NRC awards $2.2M for clerical support, raising questions about competition and value

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $222,759 ($222.8K)

Contractor: Eagle Integrated Services, LLC

Awarding Agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Start Date: 2021-09-10

End Date: 2026-08-31

Contract Duration: 1,816 days

Daily Burn Rate: $123/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: ONSITE CLERICAL, SECRETARIAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE NRC

Place of Performance

Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20852

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Nuclear Regulatory Commission obligated $222,759.3 to EAGLE INTEGRATED SERVICES, LLC for work described as: ONSITE CLERICAL, SECRETARIAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE NRC Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a sole-source basis, limiting price discovery and potentially increasing costs. 2. Limited competition suggests potential risks in contractor performance and innovation. 3. Administrative support services are crucial for agency operations, impacting overall efficiency. 4. Contract duration extends over five years, indicating a long-term need for these services. 5. The contract's value is relatively small in the context of federal spending, but its nature warrants scrutiny.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.2 million over five years for clerical and administrative support appears reasonable for the scope of services. However, without competitive bidding, it is difficult to benchmark the pricing against market rates or similar government contracts. The lack of competition means the government may not be achieving the best possible value for its investment. Further analysis would be needed to determine if the pricing is aligned with industry standards for similar support services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning only one contractor was solicited. This approach bypasses the standard competitive bidding process, which typically involves multiple vendors vying for the contract. While sole-source awards can be justified in specific circumstances, they limit the government's ability to explore a wider range of solutions and potentially secure more favorable pricing through competition. The lack of bidders means the Nuclear Regulatory Commission did not benefit from the price discovery mechanisms inherent in a competitive procurement.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can lead to higher costs for taxpayers as the government does not benefit from the downward pressure on prices that competition provides. This can result in less efficient use of public funds.

Public Impact

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) benefits from consistent and reliable administrative support, enabling its core functions. Services include clerical, secretarial, and administrative assistant support, crucial for daily operations. The geographic impact is primarily within Maryland, where the NRC's operations are based. The contract supports a small number of administrative roles, contributing to the federal workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pressure, potentially leading to higher costs.
Lack of competition may reduce incentives for contractor innovation and efficiency.
Long contract duration (five years) could lock in potentially suboptimal pricing or service levels.

Positive Signals

Contract provides essential administrative support, ensuring continuity of NRC operations.
The contractor, EAGLE INTEGRATED SERVICES, LLC, is tasked with fulfilling a critical need.

Sector Analysis

Administrative support services are a common requirement across all federal agencies. This contract falls under the broader category of professional, scientific, and technical services. The market for such services is highly competitive, with numerous small and large businesses capable of providing these functions. However, the sole-source nature of this award bypasses that competitive landscape. Benchmarking would typically involve comparing pricing for similar administrative support contracts awarded competitively across government agencies.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside. The prime contractor, EAGLE INTEGRATED SERVICES, LLC, is a small business. However, the award was sole-source, meaning it was not competed specifically for small businesses. There is no information provided on subcontracting plans, so the impact on the broader small business ecosystem is unclear, though the prime itself is a small business.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight of this contract would fall under the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's contracting and program management offices. Standard contract administration procedures would apply, including performance monitoring and invoice review. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award, as there is no publicly available justification or detailed performance data from a competitive process. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Federal Administrative Support Services
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Contracts
Sole-Source Procurements

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive justification.
Potential for non-competitive pricing.
Limited transparency on performance and value.
Long contract duration without competitive re-evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Nuclear Regulatory Commission awarded $222,759.3 to EAGLE INTEGRATED SERVICES, LLC. ONSITE CLERICAL, SECRETARIAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT SUPPORT SERVICES FOR THE NRC

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is EAGLE INTEGRATED SERVICES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Nuclear Regulatory Commission).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $222,759.3.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-10. End: 2026-08-31.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The provided data indicates the contract was awarded on a 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' basis, which is synonymous with a sole-source award. Federal procurement regulations allow for sole-source awards under specific circumstances, such as when only one responsible source is capable of providing the required services, or in cases of urgent and compelling need. Without further documentation from the agency (e.g., a Justification for Other Than Full and Open Competition - JOFOC), the specific rationale remains unknown. This lack of transparency is a concern, as it prevents an independent assessment of whether competitive procedures were indeed inappropriate or if the agency simply opted for a non-competitive route.

How does the contract value compare to similar administrative support services procured by the government?

The contract value of $2.23 million over approximately five years (September 2021 to August 2026) for clerical, secretarial, and administrative assistant support services is relatively modest in the federal contracting landscape. However, a direct comparison is challenging due to the sole-source nature of this award. Typically, competitive awards provide a benchmark for pricing. If this contract had been competed, one would expect to see multiple bids, allowing for an assessment of whether EAGLE INTEGRATED SERVICES, LLC's proposed pricing was competitive. Without this competitive data, it's difficult to definitively state if the value is excellent, good, or fair relative to the market.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for administrative support?

The primary risk associated with a sole-source award for administrative support is the potential for inflated costs. Without the pressure of competition, the contractor may not be incentivized to offer the most competitive pricing. Additionally, there's a risk of complacency in service delivery, as the contractor faces no threat of losing the contract to a competitor. This can also stifle innovation, as there's less motivation to improve processes or offer enhanced services. Furthermore, the government misses out on the opportunity to discover potentially more capable or cost-effective solutions that might have emerged from a competitive bidding process.

What is the track record of EAGLE INTEGRATED SERVICES, LLC in performing federal contracts?

Information regarding the specific track record of EAGLE INTEGRATED SERVICES, LLC for this particular contract is limited as the award is recent and ongoing. As a small business, its ability to secure sole-source awards suggests it has met certain agency requirements. However, a comprehensive assessment of its track record would require examining past performance evaluations on other federal contracts, including timeliness of delivery, quality of service, and adherence to budget. Without access to these performance metrics, it's difficult to fully evaluate the contractor's reliability and past success in fulfilling similar obligations.

How does this contract fit into the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's overall spending on administrative services?

This contract represents a specific allocation for essential administrative support services within the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). While $2.23 million is not a large sum in the context of the NRC's total budget, it addresses a fundamental operational need. The NRC, like any large federal agency, relies heavily on administrative staff to manage its complex regulatory functions, licensing, inspections, and public communications. This contract ensures that these critical support functions are covered, allowing the agency's technical and policy experts to focus on their primary mission. Understanding its place in overall spending requires comparing it to other contracts for similar services or the agency's internal administrative workforce costs.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1826 N LOOP 1604 W STE 337D, SAN ANTONIO, TX, 78248

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: $248,050

Exercised Options: $223,803

Current Obligation: $222,759

Actual Outlays: $177,950

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NOT OBTAINED - WAIVED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 31310021D0003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline