Department of Energy awards $4.26M contract to Chickasaw Business Solutions for critical capabilities, including experimental facilities and computational tools
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $4,262,949 ($4.3M)
Contractor: Chickasaw Business Solutions, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2024-12-13
End Date: 2027-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,021 days
Daily Burn Rate: $4.2K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THE CRITICAL CAPABILITIES OF ZNETUS INCLUDE EXPERIMENTAL FACILITIES, COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS, DIAGNOSTIC AND PULSER DESIGN ENGINEERING SUPPORT, AND TECHNICAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. MODELED AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL LASERNETUS. BY DEMOCRATIZING ACCESS TO UNIQ
Place of Performance
Location: NORMAN, CLEVELAND County, OKLAHOMA, 73071
State: Oklahoma Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $4.3 million to CHICKASAW BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, LLC for work described as: THE CRITICAL CAPABILITIES OF ZNETUS INCLUDE EXPERIMENTAL FACILITIES, COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS, DIAGNOSTIC AND PULSER DESIGN ENGINEERING SUPPORT, AND TECHNICAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. MODELED AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL LASERNETUS. BY DEMOCRATIZING ACCESS TO UNIQ Key points: 1. The contract focuses on providing experimental facilities, computational tools, and diagnostic/pulser design engineering support, aiming to democratize access to unique capabilities. 2. This award is a definitive contract with a firm fixed price, indicating a clear scope and cost structure. 3. The contract duration is over 1000 days, suggesting a long-term need for these specialized services. 4. The award to Chickasaw Business Solutions, LLC, highlights a specific contractor's role in supporting advanced research infrastructure. 5. The contract's purpose aligns with fostering innovation and accessibility in scientific research, potentially benefiting a broad technical community. 6. The absence of competition for this award warrants further examination of the procurement process and potential alternatives.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $4.26 million over approximately 3 years appears reasonable for specialized research support services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for experimental facilities and computational tool access is difficult without more specific service details. However, the firm fixed-price structure suggests that the government has a defined budget and expects specific deliverables within that cost. The value proposition hinges on the unique capabilities provided and the extent to which they democratize access to advanced research infrastructure.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. The specific justification for not competing the award is not provided in the data. Sole-source procurements can sometimes lead to higher prices or less innovation compared to competitive processes, as there is no direct pressure from other bidders. The lack of competition here means that the government did not explore alternative providers or potentially more cost-effective solutions that might have emerged from a bidding process.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible value due to the absence of competitive bidding, which typically drives down costs and encourages innovation.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are researchers and the broader technical community who will gain access to experimental facilities and computational tools. The services delivered include access to unique experimental facilities, computational tools, diagnostic and pulser design engineering support, and technical community organization. The geographic impact is likely national, as the Department of Energy supports research across the United States. Workforce implications include potential support for scientists, engineers, and technicians involved in advanced research and development.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition for a contract of this value raises concerns about potential overpricing and missed opportunities for innovation.
- The sole-source nature of the award requires careful scrutiny to ensure the selected contractor is the most capable and cost-effective provider.
- Transparency regarding the justification for the sole-source award is limited, hindering public understanding of the procurement decision.
Positive Signals
- The contract aims to democratize access to critical research capabilities, which can foster broader scientific advancement.
- The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government.
- The long contract duration suggests a sustained commitment to supporting these vital research functions.
Sector Analysis
The contract falls within the Information Technology and Research & Development sectors, specifically supporting advanced scientific research infrastructure. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 519290, 'Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services,' is broadly applied here, likely encompassing the information management and access aspects of the research facilities. Comparable spending benchmarks for specialized experimental facilities and computational tool access are highly variable and depend on the unique nature of the capabilities offered. The Department of Energy is a significant investor in such infrastructure to maintain its scientific and technological leadership.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to involve a small business set-aside, as the prime contractor, Chickasaw Business Solutions, LLC, is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data, and the 'ss' field is false. There is no information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. The impact on the small business ecosystem is therefore likely minimal unless Chickasaw Business Solutions actively engages small businesses as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight mechanisms for this contract are not detailed in the provided data. However, as a Department of Energy contract, it would typically be subject to internal agency oversight, contract performance reviews, and potentially oversight from the Department of Energy's Office of Inspector General. Transparency is limited by the lack of public detail on the justification for the sole-source award and specific performance metrics. Accountability would be driven by the terms of the firm fixed-price definitive contract and the contractor's adherence to those terms.
