DoD awards $6.17M engineering support contract to H.S. Allison, Inc. for Pomonkey facility

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,167,903 ($6.2M)

Contractor: H. S. Allison, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2021-09-01

End Date: 2026-08-31

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.4K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ENGINEERING SERVICE SUPPORT FOR POMONKEY MD

Place of Performance

Location: CHARLOTTE HALL, SAINT MARYS County, MARYLAND, 20622

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $6.2 million to H. S. ALLISON, INC. for work described as: ENGINEERING SERVICE SUPPORT FOR POMONKEY MD Key points: 1. Contract awarded via competitive procurement under simplified acquisition procedures, suggesting a focus on smaller value procurements. 2. The contract duration of five years indicates a need for sustained engineering services. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type aims to provide cost certainty for the government. 4. The award to H.S. Allison, Inc. represents a specific instance of defense contracting within engineering services. 5. The contract is geographically focused on Maryland, potentially impacting the local engineering workforce. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests this was not specifically targeted for small business participation.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $6.17 million over five years averages approximately $1.23 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar engineering support contracts for government facilities is challenging without more specific service details. However, the firm fixed-price nature suggests an attempt to control costs. The award amount appears reasonable for a five-year support contract of this type, but a deeper dive into the specific services rendered and comparable market rates would be needed for a definitive value assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which are typically used for procurements valued below the threshold for full and open competition. While this indicates competition, the specific number of bidders is not provided. SAP can sometimes lead to less robust competition compared to larger, full-and-open solicitations, potentially impacting price discovery. However, it allows for more agile procurement of services deemed to be of lower dollar value.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of SAP suggests a balance between achieving competitive pricing and efficient procurement for a contract of this size. Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process, even within SAP, which aims to secure fair market prices for the engineering services.

Public Impact

The Department of the Navy benefits from essential engineering services to support the Pomonkey facility. The contract ensures the continued operation and maintenance of critical infrastructure. The geographic impact is concentrated in Maryland, potentially supporting local engineering firms and professionals. The duration of the contract provides stability for the awarded contractor and its workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited transparency on the specific technical requirements and performance metrics.
Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen technical challenges arise, despite the FFP structure.
Dependence on a single contractor for a significant period could limit future flexibility.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Competitive award process, even under SAP, aims for best value.
Long-term contract duration offers stability and predictable support.
Focus on a specific facility suggests tailored engineering expertise.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, a critical component of the broader professional, scientific, and technical services industry. This sector supports government and private entities with specialized technical expertise for design, development, and maintenance of infrastructure and systems. The market size for engineering services is substantial, with government contracts forming a significant portion. This specific award is for facility engineering support, a common requirement across various government agencies.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside. Furthermore, the 'sb' field is false, suggesting no specific subcontracting goals for small businesses were mandated under this award. This means that while H.S. Allison, Inc. may choose to subcontract to small businesses, it was not a requirement of the contract. The impact on the small business ecosystem is neutral to potentially negative if subcontracting opportunities were missed.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the relevant program office within the Department of the Navy. Performance monitoring would be based on the terms and conditions of the Firm Fixed Price purchase order. Transparency is moderate, as contract awards are publicly reported, but detailed performance metrics and oversight activities are not always readily available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense Engineering Services
Navy Facility Maintenance Contracts
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Simplified Acquisition Procedures Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for performance issues given the long contract duration.
Limited visibility into the specific competitive landscape under SAP.
Risk of cost escalation if scope is not tightly managed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $6.2 million to H. S. ALLISON, INC.. ENGINEERING SERVICE SUPPORT FOR POMONKEY MD

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is H. S. ALLISON, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Navy).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-09-01. End: 2026-08-31.

What is the track record of H.S. Allison, Inc. with the Department of Defense?

H.S. Allison, Inc. has a history of receiving contracts from the Department of Defense, as indicated by this award. To fully assess their track record, a review of their past performance on similar contracts would be necessary. This would involve examining contract completion history, any documented performance issues or accolades, and their overall experience in providing engineering services. A deeper analysis would look at the volume and value of previous DoD contracts awarded to the company, the types of services rendered, and their success in meeting contract requirements and deadlines. Understanding their past performance provides insight into their reliability and capability to execute current and future contracts effectively.

How does the awarded price compare to market rates for similar engineering services?

Directly comparing the awarded price of $6.17 million over five years to precise market rates for similar engineering services is challenging without detailed specifications of the services required for the Pomonkey facility. However, the contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which are generally used for procurements below certain thresholds and aim to achieve fair and reasonable pricing. The Firm Fixed Price (FFP) structure also suggests that the contractor has priced their services to cover all anticipated costs and profit. To benchmark effectively, one would need to identify comparable contracts for facility engineering support in the Maryland region, considering factors like facility size, complexity, and the specific engineering disciplines required. Publicly available contract databases and industry reports could offer some comparative data points.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract?

The primary risks associated with this contract include potential scope creep if the initial requirements are not clearly defined, leading to potential cost increases despite the FFP structure. There's also a risk related to contractor performance; if H.S. Allison, Inc. fails to deliver adequate engineering services, it could impact the Pomonkey facility's operations. Given the five-year duration, there's a risk of technological obsolescence or changes in facility needs that the current contract may not adequately address. Furthermore, reliance on a single contractor for an extended period could limit the government's flexibility in adopting new technologies or approaches. Finally, the competitive process under SAP, while intended to be efficient, might not always yield the absolute lowest price compared to larger, more extensive competitive solicitations.

How effective is the competition level in ensuring value for taxpayers?

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which is designed for procurements below certain dollar thresholds. While SAP mandates competition, the level of competition can vary and may not be as robust as that seen in larger, full-and-open solicitations. The effectiveness in ensuring value for taxpayers depends on the number of bids received and the quality of those bids. If multiple qualified bidders participated, it likely drove a competitive price. However, without knowing the exact number of bidders, it's difficult to definitively assess the extent to which taxpayer value was maximized. The Firm Fixed Price (FFP) nature of the contract helps control costs by shifting risk to the contractor, which is beneficial for taxpayers.

What is the historical spending pattern for engineering services at the Pomonkey facility or similar DoD installations?

Historical spending patterns for engineering services at the Pomonkey facility or similar Department of Defense (DoD) installations would provide crucial context for evaluating this $6.17 million award. Analyzing past contracts for this specific facility, if any, would reveal trends in service needs, contract durations, and pricing. Comparing this to spending on comparable facilities within the Navy or across the DoD would help determine if this award is in line with established benchmarks. Factors such as the age and type of facility, its operational tempo, and any recent upgrades or expansions would influence historical spending. A comprehensive review would involve examining contract databases for similar service categories (e.g., facility engineering, maintenance support) awarded to various contractors over several fiscal years to identify patterns and anomalies.

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: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: N0017321REN03

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 30440 POTOMAC WAY STE E, CHARLOTTE HALL, MD, 20622

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,928,151

Exercised Options: $6,883,118

Current Obligation: $6,167,903

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline