Nearly $17.7M in Facilities Support Services Awarded to VNS Federal Services LLC for USDA

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,666,347 ($17.7M)

Contractor: VNS Federal Services LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2004-10-01

End Date: 2009-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.7K/day

Competition Type: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FACILITIES SUPPORT SERVICES AT NUCAR. PEORIA, IL

Place of Performance

Location: PEORIA, PEORIA County, ILLINOIS, 61604

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $17.7 million to VNS FEDERAL SERVICES LLC for work described as: FACILITIES SUPPORT SERVICES AT NUCAR. PEORIA, IL Key points: 1. Contract represents a significant investment in maintaining critical agricultural research infrastructure. 2. Follow-on nature suggests a history of performance and established relationship. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type offers cost certainty for the government. 4. Long duration of 5 years indicates a need for sustained support. 5. Geographic concentration in Illinois highlights regional operational focus. 6. Absence of small business set-aside warrants review of subcontracting opportunities.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $17.7 million over five years for facilities support services appears reasonable given the scope and duration. Benchmarking against similar facilities support contracts for federal agencies of this size and complexity would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm fixed-price structure helps mitigate cost overrun risks for the government. However, without detailed service breakdowns and performance metrics, a definitive assessment of exceptional value is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded as a follow-on to a competed action, indicating that the initial award was subject to full and open competition. The number of bidders for the original competition is not specified, but the follow-on nature suggests that the current contractor, VNS Federal Services LLC, was selected based on prior performance. The level of competition for the initial award would have been crucial for price discovery and ensuring the best value was obtained.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive initial award likely resulted in a more favorable price for taxpayers. The follow-on nature, while potentially efficient, means current pricing is based on the previous competitive outcome.

Public Impact

Benefits the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service by ensuring operational continuity. Provides essential facilities support services, including maintenance and operations, at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) in Peoria, Illinois. Supports the ongoing research and development activities crucial for agricultural innovation. Impacts the local workforce in Peoria, Illinois, through employment opportunities generated by the contractor.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for complacency in a long-term, follow-on contract without ongoing competitive pressure.
Risk of scope creep if not managed tightly, potentially increasing costs beyond initial projections.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical infrastructure support could pose a risk if performance degrades.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract provides budget certainty.
Follow-on award suggests a proven track record and established working relationship.
Long contract duration allows for efficient planning and resource allocation for the contractor.

Sector Analysis

Facilities support services encompass a broad range of activities essential for the operation and maintenance of government buildings and infrastructure. This sector is characterized by numerous service providers, from large corporations to specialized small businesses. The market size for federal facilities support services is substantial, with agencies like the USDA consistently requiring these services to maintain their operational capabilities. This contract fits within the broader category of government contracting for essential operational support, ensuring the physical environment for research and administrative functions is maintained.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). While the initial award was competed, the lack of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for small businesses to participate as prime contractors were limited. However, VNS Federal Services LLC may engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill portions of the contract requirements, contributing to the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the contract administration office within the Department of Agriculture. Performance metrics and service level agreements outlined in the contract would be used to monitor contractor performance. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Federal Facilities Maintenance Contracts
Agricultural Research Service Operations
General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules
Department of Defense Facilities Management

Risk Flags

Potential lack of current competitive pricing due to follow-on nature.
Absence of specific performance metrics in summary data.
Limited insight into the original competition's details.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $17.7 million to VNS FEDERAL SERVICES LLC. FACILITIES SUPPORT SERVICES AT NUCAR. PEORIA, IL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VNS FEDERAL SERVICES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Research Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-10-01. End: 2009-09-30.

What was the competitive landscape for the original contract award that this is a follow-on to?

The provided data indicates this is a 'FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION,' meaning the original contract was subject to full and open competition. However, the specific number of bidders for that initial competition is not detailed in the provided data. Understanding the number of bidders and the nature of the competition (e.g., lowest price technically acceptable vs. best value tradeoff) would offer insight into the price discovery achieved during the initial award. Without this information, it's difficult to definitively assess if the initial competition yielded optimal value for taxpayers.

How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar facilities support contracts for USDA facilities of comparable size and scope?

The total contract value is approximately $17.7 million over five years, averaging about $3.54 million per year. To benchmark this effectively, one would need to compare it against other facilities support contracts awarded by the USDA or similar agencies for research facilities of comparable square footage, complexity, and service requirements. Factors such as geographic location (labor costs), specific services included (e.g., HVAC, janitorial, groundskeeping, security), and contract duration influence pricing. A detailed comparison would require access to a broader dataset of federal contracts.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract, and how is performance monitored?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) for this contract. Typically, facilities support contracts include detailed requirements regarding response times for maintenance requests, uptime for critical systems, cleanliness standards, and grounds maintenance schedules. Performance monitoring is usually conducted by a government-appointed contract officer's representative (COR) who reviews performance reports, conducts site inspections, and ensures adherence to the contract's terms and conditions. Failure to meet KPIs or SLAs could result in contract remedies.

What is the historical spending trend for facilities support services at the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR)?

The provided data only details this specific contract award from October 1, 2004, to September 30, 2009. To understand historical spending trends for facilities support services at NCAUR, one would need to analyze contract awards for this facility over a longer period, potentially including previous contracts held by different vendors and any prior support services. This would involve querying federal procurement databases for all relevant contracts associated with the NCAUR location and the NAICS code 561210 (Facilities Support Services) to identify patterns in spending, contract durations, and vendor choices.

What is the potential impact of this contract on small businesses, particularly in the Peoria, Illinois area?

As this contract was not a small business set-aside, VNS Federal Services LLC is the prime contractor. The direct impact on small businesses is contingent on the subcontracting plan, if one exists. Small businesses could benefit if VNS Federal Services LLC actively seeks them out for specialized services (e.g., specific types of maintenance, landscaping, or supply contracts) within the Peoria area. The absence of a set-aside means small businesses did not have a direct opportunity to compete for the prime contract, but subcontracting remains a key avenue for their participation.

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: FOLLOW ON TO COMPETED ACTION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1862 SHYVILLE RD STE 212, PIKETON, OH, 02

Business Categories: Category Business, HUBZone Firm, Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $17,666,347

Exercised Options: $17,666,347

Current Obligation: $17,666,347

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline