DoD's $27.8M contract for NFSS remediation awarded to JE Architects/Engineers, P.C. for engineering services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $27,812,134 ($27.8M)

Contractor: JE Architects/Engineers, P.C.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-02-27

End Date: 2027-02-26

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $38.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: 100% DESIGN FOR THE NFSS REMEDIATION PROJECT

Place of Performance

Location: YOUNGSTOWN, NIAGARA County, NEW YORK, 14174

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $27.8 million to JE ARCHITECTS/ENGINEERS, P.C. for work described as: 100% DESIGN FOR THE NFSS REMEDIATION PROJECT Key points: 1. Contract value of $27.8 million for engineering services indicates a significant investment in infrastructure remediation. 2. The award to JE Architects/Engineers, P.C. suggests a focus on specialized engineering expertise for complex projects. 3. The firm fixed price contract type aims to control costs and provide budget certainty for the government. 4. The project duration of 729 days highlights the substantial scope and complexity of the NFSS remediation. 5. The contract's geographic focus on New York (NY) points to specific environmental or infrastructure needs in that region. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests the primary contractor is not a small business, and subcontracting opportunities may be limited.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $27.8 million for engineering services appears reasonable given the project's scope and duration. Benchmarking against similar large-scale environmental or infrastructure remediation projects would provide further context. The firm fixed price structure suggests an effort to manage costs effectively, though the ultimate value for money will depend on the successful completion and long-term impact of the remediation.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders were likely considered. This competitive process is generally expected to yield fair pricing and encourage the selection of the most capable contractor. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a robust competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it promotes a competitive environment, potentially leading to lower prices and better quality services, maximizing the return on public funds.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Defense and potentially the surrounding community through the remediation of the NFSS site. The services delivered include specialized engineering design for the remediation project. The geographic impact is concentrated in New York (NY), addressing specific environmental concerns in that state. Workforce implications may include employment opportunities for engineers, technicians, and construction personnel involved in the remediation efforts.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen complexities arise during remediation, despite the firm fixed price.
Dependence on the contractor's expertise and performance for successful project completion and environmental safety.
Limited visibility into specific subcontracting opportunities for small businesses due to the absence of set-aside requirements.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a thorough vetting of potential contractors.
Firm fixed price contract type provides cost certainty and incentivizes contractor efficiency.
Clear project scope and defined end dates contribute to structured execution and oversight.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector (NAICS 541330), which is a critical component of the broader construction and professional services market. The federal government is a significant consumer of engineering services for infrastructure development, maintenance, and environmental remediation. Spending in this sector is often driven by national security needs, infrastructure upgrades, and environmental compliance mandates. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale engineering contracts for environmental cleanup or facility modernization across various federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The contract does not indicate any small business set-aside provisions (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the primary focus was on securing the best overall offer without specific set-aside goals. While this can lead to the selection of highly specialized large firms, it may limit direct subcontracting opportunities for small businesses on this particular project. The impact on the small business ecosystem depends on whether the prime contractor has its own small business subcontracting plan or if other federal initiatives are supporting small businesses in related sectors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Department of the Army, a component of the Department of Defense. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm fixed price contract type, which incentivizes the contractor to meet defined deliverables within budget. Transparency is typically maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Remediation Services
Military Construction Projects
Engineering and Architectural Services
Department of Defense Facilities Management

Risk Flags

Potential for unforeseen site conditions impacting cost and schedule.
Contractor performance risk in delivering complex engineering designs.
Ensuring compliance with all environmental regulations throughout the remediation process.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $27.8 million to JE ARCHITECTS/ENGINEERS, P.C.. 100% DESIGN FOR THE NFSS REMEDIATION PROJECT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JE ARCHITECTS/ENGINEERS, P.C..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $27.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-02-27. End: 2027-02-26.

What is the historical spending pattern for engineering services related to NFSS remediation by the Department of Defense?

Analyzing historical spending for NFSS remediation by the Department of Defense requires access to detailed procurement data over several fiscal years. Without specific historical data for this exact project or site, we can infer general trends. The DoD consistently invests significant funds in environmental remediation and infrastructure projects across its installations. This spending is often driven by regulatory requirements (like CERCLA), aging infrastructure, and the need to maintain operational readiness. Contracts for such projects can range from millions to billions of dollars, depending on the scale and complexity of the environmental challenge. Factors influencing historical spending include the specific contaminants, the size of the affected area, the chosen remediation technologies, and the duration of the cleanup process. A review of past contracts for similar remediation efforts at other DoD sites would provide a more concrete benchmark for understanding the typical investment required.

How does the awarded amount compare to similar large-scale environmental engineering contracts within the federal government?

The $27.8 million awarded to JE Architects/Engineers, P.C. for the NFSS remediation project places it in the category of a substantial, but not exceptionally large, federal engineering contract. Large-scale environmental remediation projects for federal agencies, particularly for sites with significant contamination or complex geological challenges, can easily exceed $50 million and sometimes reach hundreds of millions of dollars. For instance, contracts for cleaning up Superfund sites managed by the EPA or extensive environmental restoration projects at military bases have historically commanded higher price tags. However, the $27.8 million is a significant investment that reflects a complex scope of work. To provide a precise comparison, one would need to benchmark against contracts with similar objectives (e.g., groundwater remediation, soil cleanup, demolition of contaminated structures) and similar contract types (e.g., firm fixed price) awarded within the last 2-3 years across agencies like the DoD, EPA, or DOE.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) likely to be used to evaluate the success of this contract?

For this NFSS remediation engineering contract, key performance indicators (KPIs) would likely focus on technical execution, schedule adherence, cost control, and environmental compliance. Technical KPIs might include the accuracy and completeness of engineering designs, the effectiveness of proposed remediation technologies, and the successful integration of designs with site conditions. Schedule adherence would be measured by the contractor's ability to meet key milestones and the final completion date (February 2027). Cost control, while managed through the firm fixed price, would involve monitoring the contractor's efficiency and preventing scope creep that could lead to change orders. Environmental compliance KPIs are paramount, ensuring that the remediation designs meet all federal, state, and local environmental regulations, and that the project contributes to the restoration of the site's environmental health. Safety performance, measured by incident rates and adherence to safety protocols, would also be a critical KPI.

What is the track record of JE Architects/Engineers, P.C. in handling similar federal remediation projects?

Evaluating the track record of JE Architects/Engineers, P.C. for similar federal remediation projects requires a deep dive into their contract history, past performance evaluations, and project portfolios. As a firm specializing in engineering services (NAICS 541330), they likely have experience with various federal contracts. Specific to remediation, their past work might include environmental assessments, design of cleanup strategies, and potentially oversight of remediation activities. Key aspects to investigate would be the size and complexity of previously managed remediation projects, their success in meeting performance requirements, adherence to schedules and budgets on those projects, and any history of disputes or contract terminations. Publicly available contract databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) can provide a list of their federal awards, and performance reviews, if available, would offer insights into their reliability and quality of work on similar government contracts.

What are the potential risks associated with the firm fixed price contract type for this remediation project?

While a firm fixed price (FFP) contract is designed to provide cost certainty, it carries inherent risks, especially for complex projects like environmental remediation. The primary risk is that unforeseen site conditions or technical challenges could arise during the remediation process that were not adequately anticipated during the initial design and bidding phase. If these issues are significant, the contractor might incur substantial losses if they cannot negotiate change orders or if the contract terms limit adjustments. Conversely, if the contractor is highly risk-averse, they may build significant contingency into their initial bid, potentially leading to a higher overall price for the government than a cost-reimbursable contract might have yielded if no major issues occurred. Another risk is that the contractor might be incentivized to cut corners on quality or scope to protect their profit margin, necessitating robust government oversight to ensure all requirements are met.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - CONSTRUCTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ARCHITECT-ENGINEER FAR 6.102

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Jacobs Engineering Group Inc.

Address: 500 7TH AVE 17TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY, 10018

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $27,812,134

Exercised Options: $27,812,134

Current Obligation: $27,812,134

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 3

Total Subaward Amount: $8,966,104

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W912P421D0006

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline