NIH awards $18.7M for facilities maintenance, with Blue Cardinal LLC managing condition-based programs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,729,169 ($18.7M)

Contractor: Blue Cardinal LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2018-02-16

End Date: 2022-08-31

Contract Duration: 1,657 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: C103267 PROVIDE CONDITION BASED MAINTENANCE (CBM) PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, NIH, FACILITIES AT LOCATIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BETHESDA, MD; POOLESVILLE, MD; FORT DETRICK, MD; ROCKY MOUNTAIN LAB, MONTANA; RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NORTH CAROLINA.COR COREY COSGROVE

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20892

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $18.7 million to BLUE CARDINAL LLC for work described as: C103267 PROVIDE CONDITION BASED MAINTENANCE (CBM) PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, NIH, FACILITIES AT LOCATIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BETHESDA, MD; POOLESVILLE, MD; FORT DETRICK, MD; ROCKY MOUNTAIN LAB, MONTANA; RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NORTH CAROLINA.CO… Key points: 1. Contract focuses on administrative and management consulting for facility maintenance. 2. The contract duration spans over 4 years, indicating a long-term need. 3. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process. 4. The firm-fixed-price structure aims to control costs for the government. 5. Services are required across multiple NIH facilities in various states. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code points to management consulting services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $18.7 million over approximately 4.5 years for facilities maintenance support appears reasonable given the scope of services and geographic distribution. Benchmarking against similar large-scale facilities management contracts for federal agencies would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm-fixed-price contract type suggests that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which is generally favorable for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The presence of multiple bidders, though not explicitly detailed in the provided data, is generally expected in such a competitive environment. This level of competition typically drives down prices and encourages innovation as contractors vie for the award.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it fosters a competitive marketplace, leading to potentially lower prices and better service quality compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Public Impact

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) facilities will benefit from improved maintenance and operational efficiency. Researchers and staff at NIH locations will have access to well-maintained and functional laboratory and office spaces. The contract supports critical infrastructure at key NIH research hubs across the United States. Potential for job creation in administrative, management, and maintenance support roles.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if maintenance needs are not clearly defined and managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical facility maintenance could pose a risk if performance falters.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract helps manage cost predictability.
Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing environment.
Long-term contract duration allows for stable planning and execution of maintenance programs.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically administrative management and general management consulting. The federal government is a significant consumer of these services to support its vast operational needs, including facility management. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale facilities maintenance and consulting contracts awarded to various federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a set-aside provision. The primary contractor, Blue Cardinal LLC, would be responsible for fulfilling the contract requirements, and any subcontracting decisions would be at their discretion, not mandated by a small business set-aside.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the National Institutes of Health. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm-fixed-price contract terms, requiring the contractor to deliver services as specified. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements, though specific oversight reports or inspector general involvement would depend on performance or audit triggers.

Related Government Programs

NIH Facilities Management Contracts
Federal Building Maintenance Services
Administrative Management Consulting Services
Condition-Based Maintenance Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for performance issues if contractor lacks specialized expertise.
Risk of cost overruns if scope is not tightly managed under fixed-price contract.
Dependence on contractor for critical facility operations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $18.7 million to BLUE CARDINAL LLC. C103267 PROVIDE CONDITION BASED MAINTENANCE (CBM) PROGRAM SUPPORT FOR NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, NIH, FACILITIES AT LOCATIONS INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, BETHESDA, MD; POOLESVILLE, MD; FORT DETRICK, MD; ROCKY MOUNTAIN LAB, MONTANA; RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NORTH CAROLINA.COR COREY COSGROVE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BLUE CARDINAL LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (National Institutes of Health).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $18.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-02-16. End: 2022-08-31.

What is the track record of Blue Cardinal LLC in managing similar federal contracts, particularly those involving large-scale facilities maintenance?

Assessing Blue Cardinal LLC's track record requires a deeper dive into their contract history beyond this single award. Information on past performance, including successful completion of similar scope and scale contracts, client satisfaction ratings, and any history of disputes or performance issues, would be crucial. Federal procurement databases and past performance reviews, if publicly available, could shed light on their capabilities and reliability in managing complex federal facility maintenance programs. Without this specific data, it's difficult to definitively assess their experience beyond this NIH contract.

How does the awarded amount compare to the estimated cost or budget for this condition-based maintenance program support?

The provided data shows the awarded amount ($18.7 million) but does not include the government's estimated cost or the initial budget allocated for this Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) program support. To compare the awarded amount to the estimated cost, one would need access to the original solicitation documents or internal government budget information. A significant difference between the awarded price and the estimate could indicate either highly competitive bidding that drove the price down or potential issues with the initial cost estimation. Ideally, the awarded price should be within a reasonable range of the government's estimate.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of Blue Cardinal LLC's support for the NIH's CBM program?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract would likely focus on the effectiveness and efficiency of the Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) program. Examples could include metrics related to equipment uptime and reliability, reduction in unscheduled maintenance events, cost savings achieved through proactive maintenance versus reactive repairs, response times for reported issues, and adherence to maintenance schedules. The specific KPIs would be detailed in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) and would be used by the NIH to evaluate Blue Cardinal LLC's performance throughout the contract period.

What is the historical spending trend for similar facilities maintenance and management consulting services at the NIH or HHS?

Analyzing historical spending trends for similar services at the NIH or its parent agency, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), would provide context for the $18.7 million award. This would involve examining contract databases for previous awards related to facilities maintenance, CBM, and management consulting over several fiscal years. Understanding whether spending in this category has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable can indicate shifts in agency priorities, infrastructure needs, or contracting strategies. It also helps in benchmarking the current award against past investments in similar support.

What specific types of facilities and equipment are covered under this condition-based maintenance program?

The contract specifies support for NIH facilities at various locations, including Bethesda, MD; Poolesville, MD; Fort Detrick, MD; Rocky Mountain Lab, Montana; and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Condition-Based Maintenance (CBM) typically applies to critical infrastructure and equipment where monitoring system performance can predict failures. This could encompass a wide range of assets such as HVAC systems, electrical distribution, laboratory equipment, specialized research apparatus, building automation systems, and other essential operational technology within these NIH facilities. The exact scope would be detailed in the Performance Work Statement (PWS).

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: QUALITY CONTROL, TEST, INSPECTION › EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS TESTING

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 800 ADAMS AVE STE 120, NORRISTOWN, PA, 19403

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,224,169

Exercised Options: $18,729,169

Current Obligation: $18,729,169

Actual Outlays: $4,495,000

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0163R

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline