NASA awards $7.8M wastewater utility contract to Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District for a decade
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $7,808,981 ($7.8M)
Contractor: Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2020-12-01
End Date: 2030-11-30
Contract Duration: 3,651 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.1K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: LF WASTE WATER UTILITY SERVICE
Place of Performance
Location: CLEVELAND, CUYAHOGA County, OHIO, 44135
State: Ohio Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $7.8 million to NORTHEAST OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT for work described as: LF WASTE WATER UTILITY SERVICE Key points: 1. Contract provides essential utility services, ensuring operational continuity for NASA facilities. 2. Long-term nature of the contract offers predictable service delivery and cost management. 3. Sole-source award raises questions about potential cost efficiencies and market alternatives. 4. Performance will be measured against service level agreements for wastewater treatment and disposal. 5. This contract supports critical infrastructure maintenance within the Ohio region. 6. Focus on utility services indicates a stable, ongoing need rather than project-specific requirements.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $7.8 million over 10 years averages to $780,000 annually. Without comparable contracts for similar NASA facilities or detailed service breakdowns, it is difficult to definitively benchmark value. However, the long duration and sole-source nature suggest that pricing may not have been optimized through competitive bidding. Further analysis of the specific services provided and their associated costs would be needed for a more precise assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. This approach is typically used when only one vendor can provide the required goods or services, often due to unique capabilities, existing infrastructure, or specific regulatory requirements. The lack of competition means that pricing and service terms were negotiated directly with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, potentially limiting opportunities for cost savings that might arise from a competitive bidding process.
Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, a sole-source award means there is less assurance that the government secured the best possible price. While the necessity of the service is clear, the absence of competition prevents direct comparison with market alternatives, potentially leading to higher costs than if multiple bids were considered.
Public Impact
Benefits NASA's operational continuity by ensuring reliable wastewater utility services. Provides essential wastewater treatment and disposal services, crucial for environmental compliance. Geographic impact is localized to the areas served by the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District, supporting NASA facilities within that region. Supports the workforce of the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District through continued service provision. Ensures the environmental integrity of NASA operations by managing wastewater responsibly.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits price discovery and potential cost savings for taxpayers.
- Long contract duration (10 years) may reduce flexibility to adapt to changing needs or technologies.
- Lack of detailed service breakdown makes it difficult to assess the value for money of specific components.
Positive Signals
- Ensures continuity of essential wastewater services for critical NASA operations.
- Long-term contract provides stability and predictability for service provision and budgeting.
- Award to a regional utility district suggests alignment with local infrastructure and potentially streamlined service delivery.
Sector Analysis
The wastewater utility services sector is characterized by essential public services often provided by regional authorities or specialized private firms. Contracts in this area typically focus on long-term service agreements for maintenance, treatment, and disposal. NASA's spending in this sector supports its operational infrastructure, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations and the smooth functioning of its facilities. Benchmarking is challenging due to the localized nature of utility services and the specific needs of government installations.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to involve small business set-asides, as it is a sole-source award to a regional sewer district. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this specific contract's scope. The primary focus is on the direct provision of utility services by the awarded entity.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would likely be managed by NASA's contracting officers and program managers responsible for facility operations. Performance metrics and service level agreements stipulated in the contract would form the basis for monitoring. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature, but NASA's internal procurement regulations and reporting requirements would apply. Inspector General jurisdiction would cover potential fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Facility Operations Support Contracts
- Environmental Services Contracts
- Public Utility Service Agreements
- Regional Water and Sewer Management
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award may limit cost-effectiveness.
- Long contract duration could reduce flexibility.
- Lack of detailed service breakdown hinders value assessment.
Tags
nasa, wastewater-utility, sole-source, ohio, regional-sewer-district, firm-fixed-price, long-term-contract, environmental-services, infrastructure-support, government-contracting
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $7.8 million to NORTHEAST OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT. LF WASTE WATER UTILITY SERVICE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NORTHEAST OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $7.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-12-01. End: 2030-11-30.
What specific services are included under the $7.8 million wastewater utility contract?
The provided data indicates the contract is for 'LF WASTE WATER UTILITY SERVICE' with the North East Ohio Regional Sewer District. While the exact breakdown of services is not detailed, typical wastewater utility services include collection, treatment, and disposal of sewage and industrial wastewater, as well as stormwater management. Given the duration and value, it likely encompasses routine maintenance, operational oversight, and compliance with all relevant environmental regulations for NASA facilities within the district's service area. Specifics would be found in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW).
Why was this contract awarded on a sole-source basis?
The contract was designated as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' which is synonymous with a sole-source award. This typically occurs when a specific entity is the only responsible source capable of providing the required services. For a regional sewer district, this could be due to existing infrastructure, established service territories, unique treatment capabilities, or regulatory mandates that limit service provision to specific entities within a geographic area. NASA likely determined that the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District was the only viable option to meet its wastewater utility needs in that location.
How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar utility services?
The contract value is $7.8 million over approximately 10 years, averaging $780,000 per year. Benchmarking this figure is challenging without specific details on the volume of wastewater treated, the complexity of the services required (e.g., industrial pre-treatment), and the specific geographic service area's cost structure. However, municipal wastewater treatment costs can vary significantly based on population served, industrial discharge levels, and infrastructure age. Given the sole-source nature, it's difficult to ascertain if this represents a competitive market rate. A detailed cost analysis comparing per-gallon treatment costs or per-facility service fees against industry averages would be necessary for a robust comparison.
What are the performance expectations and monitoring mechanisms for this contract?
Performance expectations are typically defined through a Statement of Work (SOW) and Service Level Agreements (SLAs) within the contract. For wastewater utility services, these would likely include metrics related to water quality standards post-treatment, timely collection and disposal, compliance with environmental discharge permits (e.g., EPA regulations), and system uptime. NASA's contracting officer would be responsible for monitoring the contractor's performance against these agreed-upon metrics. Regular reporting from the contractor and potential site inspections would form part of the oversight process to ensure services meet contractual obligations.
What is the historical spending pattern for wastewater utility services at this NASA facility or similar facilities?
The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for this specific contract or similar services at other NASA facilities. To assess historical trends, one would need to access NASA's contract databases or public spending reports (like USAspending.gov) to identify previous contracts for wastewater utility services, their values, durations, and awarded contractors. Analyzing this data would reveal whether this $7.8 million, 10-year contract represents an increase or decrease in spending, and if the contractor has been a consistent provider. Without this historical context, it's difficult to evaluate the long-term financial implications.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Utilities › Water, Sewage and Other Systems › Water Supply and Irrigation Systems
Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › UTILITIES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3900 EUCLID AVE, CLEVELAND, OH, 44115
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $35,000,000
Exercised Options: $35,000,000
Current Obligation: $7,808,981
Actual Outlays: $7,061,789
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: PRODUCTS OR SERVICES PURSUANT TO FAR 12.102(F)
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-12-01
Current End Date: 2030-11-30
Potential End Date: 2030-11-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-10
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