EPA's $13.8M Facilities Support Services Contract with DCT, INCORPORATED Shows Fair Value Amidst Limited Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,824,893 ($13.8M)

Contractor: DCT, Incorporated

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2002-11-15

End Date: 2008-02-29

Contract Duration: 1,932 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Place of Performance

Location: MCALESTER, PITTSBURG County, OKLAHOMA, 74501

State: Oklahoma Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $13.8 million to DCT, INCORPORATED for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract value of $13.8M over 5 years suggests a moderate annual spend for facilities support. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a broad search for qualified vendors. 3. The 'OK' status for contractor performance and adherence to schedule is a positive indicator. 4. The cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing structure can incentivize efficiency but requires careful oversight. 5. Facilities support services are critical for agency operations, impacting workforce productivity and safety. 6. The contract's duration of 1932 days (approx. 5.3 years) is typical for service contracts of this nature.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's total value of $13.8M over approximately 5.3 years averages to about $2.6M annually. Without specific benchmarks for similar facilities support contracts at the EPA or comparable agencies, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, the contractor's 'OK' performance and schedule adherence suggest satisfactory delivery. The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure, while allowing for flexibility, necessitates diligent monitoring to ensure costs remain reasonable and the fixed fee is justified by the services rendered.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 6 bidders indicates a healthy level of interest and competition for this type of service. This broad competition is generally expected to drive more competitive pricing and encourage vendors to offer their best value propositions.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from full and open competition as it increases the likelihood of securing services at a fair market price, reducing the risk of overpayment compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the employees and operations of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), who rely on well-maintained facilities for their work. Services delivered include essential facilities support, ensuring operational continuity and a safe working environment. The geographic impact is concentrated at the EPA's facilities, likely within Oklahoma given the 'SN' field. Workforce implications include the potential for direct employment by the contractor and indirect support for EPA staff.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts require robust oversight to prevent cost overruns and ensure the fixed fee remains appropriate for the scope of work.
While performance is 'OK', further analysis could explore if there are opportunities for exceeding expectations rather than just meeting them.
The lack of specific details on the 'PSC' field prevents a deeper understanding of the exact services covered.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition with 6 bidders, suggesting a competitive process.
Contractor performance and schedule adherence are marked as 'OK', indicating satisfactory execution.
The contract duration is substantial, suggesting a stable, long-term relationship for essential services.

Sector Analysis

Facilities support services encompass a broad range of activities necessary for the operation and maintenance of buildings and grounds. This sector includes maintenance, repair, custodial services, security, and groundskeeping. Government spending in this area is substantial, supporting the infrastructure required for federal agencies to carry out their missions. Benchmarking this contract against similar facilities support contracts within the federal government would require access to a broader dataset of contract awards and their specific service scopes.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses ('SB' is false) and there is no explicit mention of small business subcontracting goals. This suggests that small businesses may not have been a primary focus for this particular award, potentially limiting their direct participation in this contract's execution. Further investigation into subcontracting plans would be needed to fully assess the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Environmental Protection Agency's contracting officers and program managers. The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure necessitates careful monitoring of expenditures against the agreed-upon fixed fee and the scope of work. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, but detailed performance reports and audits would provide deeper insights into accountability. The Inspector General's office for the EPA would have jurisdiction for investigating any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.

Related Government Programs

Federal Facilities Maintenance Contracts
Government Building Operations Support
Environmental Protection Agency Operations

Risk Flags

Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type requires diligent oversight to manage costs.
Contract performance rated 'OK' suggests satisfactory but not exceptional service delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $13.8 million to DCT, INCORPORATED. See the official description on USAspending.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DCT, INCORPORATED.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $13.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2002-11-15. End: 2008-02-29.

What is the historical spending pattern for facilities support services at the EPA?

Analyzing the historical spending on facilities support services at the EPA requires examining contract data over multiple fiscal years. While this specific contract spans from November 2002 to February 2008 with a value of $13.8M, it represents only one piece of the agency's overall expenditure. To understand the broader pattern, one would need to aggregate spending on similar contracts (NAICS code 561210 and related codes) awarded by the EPA over time. This would reveal trends in annual spending, identify major contractors, and highlight any significant increases or decreases in investment in facilities management. Without access to a comprehensive database of past EPA contracts, a detailed historical analysis is not possible based solely on this single award.

How does the contractor, DCT, INCORPORATED, perform on other federal contracts?

Assessing DCT, INCORPORATED's overall track record requires examining their performance across all federal contracts, not just this single EPA award. The provided data indicates a status of 'OK' for performance and schedule on this contract, which is generally positive but not exceptional. A thorough review would involve searching federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) for all contracts awarded to DCT, INCORPORATED. Key metrics to analyze would include past performance ratings, any contract modifications, disputes, terminations, and the types of services provided. Understanding their history with different agencies and contract types would offer a more robust picture of their reliability and capabilities.

What are the specific services included under 'Facilities Support Services' for this contract?

The NAICS code 561210, 'Facilities Support Services,' is broad and can encompass a wide array of activities. For this specific EPA contract, 'Facilities Support Services' likely includes, but is not limited to, building operations and maintenance, custodial services, groundskeeping, security, pest control, and potentially minor repairs or alterations. The 'PSC' field is blank, which typically would provide a more granular description of the services. To understand the precise scope, one would need to consult the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS). These documents detail the exact deliverables, performance standards, and reporting requirements that DCT, INCORPORATED is obligated to meet.

What is the typical duration and value for similar facilities support contracts awarded by the EPA?

The duration of this contract is 1932 days (approximately 5.3 years) with a total value of $13.8M. Facilities support contracts are often long-term due to the ongoing nature of maintenance and operational needs. Annual values can vary significantly based on the size and complexity of the facilities being supported. To benchmark this contract effectively, one would need to compare it against other EPA contracts with the same NAICS code (561210) or similar service descriptions. Factors such as the number of buildings, square footage, geographic spread, and specific service requirements (e.g., specialized HVAC maintenance, security systems) heavily influence both duration and total contract value.

What are the risks associated with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type?

Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts, like the one awarded to DCT, INCORPORATED, present specific risks. The primary risk for the government is that the contractor may have less incentive to control costs compared to fixed-price contracts, as the government agrees to pay all allowable costs plus a predetermined fixed fee. While the fixed fee is negotiated upfront, there's a risk it might become disproportionately high if costs are managed inefficiently or if the scope of work changes significantly without a corresponding adjustment to the fee. Conversely, the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns if actual allowable costs exceed the estimated costs upon which the fixed fee was based. Effective oversight, detailed cost accounting, and clear performance metrics are crucial to mitigate these risks for the government.

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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Contractor Details

Address: 501 E CHEROKEE AVE, MCALESTER, OK, 02

Business Categories: Category Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $1,030,231

Exercised Options: $8,935,089

Current Obligation: $13,824,893

Timeline