NSF Awards $571K for Building Fans to USGBF NSF LLC, Sole Source

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $57,145 ($57.1K)

Contractor: Usgbf NSF LLC

Awarding Agency: National Science Foundation

Start Date: 2025-01-01

End Date: 2025-12-31

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $157/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: 24/7 BUILDING FANS

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22314

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Science Foundation obligated $57,144.65 to USGBF NSF LLC for work described as: 24/7 BUILDING FANS Key points: 1. Spending is concentrated with a single vendor, USGBF NSF LLC. 2. The contract is for building fans, a common facility maintenance need. 3. Lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing. 4. The sector is Real Estate Property Lessors, with limited direct federal spending benchmarks.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the $571,446.50 price is reasonable. Benchmarking against similar facility maintenance contracts for fan systems would be necessary.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded sole-source, meaning no competition was sought. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for these building fans.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying for essential building equipment due to sole-source award. The National Science Foundation's facilities maintenance spending is impacted. Transparency in procurement processes is reduced without competitive bidding.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for overpricing

Positive Signals

Clear contract duration
Fixed price contract

Sector Analysis

This spending falls under the lessors of real estate property sector, typically related to facility operations and maintenance. Federal spending benchmarks for specific equipment like building fans are not readily available, but general facility maintenance costs can vary widely.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were considered or excluded from this sole-source procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny. Oversight should ensure that the justification for not competing the contract is valid and that the price is fair and reasonable.

Related Government Programs

Lessors of Other Real Estate Property
National Science Foundation Contracting
National Science Foundation Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks transparency.
Potential for inflated pricing.
No small business participation noted.
Limited market research evident.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Science Foundation awarded $57,144.65 to USGBF NSF LLC. 24/7 BUILDING FANS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is USGBF NSF LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: National Science Foundation (National Science Foundation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $57,144.65.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-01-01. End: 2025-12-31.

What is the justification for the sole-source award of this contract?

The justification for a sole-source award typically involves circumstances where only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services. This could be due to unique capabilities, urgent needs, or specific compatibility requirements. Without further documentation, the specific reason for this sole-source award remains unclear and requires investigation.

How does the price compare to market rates for similar building fan systems?

Without competitive bids, a direct comparison to market rates is challenging. A thorough price analysis would involve benchmarking against publicly available pricing for comparable fan systems, considering factors like capacity, efficiency, and installation. This would help determine if the $571,446.50 awarded price is fair and reasonable.

What is the potential impact on NSF's operational budget if similar contracts are awarded sole-source?

If multiple contracts for essential services or equipment are awarded sole-source without strong justification, it could lead to significant budget overruns. This practice reduces the government's ability to secure the best value, potentially diverting funds from other critical NSF research or operational priorities.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Real Estate and Rental and Leasing › Lessors of Real Estate › Lessors of Other Real Estate Property

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

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

Address: 9830 COLONNADE BLVD, SAN ANTONIO, TX, 78230

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $57,145

Exercised Options: $57,145

Current Obligation: $57,145

Actual Outlays: $57,145

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline