State Department awards $48.7M contract for potable water systems to Carolina Water Specialties LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $48,738 ($48.7K)

Contractor: Carolina Water Specialties LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2025-03-13

End Date: 2026-09-13

Contract Duration: 549 days

Daily Burn Rate: $89/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ATHEN FAC - PMSC FOR NOX POTABLE WATER SYSTEM

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $48,737.75 to CAROLINA WATER SPECIALTIES LLC for work described as: ATHEN FAC - PMSC FOR NOX POTABLE WATER SYSTEM Key points: 1. Contract awarded for water supply and irrigation systems, indicating a need for essential infrastructure maintenance. 2. The contract is a firm-fixed-price purchase order, providing cost certainty for the government. 3. Awarded under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a focus on efficiency for smaller procurements. 4. The duration of 549 days indicates a medium-term need for these services. 5. The contractor, Carolina Water Specialties LLC, is a new awardee for this specific service category. 6. The contract value falls within a typical range for specialized water system maintenance.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $48.7 million for a 549-day period for potable water system maintenance appears reasonable. While direct comparisons are difficult without more specific service details, the firm-fixed-price structure helps manage costs. The award under SAP suggests a streamlined process, which can contribute to value if the scope is appropriately defined for this procurement method. Benchmarking against similar water system maintenance contracts would provide further insight into cost-effectiveness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically allows for a broader range of competition than sole-source or limited solicitations. While the exact number of bidders is not specified, SAP aims to encourage competition among qualified vendors. The use of SAP suggests that the agency sought competitive bids within the simplified acquisition threshold, likely resulting in a fair price discovery process.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition under SAP for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers as it promotes a competitive environment, driving down costs and ensuring the government receives the best value for its investment in essential water systems.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are personnel and operations at facilities requiring reliable potable water systems. Services delivered include maintenance and potentially upgrades for water supply and irrigation systems. The geographic impact is likely localized to the facilities managed by the Department of State. Workforce implications may include employment opportunities for skilled technicians and support staff for Carolina Water Specialties LLC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if initial system assessments are incomplete.
Reliance on a single awardee for critical water infrastructure could pose a risk if performance issues arise.
Ensuring adherence to strict water quality standards is paramount.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Award under a competitive process suggests potential for good value.
Clear contract duration and defined service area.

Sector Analysis

The water supply and irrigation systems sector encompasses a wide range of services, from infrastructure development to ongoing maintenance and repair. This contract falls within the maintenance and operations segment, crucial for ensuring the functionality of government facilities. Spending in this area is often driven by the need to maintain aging infrastructure and ensure compliance with environmental and health regulations. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within facilities management and public works categories.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). While Carolina Water Specialties LLC's size is not detailed, the procurement method (SAP) can accommodate small business participation. Future analysis could explore subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this contract to assess their potential involvement in supporting these water system services.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer's representative (COR) within the Department of State, responsible for monitoring performance and ensuring compliance with contract terms. The firm-fixed-price nature of the purchase order provides a degree of accountability by fixing the cost. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics may not be publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Facilities Maintenance Contracts
Water Infrastructure Projects
Public Works Services
Government Utility Management

Risk Flags

Potential for performance issues with a new awardee.
Ensuring consistent water quality compliance.
Managing unforeseen technical challenges with existing infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $48,737.75 to CAROLINA WATER SPECIALTIES LLC. ATHEN FAC - PMSC FOR NOX POTABLE WATER SYSTEM

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CAROLINA WATER SPECIALTIES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $48,737.75.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-03-13. End: 2026-09-13.

What is the specific scope of work for the potable water system maintenance under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'PMSC FOR NOX POTABLE WATER SYSTEM' and falls under the Product Service Code (PSC) '221310' for Water Supply and Irrigation Systems. However, the precise details of the scope of work, such as routine maintenance, emergency repairs, water quality testing, system flushing, or specific equipment servicing, are not explicitly detailed in the summary data. A thorough review of the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) would be necessary to understand the full extent of services required, including any preventative maintenance schedules, response times for issues, and reporting requirements.

How does the awarded price of $48.7 million compare to similar potable water system maintenance contracts awarded by the Department of State or other federal agencies?

Benchmarking the $48.7 million award requires comparing it against contracts with similar scope, duration, and geographic location. Without access to the detailed Statement of Work and specific performance metrics, a direct comparison is challenging. However, for a 549-day (approximately 1.5 years) contract covering potable water systems, this value suggests a significant operational or maintenance requirement. Federal procurement databases would need to be queried for contracts with comparable PSC codes (e.g., 221310) and service types to establish a relevant market price range. Factors like the number of facilities serviced, complexity of the systems, and required service levels would heavily influence price.

What is the track record of Carolina Water Specialties LLC in performing similar government contracts?

The provided data does not include historical performance information for Carolina Water Specialties LLC. To assess their track record, a review of federal procurement history databases (such as FPDS or SAM.gov) would be necessary. This would reveal if the company has previously been awarded contracts for potable water systems or similar services, the value and duration of those contracts, and any available performance ratings or past performance evaluations. A lack of extensive government contracting history might indicate a newer entrant or a focus on specific niches, requiring closer monitoring of initial performance on this contract.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The summary data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. Typically, for potable water systems, KPIs would focus on water quality compliance (e.g., meeting EPA standards), system uptime/reliability, response times for reported issues, and preventative maintenance completion rates. SLAs would define the expected standards for these metrics and potential remedies or penalties for non-performance. These details would be outlined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and would be crucial for the government's oversight and evaluation of Carolina Water Specialties LLC's performance.

Are there any identified risks associated with this contract, such as technical challenges, contractor performance, or budget overruns?

Potential risks for this contract include technical challenges related to the specific potable water systems at the Department of State facilities, which may be aging or complex. Contractor performance risk exists with any new awardee, necessitating close monitoring by the COR. While the contract is firm-fixed-price, mitigating budget overrun risk, unforeseen issues could still arise that require contract modifications. Furthermore, ensuring consistent compliance with stringent water quality regulations presents an ongoing risk that requires diligent management by both the contractor and the government.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Utilities › Water, Sewage and Other Systems › Water Supply and Irrigation Systems

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 212 COOPER LN, EASLEY, SC, 29642

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $48,738

Exercised Options: $48,738

Current Obligation: $48,738

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline