NRC Spends $11.5K on Newspaper Subscriptions, Awarded Sole Source to NNA, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,468 ($11.5K)

Contractor: NNA, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Start Date: 2026-03-15

End Date: 2027-03-14

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $32/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR NRC HEADQUARTERS

Place of Performance

Location: LANHAM, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20706

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Nuclear Regulatory Commission obligated $11,467.64 to NNA, INC. for work described as: NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR NRC HEADQUARTERS Key points: 1. Value for money is difficult to assess without market benchmarks for similar subscription services. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a sole-source award, potentially limiting price discovery. 3. Risk indicators are low given the nature of the service, but contract duration warrants monitoring. 4. Performance context is limited to the provision of newspaper subscriptions. 5. Sector positioning is within administrative support services for a regulatory agency.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $11,467.64 for newspaper subscriptions appears reasonable for a government agency's needs over a one-year period. However, without specific details on the number and type of subscriptions, a direct comparison to similar contracts or market rates is challenging. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the agency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under the simplified acquisition procedures, indicating a sole-source award. The absence of competition means that NNA, Inc. was likely the only vendor considered or available for this specific requirement. This limits the agency's ability to explore alternative pricing or service offerings from other vendors.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the most competitive pricing due to the lack of a competitive bidding process.

Public Impact

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) headquarters staff will benefit from access to news and industry publications. The service delivered is the provision of newspaper and periodical subscriptions. The geographic impact is localized to the NRC headquarters in Maryland. There are no significant workforce implications associated with this contract.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition could lead to inflated prices over time.
Potential for over-subscription or acquisition of unnecessary publications.

Positive Signals

Provides essential information access for agency operations.
Simple service with low execution risk.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under administrative and support services within the broader government services sector. The market for newspaper and periodical subscriptions is mature, but government procurement processes can influence vendor selection and pricing. Comparable spending benchmarks for such services are typically found within agency operating budgets for information resources.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside. There is no indication of subcontracting requirements, and therefore, no direct impact on the small business ecosystem is expected from this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the contracting officer and program officials within the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Accountability measures are inherent in the purchase order terms and conditions. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases, though detailed usage reports are not typically disclosed.

Related Government Programs

Government Information Services
Administrative Support Contracts
Publication Procurement

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing pressure.
Limited transparency into specific publications and their necessity.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Nuclear Regulatory Commission awarded $11,467.64 to NNA, INC.. NEWSPAPER SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR NRC HEADQUARTERS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NNA, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11,467.64.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-03-15. End: 2027-03-14.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract sole-source?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures). While this doesn't explicitly state 'sole-source,' the absence of competition under SAP often implies a sole-source justification was made, possibly due to unique requirements, limited vendor availability, or urgency. A formal justification (e.g., FAR 6.302) would typically be required for sole-source awards above certain thresholds. Without this specific justification, it's difficult to ascertain the precise reason, but common factors include specialized knowledge, existing infrastructure compatibility, or a lack of other responsible sources capable of meeting the requirement within the necessary timeframe.

How does the cost of $11,467.64 compare to similar newspaper subscription contracts for federal agencies?

Directly comparing the $11,467.64 cost to similar contracts is challenging without more granular data. Factors influencing the cost include the number and type of publications, the duration of subscriptions, and any associated administrative fees. Government-wide data on newspaper subscription spending is not readily aggregated in a way that allows for easy benchmarking. However, for context, many federal agencies procure a variety of information resources, and the cost for subscriptions is typically managed within departmental budgets for libraries or administrative support. This amount appears modest in the context of overall federal spending, but its value-for-money depends heavily on the specific publications obtained and their criticality to the NRC's mission.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for newspaper subscriptions?

The primary risk associated with a sole-source award for newspaper subscriptions is the potential for non-competitive pricing. Without the pressure of multiple bidders, the awarded vendor, NNA, Inc., may not be incentivized to offer the lowest possible price. Another risk is the potential for the agency to receive services or publications that are not optimally aligned with its needs, as there was no competitive process to explore alternative offerings. Furthermore, over the long term, sole-source contracts can lead to vendor lock-in and reduced flexibility for the agency to seek better value or different solutions.

What is the historical spending pattern for newspaper subscriptions at the NRC?

The provided data only reflects a single contract award for newspaper subscriptions with an effective date of March 15, 2027, and an end date of March 14, 2027 (implying a one-year term). This suggests this is a new or recently awarded contract. To understand historical spending patterns, one would need to access historical contract databases (like FPDS or USASpending) for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and search for similar contract actions using relevant Product Service Codes (PSCs) or keywords related to publications and subscriptions over previous fiscal years. Without this historical data, it's impossible to determine if this $11.5K award represents an increase, decrease, or consistent level of spending for this service.

How does the contract duration of 364 days impact the overall value and risk?

The contract duration of 364 days (just under one year) is typical for many federal procurements, especially those under simplified acquisition procedures or for services that require annual renewal. This duration provides a defined period for service delivery and cost certainty for the NRC. From a risk perspective, a shorter duration like this limits the agency's exposure to potential long-term issues associated with a sole-source vendor, such as price escalation or declining service quality. It also allows for periodic re-evaluation of the requirement and market conditions, potentially opening the door for competition in future contract actions.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Wholesale Trade › Miscellaneous Nondurable Goods Merchant Wholesalers › Book, Periodical, and Newspaper Merchant Wholesalers

Product/Service Code: BOOKS, MAPS, OTHER PUBLICATIONS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Bio-Medical Applications of Missouri, Inc.

Address: 10107 SENATE DR, LANHAM, MD, 20706

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,468

Exercised Options: $11,468

Current Obligation: $11,468

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline