including Investigations, Data Collection, Analysis, and Bridging Document Design for a NEW Embassy Campus (NEC) in Praia, Cabo Verde — $24.7M (Department of State)
- Project Development and Design Services in Marseille, France — $3.9M (Department of State)
- Madrid Existing Embassy Compound Selective Improvements Bridging Design — $2.2M (Department of State)
Other Department of State Contracts
- Care Logistical Support Services - Clss — $2.3B (Xator LLC)
- Task Order to Provide Project Management Support, Transition Support, Engineering and Design Support, Securing the Infrastructure Support and O&M Support for the Department's IT Consolidation Program — $2.1B (Science Applications International Corporation)
- Global Security Engineering&supply Chain Services — $1.5B (General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.)
- Slmaqm04c0030 — $1.2B (Dyncorp International LLC)
- THE Purpose of This Action IS to Establish a NEW Contract With General Dynamics Information Technology for Global Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Technology Development Services to Support the Department of State. the Initial Funding Associated With This Contract IS $22,304,578.00. the Overall Contract Value IS $2,200,000,000.00 — $1.2B (General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.)