BIG SAFARI contract awarded to SRC INC for $18.1M by the Department of Defense

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,074,490 ($18.1M)

Contractor: SRC Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-04-01

End Date: 2024-03-31

Contract Duration: 365 days

Daily Burn Rate: $49.5K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: BIG SAFARI

Place of Performance

Location: SYRACUSE, ONONDAGA County, NEW YORK, 13212

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $18.1 million to SRC INC for work described as: BIG SAFARI Key points: 1. Value for money appears fair given the firm-fixed-price structure, though specific performance metrics are not detailed. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a sole-source award, potentially limiting price discovery and innovation. 3. Risk indicators are moderate, with a single awardee and a firm-fixed-price contract type. 4. Performance context is limited without specific deliverables or success metrics. 5. Sector positioning places this within professional, scientific, and technical services, a broad category. 6. The contract duration of one year suggests a focused scope of work.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's value of $18.1 million for a one-year duration needs further benchmarking against similar 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' contracts. Without detailed deliverables, assessing value for money is challenging. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government, but the absence of competitive bidding may have led to a higher price than could have been achieved through open competition.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. This approach is typically used when only one vendor can provide the required goods or services, or in cases of urgent need. The lack of competition means there were no other bidders to compare against, potentially impacting the government's ability to secure the best possible price and terms.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can result in higher costs for taxpayers as the government does not benefit from the price reductions typically driven by competitive bidding processes.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely the Department of the Air Force, receiving specialized technical services. The services delivered fall under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' indicating a broad range of potential support. The geographic impact is centered in New York, where the contractor SRC INC is located. Workforce implications would involve SRC INC's personnel executing the contract, but specific numbers are not provided.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to suboptimal pricing.
Limited transparency on specific deliverables and performance metrics.
Sole-source awards can reduce market pressure for innovation.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Award to a single, established contractor may ensure continuity of service.
Contract duration of one year allows for periodic reassessment.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broad professional, scientific, and technical services sector, which is a significant area of federal spending. This sector encompasses a wide array of support functions for government agencies. Benchmarking this specific contract's value is difficult without knowing the precise nature of the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' rendered, but the overall sector sees substantial investment across various agencies.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not competed and does not specify any small business set-aside or subcontracting requirements. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless SRC INC voluntarily engages small businesses as subcontractors. Further investigation into subcontracting plans would be needed to assess broader small business implications.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of the Air Force contracting officer and program managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract, requiring delivery of services as agreed. Transparency is limited by the sole-source nature and the lack of publicly detailed performance metrics. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Defense Agency Support Services
All Other Services

Risk Flags

Sole-source award may indicate limited competition.
Lack of detailed service description hinders value assessment.
Contract performance metrics not publicly available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $18.1 million to SRC INC. BIG SAFARI

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SRC 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 $18.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-04-01. End: 2024-03-31.

What is the specific nature of the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' provided under the BIG SAFARI contract?

The provided data categorizes the contract under NAICS code 541990, 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.' This is a broad classification that can encompass a wide range of activities, including research and development, consulting, testing, and specialized technical support. Without further details from the contract's statement of work or performance reports, the precise services rendered by SRC INC remain unspecified. This lack of specificity makes it challenging to assess the contract's true value and effectiveness, as the nature of the services could range from highly specialized technical expertise to general administrative support.

How does the $18.1 million award compare to similar sole-source contracts for technical services within the Department of Defense?

Benchmarking this $18.1 million sole-source award against similar contracts is difficult without more specific information on the services provided and the duration. Sole-source contracts inherently lack the price discovery mechanism of competition, which can lead to higher costs. To assess value, one would need to compare the scope, deliverables, and pricing of this contract against other sole-source awards for comparable technical services within the Department of Defense, or against competitively awarded contracts if a similar scope could be defined. The firm-fixed-price nature provides cost certainty, but the absence of competition raises questions about whether this represents the best possible value for the taxpayer.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding a contract of this size on a sole-source basis?

Awarding a contract of $18.1 million on a sole-source basis carries several potential risks. Firstly, the government may not be obtaining the most competitive price, as there is no market pressure from competing vendors. This could lead to overpayment. Secondly, sole-source awards can stifle innovation, as there is less incentive for contractors to develop novel solutions when they are the only option. Thirdly, it can create a dependency on a single vendor, which could be problematic if that vendor experiences financial difficulties or fails to perform. Finally, it raises concerns about transparency and fairness in the procurement process, potentially leading to perceptions of favoritism.

What is SRC INC's track record with federal contracts, particularly with the Department of Defense?

The provided data indicates that SRC INC is the awardee of this $18.1 million contract. To assess their track record, a deeper dive into federal procurement databases would be necessary to identify other contracts awarded to SRC INC, their values, agencies involved, and performance history. Information regarding past performance ratings, any contract disputes, or awards for exceptional performance would provide crucial context. Without this additional data, it is difficult to ascertain SRC INC's overall reliability and effectiveness as a federal contractor, especially within the Department of Defense.

Given the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' classification, how can the effectiveness of the services be measured?

Measuring the effectiveness of services classified under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' (NAICS 541990) requires clearly defined performance metrics and deliverables within the contract's statement of work. Since this is a broad category, effectiveness could be measured by factors such as the successful completion of specific research projects, the accuracy of technical analyses, the timely delivery of reports, or the achievement of defined operational improvements. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests that the contractor is responsible for delivering the agreed-upon services within the set budget. However, without access to the contract's specific objectives and key performance indicators, a definitive assessment of effectiveness is not possible from the provided data.

What is the historical spending trend for 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' within the Department of the Air Force?

To analyze the historical spending trend for 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' (NAICS 541990) within the Department of the Air Force, one would need to access historical federal procurement data. This would involve querying databases like USAspending.gov or FPDS-NG for contracts awarded under this NAICS code by the Air Force over several fiscal years. Analyzing this data would reveal the total amount spent, the number of contracts awarded (both competitive and sole-source), the primary contractors, and the general purpose of these services. This trend analysis could help contextualize the $18.1 million BIG SAFARI award within the broader spending patterns of the Air Force in this service category.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7502 ROUND POND RD, SYRACUSE, NY, 13212

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $19,081,574

Exercised Options: $19,081,574

Current Obligation: $18,074,490

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA862023G4032

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline