DoD's Air Force Awards $9.8M for Sentinel Design Criteria and Infrastructure Manual
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $9,793,279 ($9.8M)
Contractor: National Institute of Building Sciences
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2025-12-19
End Date: 2026-12-18
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $26.9K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Defense
Official Description: NIBS TASK ORDER FOR THE PURCHASE OF SENTINEL DESIGN CRITERIA AND INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN MANUAL. TWELVE MONTH PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE.
Place of Performance
Location: HUNTSVILLE, MADISON County, ALABAMA, 35806
State: Alabama Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $9.8 million to NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BUILDING SCIENCES for work described as: NIBS TASK ORDER FOR THE PURCHASE OF SENTINEL DESIGN CRITERIA AND INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN MANUAL. TWELVE MONTH PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to National Institute of Building Sciences for architectural services. 2. Focus on design criteria and infrastructure manual for Sentinel program. 3. Limited competition raises questions about price discovery and value. 4. Spending falls within typical architectural services sector benchmarks.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The $9.8M contract for architectural services is a significant investment. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to assess if this price represents optimal value compared to similar specialized design manual contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
This contract was not available for competition, indicating a sole-source or limited source award. This lack of competition may have limited price discovery and potentially led to a higher price than if multiple firms had bid.
Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition for this $9.8M contract means taxpayers may not have received the best possible price for these specialized architectural services.
Public Impact
Enhances critical infrastructure design standards for the Sentinel program. Supports the Department of the Air Force's modernization efforts. Potential for long-term impact on building and infrastructure projects.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpricing due to limited bidding
Positive Signals
- Supports critical defense infrastructure
- Clear period of performance
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Architectural Services (NAICS 541310). Spending in this sector can vary widely based on project complexity and specialization, but $9.8M for a comprehensive design manual is substantial.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business and was not competed among small businesses. There is no indication of small business participation in this specific award.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight is crucial given the sole-source nature of this award. The Department of the Air Force should ensure rigorous review of deliverables and costs to justify the expenditure.
Related Government Programs
- Architectural Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Air Force Programs
Risk Flags
- Limited competition
- Potential for price not being optimized
- Lack of small business participation
Tags
architectural-services, department-of-defense, al, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $9.8 million to NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BUILDING SCIENCES. NIBS TASK ORDER FOR THE PURCHASE OF SENTINEL DESIGN CRITERIA AND INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN MANUAL. TWELVE MONTH PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF BUILDING SCIENCES.
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 $9.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-12-19. End: 2026-12-18.
What specific factors justified the limited competition for this architectural services contract?
The justification for limited competition typically stems from unique capabilities, specialized knowledge, or urgent requirements that only a specific entity can meet. For the Sentinel program's design criteria and infrastructure manual, the National Institute of Building Sciences may possess proprietary data, unique methodologies, or established expertise critical to the project's success, making open competition impractical or detrimental to the program's objectives.
How will the effectiveness of the Sentinel design criteria and infrastructure manual be measured?
Effectiveness will likely be measured by the successful implementation of the manual in subsequent Sentinel program phases, adherence to design standards, reduction in infrastructure-related issues, and positive feedback from engineering and construction teams utilizing the manual. Post-implementation reviews and audits will be key to assessing its practical value and impact on project timelines and costs.
What is the potential risk of cost overruns or scope creep in this contract?
The primary risk of cost overruns or scope creep stems from the limited competition, which reduces external pressure on pricing. Without competitive benchmarking, there's a higher chance of the initial estimate being inaccurate or the scope expanding without adequate cost adjustments. Robust contract management, clear deliverable definitions, and change control processes are essential to mitigate these risks.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Architectural Services
Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1090 VERMONT AVE NW STE 700, WASHINGTON, DC, 20005
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $9,793,279
Exercised Options: $9,793,279
Current Obligation: $9,793,279
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA800324D0013
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-12-19
Current End Date: 2026-12-18
Potential End Date: 2026-12-18 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-12
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