DOE awards $250K task order for NEMS analysis to OnLocation, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $250,000 ($250.0K)
Contractor: Onlocation, Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2026-03-30
End Date: 2027-01-29
Contract Duration: 305 days
Daily Burn Rate: $820/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS
Sector: Other
Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS TASK ORDER IS TO PROVIDE THE OFFICE OF POLICY (OP) WITH ANALYSIS FROM SPECIFIC VERSIONS OF THE NATIONAL ENERGY MODELING SYSTEM (NEMS) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ATTACHED PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20585
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $250,000 to ONLOCATION, INC for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS TASK ORDER IS TO PROVIDE THE OFFICE OF POLICY (OP) WITH ANALYSIS FROM SPECIFIC VERSIONS OF THE NATIONAL ENERGY MODELING SYSTEM (NEMS) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ATTACHED PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT Key points: 1. Task order focuses on providing analytical support for specific versions of the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS). 2. Contract duration of 305 days suggests a focused, short-term analytical need. 3. Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a broad search for qualified contractors. 4. The contract type is 'Labor Hours', which can offer flexibility but requires careful monitoring of hours worked. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611 points to general management consulting services. 6. The contract is a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery contract vehicle.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The award amount of $250,000 for a 305-day labor hour contract appears reasonable for specialized analytical support. Benchmarking against similar task orders for energy modeling analysis would provide a clearer picture of value for money. Without specific deliverables or hourly rates, a precise value assessment is challenging, but the amount seems aligned with consulting services for a defined period.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This task order was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This competitive process is generally expected to yield fair market pricing and identify the most capable contractor. The number of bidders is not specified, but the open competition is a positive indicator for price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the best value and prevent overpayment for specialized analytical services.
Public Impact
The Office of Policy (OP) within the Department of Energy is the primary beneficiary, receiving analytical support for energy modeling. The services delivered will involve analysis of specific versions of the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS). The geographic impact is centered in the District of Columbia, where the Department of Energy is headquartered. Workforce implications are likely limited to the contractor's personnel assigned to this specific task order.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Labor hour contracts can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
- The specific analytical requirements and deliverables are not detailed in the provided data, making it hard to assess the scope.
- The duration of the contract is relatively short, which might indicate a need for ongoing, potentially more extensive, future work.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
- The contract is for a specific analytical purpose (NEMS analysis), indicating a clear objective.
- The Department of Energy is a primary agency with significant expertise in energy modeling.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically management consulting. The Department of Energy frequently engages contractors for specialized analysis related to energy systems and policy. Spending in this category often supports the development and refinement of complex modeling tools like NEMS, which are crucial for informing energy policy decisions.
Small Business Impact
The contract data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The competition was open, so small businesses could have participated if they met the qualifications.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this task order would typically reside within the Department of Energy's Office of Policy, which is the recipient of the services. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance work statement and deliverables. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award being publicly available, though detailed performance metrics are not provided.
Related Government Programs
- National Energy Modeling System (NEMS)
- Department of Energy Policy Analysis
- Energy Sector Consulting Services
- Federal Management Consulting Contracts
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to labor hour contract type.
- Need for detailed monitoring of contractor hours and deliverables.
- Limited public information on contractor's specific past performance in energy modeling.
Tags
department-of-energy, energy-modeling, nems, consulting-services, labor-hours, full-and-open-competition, delivery-order, district-of-columbia, administrative-management, policy-analysis
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $250,000 to ONLOCATION, INC. THE PURPOSE OF THIS TASK ORDER IS TO PROVIDE THE OFFICE OF POLICY (OP) WITH ANALYSIS FROM SPECIFIC VERSIONS OF THE NATIONAL ENERGY MODELING SYSTEM (NEMS) IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ATTACHED PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ONLOCATION, INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $250,000.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-03-30. End: 2027-01-29.
What is the historical spending by the Department of Energy on NEMS-related analysis or consulting services?
Historical spending data on National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) related analysis or consulting services by the Department of Energy (DOE) is not directly available in this specific contract award. However, NEMS is a core analytical tool for the DOE, used extensively for projecting energy supply, demand, and prices. Given its importance, the DOE likely allocates significant resources annually towards its maintenance, updates, and the analysis derived from it. This often involves a mix of internal staff expertise and external contractor support for specialized tasks, modeling runs, and scenario development. To ascertain historical spending, one would need to analyze broader DOE budget allocations for energy modeling and forecasting, as well as review past contract awards under relevant NAICS codes (like 541611) and PSC codes related to R&D and technical services over several fiscal years.
How does the $250,000 award amount compare to typical NEMS analysis task orders?
The $250,000 award amount for this 305-day task order appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized analytical support related to energy modeling systems like NEMS. NEMS analysis often requires expert knowledge in economics, engineering, and data science. Task orders for such services can vary significantly based on scope, duration, and complexity. Smaller, focused analyses or specific model updates might fall within this budget, while comprehensive overhauls or extensive scenario modeling could command higher figures. Without knowing the precise deliverables and the specific NEMS versions being analyzed, a direct comparison is difficult. However, for a defined period of focused analytical work, $250,000 is a plausible figure for procuring specialized consulting expertise.
What are the potential risks associated with a 'Labor Hours' contract type for this service?
The primary risk associated with a 'Labor Hours' contract type, such as this one, is the potential for cost overruns if not meticulously managed. Unlike fixed-price contracts, the total cost is determined by the actual hours worked by contractor personnel multiplied by their agreed-upon hourly rates. This necessitates robust oversight from the government to ensure that hours are reasonable, necessary, and directly related to the contract's objectives. Potential risks include scope creep where the contractor may bill for hours spent on tasks not explicitly defined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS), or inefficiencies leading to more hours being expended than initially anticipated. Effective contract administration, including regular reviews of timesheets and progress reports, is crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure value for money.
What is OnLocation, Inc.'s track record with the Department of Energy or similar energy modeling contracts?
Information regarding OnLocation, Inc.'s specific track record with the Department of Energy (DOE) or on similar energy modeling contracts is not provided in the data for this task order. To assess their track record, one would need to conduct further research, potentially through federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS, looking for past awards to OnLocation, Inc. by the DOE or other agencies for services related to energy modeling, data analysis, or management consulting. Examining past performance evaluations, if publicly available, would also provide insights into their reliability, quality of work, and ability to meet deadlines and objectives on similar projects. Without this external data, it's impossible to evaluate their specific qualifications and past performance.
How critical is the NEMS analysis to the Department of Energy's policy-making process?
The National Energy Modeling System (NEMS) is critically important to the Department of Energy's (DOE) policy-making process. NEMS is a comprehensive suite of models used to forecast future energy production, consumption, prices, and environmental impacts under various assumptions. Policymakers rely on NEMS outputs to understand the potential consequences of different energy policies, regulations, and market trends. It helps in evaluating the effectiveness of proposed initiatives, identifying potential challenges, and making informed decisions regarding energy security, economic impacts, and environmental sustainability. The analysis provided under this task order, focusing on specific NEMS versions, directly supports the Office of Policy's ability to conduct these crucial assessments and advise leadership.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: KLS Government Services LLC
Address: 501 CHURCH ST NE, VIENNA, VA, 22180
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $603,702
Exercised Options: $603,702
Current Obligation: $250,000
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS10F0126U
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-03-30
Current End Date: 2027-01-29
Potential End Date: 2027-01-29 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-03
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