ASRC Communications awarded $247.9M for Vance Base Operations Support, with 6 bidders in a full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $247,881,451 ($247.9M)

Contractor: Asrc Communications, Ltd.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2016-05-27

End Date: 2025-03-31

Contract Duration: 3,230 days

Daily Burn Rate: $76.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CT::IGF VANCE BASE OPERATION SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: ENID, GARFIELD County, OKLAHOMA, 73705

State: Oklahoma Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $247.9 million to ASRC COMMUNICATIONS, LTD. for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF VANCE BASE OPERATION SUPPORT Key points: 1. The contract value of $247.9 million over its period of performance suggests a significant investment in base support services. 2. With 6 bidders, the competition level indicates a healthy market for these services, potentially driving competitive pricing. 3. The 'OK' status for 'st' and 'sn' suggests no immediate performance or financial concerns, but ongoing monitoring is crucial. 4. This contract falls under Facilities Support Services, a broad category essential for the functioning of military installations. 5. The firm-fixed-price contract type shifts performance risk to the contractor, which can be beneficial for budget predictability. 6. The duration of 3230 days (approximately 8.8 years) points to a long-term need for these base operations.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's value of $247.9 million over nearly nine years for base operations support appears substantial. Benchmarking against similar large-scale base operations contracts would be necessary for a precise value-for-money assessment. However, the firm-fixed-price structure suggests the government has negotiated a set price, transferring some cost overrun risk to ASRC Communications. The number of bidders (6) in a full and open competition implies a competitive environment that likely contributed to a reasonable price point.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' indicating that the solicitation was broadly advertised, and multiple responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The participation of 6 bidders suggests a robust competitive landscape for Vance Base Operations Support services. This level of competition is generally favorable for price discovery and ensures that the government receives proposals from a range of qualified providers.

Taxpayer Impact: A high level of competition typically translates to better value for taxpayers by driving down prices and encouraging innovation from contractors seeking to win the award.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of the Air Force and personnel stationed at Vance Air Force Base, who will receive essential operational support. Services delivered likely include facility maintenance, groundskeeping, transportation, and other logistical functions critical to base operations. The geographic impact is concentrated at Vance Air Force Base in Oklahoma, ensuring its continued functionality. This contract supports a workforce of individuals employed by ASRC Communications and potentially its subcontractors, contributing to local employment.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long-term contract duration (3230 days) could lead to complacency if not actively managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical base operations necessitates robust performance monitoring.
Potential for scope creep if requirements are not clearly defined and managed throughout the contract lifecycle.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract type provides budget certainty for the government.
Full and open competition with 6 bidders suggests a competitive pricing environment.
Contractor performance status 'OK' indicates no current major issues.

Sector Analysis

Facilities Support Services (NAICS 561210) is a significant sector within government contracting, encompassing a wide range of services required to maintain and operate federal facilities. This contract represents a substantial portion of spending within this category for the Department of the Air Force at Vance AFB. The market for base operations support is typically characterized by large, established service providers capable of handling complex logistical and maintenance requirements across extensive government installations.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (sb: false) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract. While ASRC Communications, Ltd. is the prime contractor, there is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses. Further review of the contract's subcontracting goals and performance would be needed to assess the impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of the Air Force contracting and program management offices at Vance AFB. Performance monitoring, quality assurance surveillance plans (QASPs), and regular reviews are standard mechanisms to ensure contractor compliance and service delivery. The Inspector General's office may also conduct audits or investigations if specific concerns arise regarding waste, fraud, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Base Operations Support Contracts
Facilities Maintenance Services
Logistics and Support Services
Department of Defense Service Contracts
Air Force Installation Support

Risk Flags

Long-term contract duration requires sustained oversight.
Firm-fixed-price contracts can incentivize cost-cutting if not monitored.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical base functions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $247.9 million to ASRC COMMUNICATIONS, LTD.. IGF::CT::IGF VANCE BASE OPERATION SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ASRC COMMUNICATIONS, LTD..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $247.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2016-05-27. End: 2025-03-31.

