ARPA-E awards Booz Allen Hamilton $52.4M for scientific, technical, and administrative support services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $52,365,616 ($52.4M)
Contractor: Booz Allen Hamilton Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2021-12-01
End Date: 2023-05-31
Contract Duration: 546 days
Daily Burn Rate: $95.9K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: EO14042 ***** THE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-ENERGY ("ARPA-E") HAS AN ONGOING REQUIREMENT FOR SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, PROFESSIONAL, FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20024
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $52.4 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC for work described as: EO14042 ***** THE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-ENERGY ("ARPA-E") HAS AN ONGOING REQUIREMENT FOR SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, PROFESSIONAL, FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single, large business vendor. 2. Services are broad, encompassing scientific, technical, professional, financial, and administrative support. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. 4. The sector is primarily R&D support, aligning with ARPA-E's mission.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type, while allowing flexibility, carries inherent risk for cost control. Benchmarking against similar support service contracts is difficult without more granular data on specific tasks and deliverables.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs than if multiple vendors had competed.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for these essential support services.
Public Impact
Supports ARPA-E's mission to fund high-potential, high-impact energy research. Ensures continuity of operations for critical research and development programs. Potential for cost inefficiencies due to sole-source, non-competitive award.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can incentivize higher spending.
- Lack of small business participation.
Positive Signals
- Provides essential support for critical energy research initiatives.
- Ensures operational continuity for ARPA-E programs.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research & Development sector, specifically supporting the administrative and technical functions of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy. Spending benchmarks for such broad support services can vary significantly based on agency size and scope.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small businesses were not involved in this contract, as the awardee is a large business and the 'ss' (small business set-aside) field is false. This represents a missed opportunity for small business engagement.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure the services provided are necessary, effective, and priced reasonably. Robust performance monitoring by the Department of Energy is crucial.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Support Services
- Department of Energy Contracting
- Department of Energy Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award.
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type.
- No small business participation.
- Broad scope of services may lack specific performance metrics.
- Potential for cost overruns.
Tags
all-other-support-services, department-of-energy, dc, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $52.4 million to BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC. EO14042 ***** THE ADVANCED RESEARCH PROJECTS AGENCY-ENERGY ("ARPA-E") HAS AN ONGOING REQUIREMENT FOR SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, PROFESSIONAL, FINANCIAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is BOOZ ALLEN HAMILTON INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $52.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2021-12-01. End: 2023-05-31.
What specific metrics are used to assess the value and effectiveness of the scientific, technical, professional, financial, and administrative support services provided by Booz Allen Hamilton?
The provided data does not detail the specific metrics used to assess the value and effectiveness of the support services. A thorough review would require access to performance reports, deliverables, and any quality assurance surveillance plans associated with the contract. Understanding these metrics is crucial for determining if the $52.4 million expenditure represents good value for the taxpayer.
Given the sole-source nature of the award, what steps has ARPA-E taken to mitigate the risk of inflated pricing and ensure fair market value?
Without specific details on ARPA-E's procurement process for this sole-source award, it's difficult to ascertain the exact mitigation steps. Typically, agencies might conduct market research, obtain independent cost estimates, or negotiate aggressively on fee and indirect rates. However, the absence of competition inherently limits the agency's leverage in price discovery.
How does the continuation of this support contract contribute to the overall effectiveness of ARPA-E's mission to accelerate energy innovation?
This contract is essential for the day-to-day functioning of ARPA-E, providing the necessary scientific, technical, and administrative backbone for its research programs. By ensuring continuity and providing expert support, it allows ARPA-E researchers to focus on their core mission of identifying and funding high-potential energy technologies, thereby contributing to the agency's overall effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Other Support Services › All Other Support Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 89703022NAR000019
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation
Address: 8283 GREENSBORO DR, MCLEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $66,607,937
Exercised Options: $66,607,937
Current Obligation: $52,365,616
Actual Outlays: $52,106,315
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 2
Total Subaward Amount: $64,611
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2021-12-01
Current End Date: 2023-05-31
Potential End Date: 2023-05-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-10-02
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