Related Government Programs
- Department of Energy Research Infrastructure
- Advanced Scientific Computing
- Experimental Facilities Support
- National Laboratory Support Services
Risk Flags
- Sole-source procurement
- Lack of competition
- Limited transparency on justification
Tags
department-of-energy, research-and-development, experimental-facilities, computational-tools, sole-source, definitive-contract, firm-fixed-price, information-services, oklahoma, large-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $4.3 million to CHICKASAW BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, LLC. THE CRITICAL CAPABILITIES OF ZNETUS INCLUDE EXPERIMENTAL FACILITIES, COMPUTATIONAL TOOLS, DIAGNOSTIC AND PULSER DESIGN ENGINEERING SUPPORT, AND TECHNICAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. MODELED AFTER THE SUCCESSFUL LASERNETUS. BY DEMOCRATIZING ACCESS TO UNIQ
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CHICKASAW BUSINESS SOLUTIONS, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $4.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-12-13. End: 2027-09-30.
What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
The provided data does not contain the specific justification for the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source contracts are awarded when only one responsible source is available or capable of meeting the government's needs. This could be due to unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent requirements where a competitive process would be impractical or detrimental to the government's interests. Without further documentation, it is impossible to definitively state the reason for this procurement approach. Agencies are required to document and justify sole-source awards, and this documentation is often publicly available through sources like SAM.gov or agency procurement records.
How does the cost of this contract compare to similar services provided by other government agencies or private entities?
Direct cost comparison is challenging without detailed service breakdowns and market research data. The contract value of $4.26 million over approximately 3.3 years for specialized experimental facilities and computational tools is difficult to benchmark against publicly available data. Similar services can vary widely in cost depending on the scale, complexity, and exclusivity of the resources. For instance, access to unique high-performance computing clusters or specialized experimental apparatus can command significant fees. The firm fixed-price nature provides cost certainty, but the absence of competition limits the ability to assess if this price represents optimal value compared to what a competitive market might offer.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will contractor performance be measured?
The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or the methodology for measuring contractor performance. For a contract of this nature, KPIs would likely focus on the availability and reliability of experimental facilities, the performance and accessibility of computational tools, the quality and timeliness of engineering support, and the effectiveness of technical community organization. Performance would typically be monitored through regular progress reports, site visits, user feedback, and adherence to contractual milestones and deliverables. The Department of Energy's contracting officers and technical representatives would be responsible for overseeing performance.
What is the track record of Chickasaw Business Solutions, LLC, with Department of Energy or similar contracts?
Information regarding the specific track record of Chickasaw Business Solutions, LLC, with the Department of Energy or similar contracts is not detailed in the provided data. To assess their track record, one would typically review past performance evaluations, contract history, and any reported issues or successes on previous government awards. A thorough review would involve searching federal procurement databases and agency records for prior contracts awarded to this entity, examining their performance ratings, and understanding the scope and complexity of those prior engagements to gauge their capability and reliability for this current award.
What is the expected impact of these critical capabilities on scientific research and innovation?
The contract aims to provide 'critical capabilities' including experimental facilities, computational tools, and engineering support, modeled after the successful 'LaserNetUS' program. The stated goal is to 'democratize access' to these unique resources. This suggests a significant positive impact on scientific research and innovation by lowering barriers to entry for researchers who may not have access to such advanced infrastructure. By enabling broader access, the contract is expected to foster collaboration, accelerate discovery, and potentially lead to breakthroughs in various scientific fields supported by the Department of Energy.
Are there any potential risks associated with the long duration and sole-source nature of this contract?
Yes, there are potential risks associated with the long duration (over 1000 days) and sole-source nature of this contract. The long duration increases the risk of cost escalation if market conditions change significantly, although the firm fixed-price structure mitigates this to some extent. More importantly, the sole-source award means the government did not benefit from competitive pressures that could have driven down costs or spurred greater innovation. There's also a risk that the chosen contractor may not remain the most capable or cost-effective provider over the entire contract period, and the government has fewer options to pivot if performance issues arise or better alternatives emerge.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Web Search Portals, Libraries, Archives, and Other Information Services › Web Search Portals and All Other Information Services
Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 89233124QNA000369
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2600 JOHN SAXON BLVD, NORMAN, OK, 73071
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, HUBZone Firm, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $4,262,949
Exercised Options: $4,262,949
Current Obligation: $4,262,949
Actual Outlays: $36,643
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-12-13
Current End Date: 2027-09-30
Potential End Date: 2027-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-20
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