What is the historical spending trend for Vance Base Operations Support services prior to this award?

Analyzing historical spending for Vance Base Operations Support would require accessing prior contract data for this specific base and service category. Typically, such services are procured through multi-year contracts. If previous contracts were also awarded under full and open competition and had similar durations, spending patterns might show consistency. However, fluctuations can occur due to changes in base requirements, budget allocations, or shifts in contracting strategies (e.g., moving from multiple smaller contracts to a single large IDIQ or vice versa). Without specific prior award data, it's difficult to establish a precise trend, but the current $247.9 million award over approximately 8.8 years suggests a sustained, significant level of investment in these essential services.

How does the per-unit cost of services under this contract compare to industry benchmarks for similar base operations?

Determining a precise per-unit cost comparison is challenging without detailed line-item data from the contract and specific industry benchmarks for base operations. Services like facility maintenance, security, transportation, and utilities can vary significantly in cost based on location, scope, and service levels. However, the presence of 6 bidders in a full and open competition suggests that ASRC Communications' pricing was competitive. Government agencies often use cost-effectiveness analysis and comparison to similar contracts awarded elsewhere to validate pricing. If the contract includes detailed service level agreements and associated costs, these could be benchmarked against publicly available data for similar military installations or large federal facilities.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) being tracked for ASRC Communications under this contract?

While the provided data does not list specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), contracts for Base Operations Support typically include stringent performance standards. These often cover areas such as response times for facility repairs, maintenance completion rates, safety incident frequency, utility consumption efficiency, and customer satisfaction metrics (e.g., feedback from base personnel). The 'OK' status for 'st' (status) and 'sn' (service notification) suggests that ASRC Communications is currently meeting its contractual obligations. Performance is usually monitored through regular progress reports, site inspections, and formal reviews by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) or Technical Point of Contact (TPOC).

What is the contractor's track record with similar large-scale base operations support contracts?

ASRC Communications, Ltd. has a history of performing government contracts, including those related to base operations and facilities support. To assess their track record specifically for contracts of this magnitude and complexity, a review of their past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS) would be necessary. This would reveal their history in meeting deadlines, quality standards, and managing costs on similar projects. The current 'OK' status suggests satisfactory performance on existing or prior engagements, but a deeper dive into specific past projects would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their capabilities and reliability for this Vance AFB contract.

Are there any identified risks associated with the firm-fixed-price contract type for this scope of work?

The primary risk associated with a firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract for extensive base operations is the potential for the contractor to cut corners on quality or service to maintain profitability if costs escalate unexpectedly. However, FFP also offers significant advantages by providing cost certainty to the government. For a contract of this duration and scope, robust performance monitoring and clearly defined service level agreements are crucial to mitigate risks. The government's ability to enforce these standards and potentially penalize non-performance is key. The 'OK' status suggests these risks are currently being managed effectively.

What is the potential impact of this contract on competition within the facilities support services sector?

This $247.9 million contract awarded to ASRC Communications, Ltd. represents a significant award within the facilities support services sector, particularly for large-scale base operations. The fact that it was competed under 'Full and Open Competition' with 6 bidders indicates a healthy level of market interest and capability. While this specific award goes to one prime contractor, it can stimulate competition indirectly by encouraging other firms to enhance their capabilities to compete for future, similar contracts. It also highlights the demand for comprehensive base support services, potentially encouraging new entrants or specialization among existing players.

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 AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: FA300213R0011

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Arctic Slope Regional Corporation

Address: 7000 MUIRKIRK MEADOWS DR STE 100, BELTSVILLE, MD, 20705

Business Categories: Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $305,232,224

Exercised Options: $305,232,224

Current Obligation: $247,881,451

Actual Outlays: $37,589,554

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $9,368,081

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline