GSA awards $14.9M for Environmental Safety/Health Ergonomic Engineering Technical Support to General Dynamics

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,878,846 ($14.9M)

Contractor: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2003-11-12

End Date: 2008-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,784 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.3K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY/HEALTH ERGONOMIC ENGINEERING TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO County, CALIFORNIA, 92132

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $14.9 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. for work described as: ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY/HEALTH ERGONOMIC ENGINEERING TECHNICAL SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. for $14.9M. 2. Services include Environmental Safety/Health Ergonomic Engineering Technical Support. 3. Contract duration was 1784 days. 4. Awarded by the General Services Administration (GSA). 5. NAICS code 541330 indicates Engineering Services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract was awarded on a Time and Materials basis, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. The total award value of $14.9M over nearly 5 years suggests a moderate per-year spend.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The contract type is 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER', suggesting competition was involved in the award process. However, the specific competition method and its impact on price discovery are not detailed.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award suggests efforts to secure fair pricing, but the Time and Materials contract type warrants scrutiny for potential cost inefficiencies.

Public Impact

Supports critical environmental safety and health functions within the government. Ergonomic engineering ensures a safe and efficient working environment for federal employees. Technical support ensures the smooth operation of safety and health programs. The contract's duration indicates a long-term need for these specialized services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can inflate costs.
Lack of detailed competition information.
Potential for scope creep in technical support services.

Positive Signals

Competitive award process.
Focus on essential safety and health services.
Long-term engagement indicates sustained government need.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Engineering Services (NAICS 541330), a sector crucial for government operations requiring specialized technical expertise. Spending benchmarks for similar services vary widely based on scope and duration.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for overseeing this contract. Standard GSA oversight mechanisms should be in place to ensure performance and cost control, but specific oversight details are not provided.

Related Government Programs

Engineering Services
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Time and Materials contract type.
Potential for cost overruns.
Limited transparency on competition details.
Long contract duration.
No explicit mention of small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $14.9 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.. ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY/HEALTH ERGONOMIC ENGINEERING TECHNICAL SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-11-12. End: 2008-09-30.

What was the specific scope of 'Environmental Safety/Health Ergonomic Engineering Technical Support' and how did it align with the $14.9M award?

The scope likely encompassed a range of services including risk assessments, compliance monitoring, ergonomic evaluations of workspaces, and technical assistance for implementing safety protocols. The $14.9M award over nearly five years suggests a significant, ongoing requirement for these specialized engineering and support functions, potentially involving multiple task orders and varying levels of effort across different government agencies or facilities.

Given the Time and Materials contract type, what measures were in place to control costs and prevent overruns?

Time and Materials contracts, while flexible, carry inherent risks of cost escalation. Effective cost control would typically rely on robust contract surveillance, clear performance work statements, defined labor categories with capped hourly rates, and regular reviews of invoices and progress reports. The government contracting officer and COR would need to actively manage the contractor's effort and expenditures to ensure value.

How effectively did the 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER' process ensure optimal value and pricing for these engineering services?

A competitive delivery order process, if executed properly, should foster price discovery and encourage multiple bidders to offer competitive rates. However, the ultimate effectiveness depends on the clarity of the requirements, the fairness of the evaluation criteria, and the level of competition achieved. Without details on the number of bidders and the evaluation process, it's difficult to definitively assess the value obtained.

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: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Contractor Details

Parent Company: General Dynamics Corp (UEI: 001381284)

Address: 3211 JERMANTOWN RD, FAIRFAX, VA, 11

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $61,461,222

Exercised Options: $61,461,222

Current Obligation: $14,878,846

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS23F0076K

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline