DoD awards $23M for Aberdeen Proving Ground facilities support, with 6 bidders competing

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,995,829 ($23.0M)

Contractor: Bowhead Operations & Maintenance Solutions LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2020-01-22

End Date: 2024-05-31

Contract Duration: 1,591 days

Daily Burn Rate: $14.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: MAINTENANCE, SUPPLY AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AT ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD

Place of Performance

Location: ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, HARFORD County, MARYLAND, 21005

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $23.0 million to BOWHEAD OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE SOLUTIONS LLC for work described as: MAINTENANCE, SUPPLY AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AT ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the multi-year duration and scope of services. 2. Competition dynamics were strong with six bidders, suggesting a healthy market for these services. 3. Risk indicators are moderate, typical for large-scale facilities maintenance contracts. 4. Performance context is tied to essential base operations at a major Army installation. 5. Sector positioning is within the broad facilities support services market for government clients.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's total value of $22.99 million over approximately 1591 days suggests a daily rate of roughly $14,454. This rate appears competitive when benchmarked against similar multi-year facilities support contracts for large military installations. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) pricing structure allows for flexibility while providing a defined fee for the contractor's services. Without specific line-item breakdowns, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the overall award value seems aligned with industry standards for the scope of work.

Cost Per Unit: $14,454 per day (estimated)

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating that multiple potential bidders were considered. The presence of six bidders suggests a robust competitive environment for facilities support services at this level. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government. The specific exclusion of sources clause might warrant further investigation into its rationale, but the overall competition level is positive.

Taxpayer Impact: The strong competition among six bidders is beneficial for taxpayers, as it likely drove down pricing and ensured the government received competitive offers for essential base support services.

Public Impact

Benefits the U.S. Army by ensuring the operational readiness and functionality of facilities at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Delivers essential services including maintenance, supply, and transportation, critical for daily base operations. Geographic impact is concentrated at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, a key Army research and development hub. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for personnel skilled in facilities management, logistics, and maintenance within the Maryland region.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns inherent in Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts if not closely monitored.
Dependence on a single contractor for a wide range of critical base support services introduces operational risk.
Scope creep could increase the contract's final value beyond initial projections without adequate change control.

Positive Signals

Award to a single, experienced contractor (Bowhead Operations & Maintenance Solutions LLC) suggests a focus on reliability and proven performance.
The multi-year duration provides stability and continuity for essential base operations.
Competitive bidding process indicates potential for cost efficiencies and a fair market price.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Facilities Support Services sector, a significant segment of the government contracting market. This sector encompasses a wide range of services necessary for the operation and maintenance of government facilities, including military bases. The market is characterized by both large, established players and smaller specialized firms. Spending in this area is consistently high across various federal agencies, driven by the need to maintain extensive real property portfolios. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other large-scale base operations and support contracts awarded by the Department of Defense.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, Bowhead Operations & Maintenance Solutions LLC, is likely a large business. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this data snippet. Without this detail, it's difficult to assess the direct impact on the small business ecosystem, though large prime contracts often include subcontracting goals to engage smaller firms.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the contracting officer and the relevant Department of the Army contracting command at Aberdeen Proving Ground. Accountability measures are typically embedded within the contract's performance work statement (PWS), including defined metrics, reporting requirements, and potential penalties for non-performance. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if significant fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Base Operations Support (BOS)
Facilities Engineering
Logistics and Supply Chain Management
Government Property Management
Defense Infrastructure Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost growth in CPFF contracts.
Reliance on a single prime contractor for critical services.
Justification for 'exclusion of sources' requires review for impact on competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $23.0 million to BOWHEAD OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE SOLUTIONS LLC. MAINTENANCE, SUPPLY AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AT ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, MD

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BOWHEAD OPERATIONS & MAINTENANCE SOLUTIONS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $23.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-01-22. End: 2024-05-31.

What is the track record of Bowhead Operations & Maintenance Solutions LLC with similar government contracts?

Bowhead Operations & Maintenance Solutions LLC has a history of performing various support services for the U.S. government, particularly within the Department of Defense. Their portfolio often includes base operations, facilities maintenance, logistics, and technical support. Analyzing their past performance on similar large-scale contracts, especially those involving extensive facilities management at military installations, would provide insight into their reliability, cost control, and ability to meet performance requirements. Reviewing past performance evaluations and any documented issues or commendations would be crucial for a comprehensive assessment. Their experience suggests they are a capable provider for this type of requirement.

How does the awarded price compare to the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE)?

The provided data does not include the Independent Government Cost Estimate (IGCE) or the contractor's proposed cost. Therefore, a direct comparison to assess if the awarded price was above, below, or at the IGCE is not possible. Generally, a well-managed procurement process aims to award contracts at or below the IGCE. Significant deviations could indicate issues with the estimate, the competition, or the contractor's pricing strategy. Further analysis would require access to the IGCE and the detailed proposal submitted by Bowhead Operations & Maintenance Solutions LLC.

What are the specific risks associated with the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type for this scope of work?

The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type, used here, carries inherent risks for the government. While it allows for flexibility in scope and accommodates uncertainties, it shifts much of the financial risk to the government. The contractor is reimbursed for all allowable costs plus a fixed fee representing profit. This can incentivize the contractor to incur costs, as their fee remains constant regardless of the total cost. Effective oversight, stringent cost controls, and clear performance metrics are crucial to mitigate the risk of cost overruns and ensure the government receives good value. Without robust management, CPFF contracts can become significantly more expensive than initially projected.

What is the historical spending trend for facilities support services at Aberdeen Proving Ground?

Analyzing historical spending trends for facilities support services at Aberdeen Proving Ground would provide context for the current $22.99 million award. This involves examining previous contracts for similar services at the installation over several fiscal years. Key metrics to track would include the total annual spending, the number and types of contracts awarded (e.g., BOS, maintenance, specific trades), the primary contractors involved, and the average contract values. Understanding these trends can reveal patterns of increasing or decreasing costs, shifts in service providers, and the overall investment in base infrastructure maintenance and operations, helping to determine if current spending is anomalous or consistent.

How does the number of bidders (6) impact the potential for price discovery and cost savings?

A competition involving six bidders is generally considered robust and is highly conducive to effective price discovery and potential cost savings for the government. With multiple qualified companies vying for the contract, there is increased pressure on each bidder to submit a competitive price to win the award. This scenario allows the government to compare various pricing structures and technical approaches, identify the best value offering, and potentially negotiate more favorable terms. A higher number of bidders typically correlates with a greater likelihood that the awarded price reflects fair market value and minimizes the risk of paying an inflated price due to limited competition.

What are the implications of the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' designation?

The designation 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' indicates that while the procurement was intended to be open to all responsible sources, certain specific sources were excluded from consideration for defined reasons. This exclusion must be justified and documented, often due to factors like national security, proprietary information, or specific technical requirements that only a limited number of entities can meet. While it aims for broad competition, the exclusion implies that the pool of potential bidders was narrower than in a standard full and open competition. The rationale behind the exclusion is critical to understanding if it potentially limited competition and impacted price discovery.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Facilities Support Services › Facilities Support Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4900 SEMINARY RD STE 1200, ALEXANDRIA, VA, 22311

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $22,995,829

Exercised Options: $22,995,829

Current Obligation: $22,995,829

Actual Outlays: $1,015,404

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W52P1J17G0070

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline