Air Force awards $4.2M engineering services contract to Universal Solutions International, Inc. for expeditionary readiness

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,244,567 ($4.2M)

Contractor: Universal Solutions International, Incorporated

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-06-11

End Date: 2026-06-10

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: ADVISORY AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES FOR THE EXPEDITIONARY READINESS DIVISION OF THE AIR FORCE CIVIL ENGINEERING CENTER

Place of Performance

Location: PANAMA CITY, BAY County, FLORIDA, 32403

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $4.2 million to UNIVERSAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INCORPORATED for work described as: ADVISORY AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES FOR THE EXPEDITIONARY READINESS DIVISION OF THE AIR FORCE CIVIL ENGINEERING CENTER Key points: 1. Contract focuses on advisory and assistance services for Air Force Civil Engineering Center's expeditionary readiness. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources. 3. A firm-fixed-price contract type suggests predictable costs for the government. 4. The duration of 1095 days indicates a long-term need for these services. 5. The contract is for engineering services, a critical component of military infrastructure support. 6. The award is a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar vehicle.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $4.2 million over three years for advisory and assistance services in engineering is within a reasonable range for specialized support. Benchmarking against similar contracts for engineering services within the Department of Defense, particularly for specialized units like expeditionary readiness, suggests this pricing is competitive. The firm-fixed-price structure helps manage cost certainty for the Air Force.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This indicates that while the competition was broad, specific sources were initially excluded, possibly due to pre-qualification or specific requirements. The number of bidders is not explicitly stated, but the 'full and open' nature suggests a competitive process was intended, which generally benefits price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: This competitive approach aims to ensure that the Air Force receives the best value for taxpayer dollars by allowing multiple qualified vendors to bid on the requirement.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Air Force Civil Engineering Center, which will receive critical advisory and assistance services. Services delivered will support the expeditionary readiness of Air Force units, enhancing their ability to deploy and operate in various environments. The geographic impact is primarily within the Air Force's operational domains, with potential implications for bases and deployed locations. Workforce implications include the potential for specialized engineering and support roles, both within the contractor's organization and potentially for government personnel who will leverage the advisory services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for limited transparency if 'exclusion of sources' was not clearly justified.
Risk of vendor lock-in if this is a critical support function within a larger IDIQ.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process, suggesting a focus on value.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost predictability.
Long-term duration indicates a stable and ongoing need for the services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, a vital part of the broader professional, scientific, and technical services industry. The market for defense engineering services is substantial, driven by the continuous need for infrastructure development, maintenance, and operational support for military readiness. Comparable spending benchmarks for advisory and assistance services in defense engineering can vary widely based on specialization, but contracts in the multi-million dollar range over several years are common for critical support functions.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a primary set-aside consideration for this specific award. This suggests the contract was not specifically targeted towards small businesses. However, the prime contractor, Universal Solutions International, Inc., may engage small businesses as subcontractors, depending on their own subcontracting plans and the nature of the services required. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the Department of the Air Force's contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm-fixed-price contract terms, requiring delivery of specified services. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements, though specific performance metrics and oversight activities are internal to the agency. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Air Force Civil Engineering Center Operations
Expeditionary Operations Support
Defense Engineering Services
Advisory and Assistance Services Contracts
Military Infrastructure Support

Risk Flags

Competition Exclusions
Performance Risk
Dependency on Contractor Support

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $4.2 million to UNIVERSAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INCORPORATED. ADVISORY AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES FOR THE EXPEDITIONARY READINESS DIVISION OF THE AIR FORCE CIVIL ENGINEERING CENTER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UNIVERSAL SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INCORPORATED.

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 $4.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-06-11. End: 2026-06-10.

What is the track record of Universal Solutions International, Inc. in providing similar advisory and assistance services to the Department of Defense?

Universal Solutions International, Inc. has a history of performing various contracts with the Department of Defense, often in areas related to logistics, base operations support, and professional services. To assess their track record specifically for advisory and assistance services in engineering for expeditionary readiness, a deeper dive into their past performance evaluations, contract history, and client feedback would be necessary. This would involve reviewing federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) for prior awards, performance reports, and any documented issues or commendations related to similar service types. Understanding their experience with Air Force Civil Engineering Center or similar entities would provide further context on their suitability for this specific contract.

How does the $4.2 million contract value compare to similar engineering advisory contracts awarded by the Air Force or DoD?

The $4.2 million contract value over three years for engineering advisory and assistance services is a moderate-sized award within the defense sector. Benchmarking requires comparing it to contracts with similar scope, duration, and complexity. For instance, contracts providing specialized technical advice, readiness planning, or operational support to engineering commands within the DoD can range from hundreds of thousands to tens of millions of dollars. Given that this contract supports the 'Expeditionary Readiness Division,' it implies a focus on specialized, potentially deployable support. Without more specific details on the exact deliverables, it's difficult to provide a precise benchmark, but the value appears aligned with specialized support services rather than large-scale engineering design or construction projects.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the success of this contract?

While the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract are not detailed in the provided data, typical metrics for advisory and assistance services in engineering readiness would likely focus on the quality, timeliness, and impact of the advice provided. This could include adherence to project timelines for deliverables, the accuracy and applicability of recommendations, the effectiveness of training or guidance offered, and the contribution to improving the unit's operational readiness posture. Performance would likely be assessed through regular progress reports, client feedback, and potentially through audits or reviews of the implemented recommendations. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract implies that meeting these performance standards is crucial for the contractor to achieve full payment.

What is the historical spending pattern for advisory and assistance services within the Air Force Civil Engineering Center's expeditionary readiness division?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for advisory and assistance services within the Air Force Civil Engineering Center's expeditionary readiness division would require access to detailed historical contract data. This would involve searching procurement databases for previous contracts awarded to this specific division or for similar functions over several fiscal years. Key aspects to examine would include the total amount spent annually on such services, the number of contracts awarded, the types of services procured (e.g., planning, training, technical support), and the primary contractors receiving these awards. Understanding these patterns can reveal trends in funding, identify recurring needs, and highlight potential areas of increased or decreased investment in expeditionary readiness support.

Are there any identified risks associated with Universal Solutions International, Inc. or the nature of these engineering services?

Potential risks associated with this contract could include performance-related issues, such as the contractor failing to deliver timely or effective advisory services, which could impact the Air Force's expeditionary readiness. There's also a risk related to the 'exclusion of sources' aspect of the competition; if not properly justified, it could raise questions about the breadth of competition. Furthermore, reliance on external advisory services can sometimes lead to a dependency that might reduce organic capabilities within the government over time. Security risks, particularly if the services involve access to sensitive information or critical infrastructure planning, would also need to be managed through appropriate security protocols and vetting.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: FA800323R0009

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 11827 CANON BLVD STE 203, NEWPORT NEWS, VA, 23606

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $7,601,785

Exercised Options: $4,244,567

Current Obligation: $4,244,567

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $2,065,043

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAD20D1040

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline