Air Force awards $6M+ for noise suppression repair, highlighting ongoing maintenance needs for industrial equipment

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,045,454 ($6.0M)

Contractor: Vital Link, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-07-20

End Date: 2026-12-30

Contract Duration: 1,259 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NOISE SUPPRESSION REPAIR AND SUSTAINMENT

Place of Performance

Location: SEALY, AUSTIN County, TEXAS, 77474

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $6.0 million to VITAL LINK, INC. for work described as: NOISE SUPPRESSION REPAIR AND SUSTAINMENT Key points: 1. Contract addresses critical sustainment for specialized machinery, indicating a focus on operational readiness. 2. The fixed-price structure aims to control costs for repair and maintenance services. 3. Competition was robust, suggesting a healthy market for these specialized repair services. 4. The contract duration extends over three years, ensuring sustained support. 5. Geographic focus on Texas points to specific operational sites requiring these services. 6. This award reflects a commitment to maintaining existing infrastructure rather than acquiring new assets.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $6 million over three years appears reasonable for specialized industrial equipment repair and sustainment. Benchmarking against similar contracts for machinery maintenance suggests that the pricing is likely competitive, especially given the full and open competition. The firm-fixed-price nature of the award provides cost certainty for the Air Force, mitigating risks associated with cost overruns for the defined scope of work.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors were eligible to bid. The presence of a competitive bidding process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the designation suggests a robust market for these services.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition ensures that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by fostering a competitive environment that drives down prices and encourages innovation among service providers.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of the Air Force, ensuring operational readiness of critical equipment. Services delivered include repair and sustainment for noise suppression systems on industrial machinery. The geographic impact is concentrated in Texas, where the Air Force facilities requiring these services are located. Workforce implications include skilled technicians and mechanics needed for specialized repair tasks.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if unforeseen issues arise beyond initial noise suppression repair.
Dependence on a single contractor for sustained maintenance could lead to future pricing leverage.
Ensuring consistent quality of repair across different technicians and over the contract duration.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive market and potentially good value.
Longer contract duration ensures continuity of essential maintenance services.
Focus on sustainment rather than new procurement aligns with efficient resource allocation.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the industrial machinery repair and maintenance sector, a critical component of the broader industrial services market. This sector supports the operational readiness of various government agencies by ensuring the functionality of essential equipment. Spending in this area is often driven by the need to maintain aging infrastructure and complex machinery, with market size influenced by defense budgets and industrial output. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other maintenance contracts for similar types of industrial equipment across different military branches or government entities.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, Vital Link, Inc., is likely a larger entity. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this award. The absence of a small business set-aside suggests that the competition was open to all qualified businesses, and the market dynamics did not necessitate or favor a small business focus for this particular requirement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the relevant program management office within the Department of the Air Force. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm-fixed-price contract terms, requiring delivery of specified services to a satisfactory standard. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS, which provide public access to contract details. Inspector General jurisdiction may apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Industrial Equipment Maintenance
Defense Logistics Support
Aerospace Maintenance Services
Government Facility Support Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope expands beyond initial noise suppression.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical sustainment services.
Ensuring consistent quality of specialized repair work.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $6.0 million to VITAL LINK, INC.. NOISE SUPPRESSION REPAIR AND SUSTAINMENT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VITAL LINK, INC..

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 $6.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-07-20. End: 2026-12-30.

What is the historical spending pattern for noise suppression repair and sustainment by the Department of the Air Force?

Analyzing historical spending for noise suppression repair and sustainment by the Department of the Air Force requires access to comprehensive contract databases beyond the provided data. Typically, such analysis would involve querying databases like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) for contracts with relevant Product Service Codes (PSCs) and keywords related to 'noise suppression,' 'repair,' and 'sustainment' over several fiscal years. Trends might reveal an increasing or decreasing reliance on such services, fluctuations tied to budget cycles, or shifts in technology impacting maintenance needs. Without specific historical data, it's difficult to provide precise figures, but consistent awards in this category suggest an ongoing requirement for maintaining operational equipment.

How does the awarded amount compare to the estimated value or ceiling of the contract?

The provided data indicates an awarded amount ('a') of $6,045,453.76. However, the schema does not include fields for the contract's estimated value or ceiling. To compare the awarded amount to the contract's ceiling, one would need to consult the full contract documentation or procurement database entries that specify the maximum obligation or ceiling price. If this $6 million represents the total value awarded to date or the full value of the delivery order, and the contract ceiling was significantly higher, it might suggest underutilization. Conversely, if this is the total contract value and it aligns with or is close to the ceiling, it indicates full expected utilization.

What specific types of industrial machinery are covered under this noise suppression repair contract?

The provided data specifies the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 811310 for 'Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance' and the description 'NOISE SUPPRESSION REPAIR AND SUSTAINMENT.' This suggests the contract covers a broad range of industrial machinery that generates significant noise and requires specialized suppression systems. Examples could include large generators, industrial pumps, ventilation systems, manufacturing equipment, or specialized aerospace ground support equipment. The exact machinery would be detailed in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW), which is not included in the provided data snippet.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the contractor's performance?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a contract like this typically focus on the quality and timeliness of the repair and sustainment services. Common KPIs might include adherence to repair schedules, successful noise reduction levels achieved post-repair (measured against specific decibel targets), equipment uptime after service, defect rates for repairs performed, and response times for service calls. The contract's performance work statement (PWS) would outline these specific metrics, along with the methods for measurement and any associated award fees or penalties. Without the PWS, the exact KPIs remain unspecified.

What is the track record of Vital Link, Inc. in performing similar government contracts?

To assess the track record of Vital Link, Inc. for similar government contracts, one would need to analyze their past performance data available in federal procurement databases. This includes reviewing previous awards, contract types, agencies served, and past performance evaluations (if publicly accessible). A history of successful, on-time, and within-budget completion of industrial equipment repair and maintenance contracts would indicate reliability. Conversely, a record of disputes, contract terminations, or negative performance reviews would raise concerns. The current award suggests they possess the necessary qualifications and experience to be considered for this type of work.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Other Services (except Public Administration) › Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance › Commercial and Industrial Machinery and Equipment (except Automotive and Electronic) Repair and Maintenance

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 914 BARTLETT RD, SEALY, TX, 77474

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,045,454

Exercised Options: $6,045,454

Current Obligation: $6,045,454

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA853419D0003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline