NARA Awards $3.14M Firm-Fixed Price Contract for Bush Presidential Library Facilities Management to Texas A&M

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,144,248 ($3.1M)

Contractor: Texas a & M University

Awarding Agency: National Archives and Records Administration

Start Date: 2024-06-01

End Date: 2026-05-31

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THIS CONTRACT IS FOR A FIRM-FIXED PRICE CONTRACT WITH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (TAMU) AT COLLEGE STATION, TX, TO PURCHASE CONSOLIDATED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (CFM) SERVICES FOR THE GEORGE H.W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY. THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS J

Place of Performance

Location: COLLEGE STATION, BRAZOS County, TEXAS, 77845

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Archives and Records Administration obligated $3.1 million to TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY for work described as: THIS CONTRACT IS FOR A FIRM-FIXED PRICE CONTRACT WITH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (TAMU) AT COLLEGE STATION, TX, TO PURCHASE CONSOLIDATED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (CFM) SERVICES FOR THE GEORGE H.W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY. THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS J Key points: 1. The contract focuses on consolidated facilities management for the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library. 2. Texas A&M University is the sole awardee, raising questions about competition. 3. The firm-fixed-price structure aims to control costs, but the lack of competition warrants scrutiny. 4. This spending falls within the Facilities Support Services sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $3.14 million over two years for specialized facilities management services appears reasonable given the unique nature of a presidential library. However, without competitive bidding, it's difficult to benchmark against similar contracts.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award to Texas A&M University. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs than if multiple vendors had competed.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for this contract. The lack of competition means there's a risk of overpayment, impacting the efficient use of public money.

Public Impact

Ensures the continued operation and maintenance of a significant historical landmark. Supports the preservation of presidential records and public access to historical information. Potential for higher costs due to sole-source award impacts taxpayer value. Limited transparency in the procurement process due to lack of competition.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for inflated pricing
Limited transparency in award process

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract type
Award to a known entity (Texas A&M)

Sector Analysis

The Facilities Support Services sector encompasses a wide range of services for maintaining buildings and grounds. Spending benchmarks vary greatly depending on the type and size of facility. Presidential libraries represent a unique niche within this sector.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded directly to Texas A&M University and does not appear to involve small business participation. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is responsible for this contract. Oversight should focus on ensuring the services meet the required standards and that the pricing remains justified despite the sole-source nature.

Related Government Programs

Facilities Support Services
National Archives and Records Administration Contracting
National Archives and Records Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
Potential for overpayment due to lack of competition.
Limited transparency in the procurement process.
No apparent small business participation.
Contract duration of two years requires ongoing monitoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Archives and Records Administration awarded $3.1 million to TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY. THIS CONTRACT IS FOR A FIRM-FIXED PRICE CONTRACT WITH TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY (TAMU) AT COLLEGE STATION, TX, TO PURCHASE CONSOLIDATED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT (CFM) SERVICES FOR THE GEORGE H.W. BUSH PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY. THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE IS J

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TEXAS A & M UNIVERSITY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: National Archives and Records Administration (National Archives and Records Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-06-01. End: 2026-05-31.

What specific justification was provided for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis to Texas A&M University?

The provided data does not include the specific justification for the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source contracts are justified when only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services, or in cases of urgent and compelling need. Further investigation into NARA's procurement records would be necessary to ascertain the precise rationale.

How does the cost of these facilities management services compare to similar presidential libraries or large federal facilities?

Without competitive bids, a direct cost comparison is challenging. The firm-fixed-price nature provides some cost certainty, but the absence of competition prevents benchmarking against market rates for similar specialized facilities management services. A detailed review of the contract scope and NARA's internal cost estimates would be needed for a more thorough assessment.

What measures are in place to ensure the effectiveness and quality of services provided by Texas A&M University under this contract?

As this is a firm-fixed-price contract, the primary incentive for Texas A&M is to deliver the contracted services within the agreed price. NARA likely has performance standards and monitoring mechanisms in place to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the consolidated facilities management services. Regular performance reviews and site inspections would be crucial for accountability.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Facilities Support Services › Facilities Support Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 88310324Q00070

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 400 HARVEY MITCHELL PKY S STE 300, COLLEGE STATION, TX, 77845

Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Government, Higher Education, Higher Education (Minority Serving), U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), U.S. Regional/State Government, Veterinary College

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,782,530

Exercised Options: $4,012,706

Current Obligation: $3,144,248

Actual Outlays: $2,765,914

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline