DOT awards $2.6M contract for programmatic, comms, and financial support to Advanced Sciences and Technologies, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,646,322 ($2.6M)

Contractor: Advanced Sciences and Technologies, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2023-08-14

End Date: 2026-08-13

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TORFP 2313 AJR-1 PROGRAMMATIC, COMMUNICATIONS, MANAGEMENT, TRAINING AND FINANCIAL/BUDGET SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20591

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $2.6 million to ADVANCED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC for work described as: TORFP 2313 AJR-1 PROGRAMMATIC, COMMUNICATIONS, MANAGEMENT, TRAINING AND FINANCIAL/BUDGET SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Advanced Sciences and Technologies, LLC for a broad range of support services. 2. The contract value is $2,646,321.54 over a 3-year period. 3. Competition method was 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources', suggesting a specific reason for excluding some sources. 4. The sector appears to be professional, scientific, and technical services, specifically engineering services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract is a delivery order under a larger contract. Without knowing the value and terms of the base contract, assessing its pricing relative to similar contracts is difficult. The Time and Materials pricing structure can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The competition method 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' indicates that while the competition was intended to be open, certain sources were excluded. This could limit price discovery and potentially lead to higher costs than a truly open competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of Time and Materials pricing, coupled with limited competition, raises concerns about potential cost inefficiencies for taxpayers.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be paying more than necessary due to the limited competition and T&M pricing. The broad scope of services could lead to inefficiencies if not managed effectively. The exclusion of sources in the competition warrants further scrutiny to ensure fairness and value.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition
Time and Materials pricing
Broad scope of services

Positive Signals

Contract awarded to a specific company for needed services
Clear contract duration and start/end dates

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services, specifically engineering services (NAICS 541330). Spending in this sector can vary widely based on project complexity and agency needs. Benchmarks are difficult without more specific service details.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false, sb: false). There is no information provided on subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' method suggests a need for robust oversight to ensure the exclusion was justified and that the selected vendor provides good value. The Time and Materials pricing also requires diligent monitoring.

Related Government Programs

Engineering Services
Department of Transportation Contracting
Federal Aviation Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Limited competition may have reduced price discovery.
Lack of transparency regarding excluded sources.
Broad service scope could lead to inefficiencies.
No indication of small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $2.6 million to ADVANCED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC. TORFP 2313 AJR-1 PROGRAMMATIC, COMMUNICATIONS, MANAGEMENT, TRAINING AND FINANCIAL/BUDGET SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ADVANCED SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGIES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-08-14. End: 2026-08-13.

What was the justification for excluding sources in the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' method, and how did this impact the final price?

The justification for excluding sources is critical. If the exclusion was based on specific technical capabilities or past performance requirements, it might be warranted. However, if it was arbitrary, it could have limited the competitive pool, potentially leading to a higher price than if all qualified sources had been allowed to compete. Understanding the rationale is key to assessing value for money.

How effectively is the Time and Materials pricing structure being managed to prevent cost overruns and ensure efficient service delivery?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are inherently susceptible to cost escalation if not rigorously managed. Effective oversight involves detailed tracking of labor hours, rates, and material costs, along with clear performance metrics. Agencies must actively monitor expenditures against the ceiling price and ensure that the contractor is incentivized to complete tasks efficiently rather than simply billing for more time.

What specific programmatic, communications, training, and financial/budget support tasks are included, and how do they align with the FAA's strategic objectives?

The broad nature of the services necessitates a clear understanding of the specific deliverables and their alignment with the Federal Aviation Administration's goals. Without this detail, it's challenging to assess the true value and effectiveness of the contract. Defining key performance indicators (KPIs) for each service area would allow for better measurement of success and accountability.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 20 E TAUNTON STE 301, BERLIN, NJ, 08009

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $7,512,307

Exercised Options: $2,646,322

Current Obligation: $2,646,322

Actual Outlays: $2,326,560

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 693KA822D00023

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline