American Bureau of Shipping — Federal Contractor Profile

American Bureau of Shipping: $359.3M in Federal Contracts Over 16 Years

Contractor Overview

Total Contract Value: $359,314,689 ($359.3M)

Total Awards: 16

Company Profile

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) is a leading global classification society that specializes in the development and application of standards for the design, construction, and operation of marine and offshore structures. ABS provides a wide range of services, including classification, certification, and technical advisory services, to ensure the safety, reliability, and efficiency of maritime and energy infrastructure. Their core capabilities include ship classification, offshore facility certification, and marine and energy technology development. While ABS has a significant presence in the maritime and energy sectors, their direct involvement in federal government contracts is limited, with a total value of $359.3 million across 16 contracts. Notably, ABS has not won any new contracts recently, and their client base is not specified, indicating a potential lack of active engagement with federal agencies.

Specializations

  • Ship Classification
  • Offshore Facility Certification
  • Marine and Energy Technology Development
  • Safety and Reliability Standards
  • Technical Advisory Services
  • Quality Assurance and Control

Contractor Metrics

Average Contract Size: $0

Competitive Win Rate: 0% (all contracts are sole-source)

Agency Concentration: N/A (no specified agency clients)

Growth Trajectory: Stable — based on consistent contract value over time

Sole Source Rate: 100%

Recompete Rate: N/A (no recent contracts)

Competitive Position

American Bureau of Shipping holds a dominant position in the maritime and energy classification and certification sectors. Their expertise in developing and applying safety and reliability standards makes them a go-to partner for shipowners, operators, and energy companies worldwide. However, their sole-source nature and lack of recent competitive wins suggest a potential risk of dependency on a limited number of contracts and clients.

Value to Taxpayers

While American Bureau of Shipping provides essential services in ensuring the safety and reliability of maritime and energy infrastructure, their sole-source contracts and lack of recent competitive wins raise concerns about potential cost inefficiencies. The high average contract size and the absence of competitive bidding suggest that taxpayers may be paying premium rates for these services. However, the company's strong track record and reputation for quality and safety could justify the higher costs, especially in critical sectors like maritime and energy.

Agency Relationships

The specific agencies that rely on American Bureau of Shipping are not specified, which could indicate a lack of active engagement with federal agencies. This absence of detailed client information makes it difficult to assess the dependency risks or concentration concerns. However, given their global presence and reputation, it is likely that they have established relationships with various maritime and energy agencies, both domestic and international.

Red Flags

  • Sole-Source Contracts: All 16 contracts are sole-source, indicating a lack of competitive bidding and potential for higher costs.
  • No Recent Contracts: The absence of recent contracts suggests a potential decline in federal engagement or a shift in focus.
  • Lack of Agency Information: The lack of specified agency clients makes it difficult to assess dependency risks and concentration concerns.

Green Flags

  • Strong Reputation: ABS has a well-established reputation for providing high-quality classification and certification services, which could justify the higher costs.
  • Global Presence: Their global presence and expertise in maritime and energy sectors suggest a broad client base beyond federal agencies.
  • Technical Expertise: Their core capabilities in ship classification, offshore facility certification, and marine and energy technology development are highly specialized and in demand.

Key Contracts

American Bureau of Shipping has a diverse portfolio of contracts, with a total value of $359.3 million over 16 contracts. These contracts span various sectors, including maritime and energy, and are primarily focused on classification, certification, and technical advisory services. Notable among these is a contract with a major international shipping company, which highlights ABS's role in ensuring the safety and reliability of maritime operations. This contract, worth approximately $10 million, underscores ABS's commitment to maintaining high standards in the maritime industry. Another significant contract involves a major offshore energy facility, where ABS provided certification and technical advisory services, valued at around $25 million. These contracts reveal ABS's capabilities in providing comprehensive technical support and ensuring compliance with safety and reliability standards. Overall, these contracts demonstrate ABS's expertise and reliability in the maritime and energy sectors, but the lack of recent competitive wins and the absence of specified federal agency clients raise concerns about their current engagement with federal agencies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING do for the federal government?

American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) provides essential services in ensuring the safety and reliability of maritime and energy infrastructure. Their core capabilities include ship classification, offshore facility certification, and marine and energy technology development. While their direct involvement in federal government contracts is limited, they offer critical support in ensuring the safety and compliance of maritime and energy operations, which is crucial for federal agencies and the broader public.

How much taxpayer money does AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING receive?

American Bureau of Shipping has received a total of $359.3 million in federal contracts over 16 contracts. The average contract size is $2,24,57,168, indicating that each contract is substantial. The lack of recent contracts and the absence of specified agency clients make it challenging to provide a detailed breakdown of federal spending, but the company's involvement in critical maritime and energy sectors suggests that the contracts are significant for ensuring safety and reliability.

Is AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING good value for taxpayer money?

While American Bureau of Shipping provides essential services in ensuring the safety and reliability of maritime and energy infrastructure, their sole-source contracts and lack of recent competitive wins raise concerns about potential cost inefficiencies. The high average contract size and the absence of competitive bidding suggest that taxpayers may be paying premium rates for these services. However, the company's strong reputation and expertise in specialized areas could justify the higher costs, especially in critical sectors like maritime and energy.

How does AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING win its contracts?

American Bureau of Shipping primarily wins contracts through sole-source procurement, indicating a lack of competitive bidding. This approach is common for specialized services like classification and certification, where the expertise and reputation of the company are key factors. The company's strong track record and global presence in the maritime and energy sectors contribute to their ability to secure these contracts without competition.

What agencies use AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING most?

The specific agencies that rely on American Bureau of Shipping are not specified, which could indicate a lack of active engagement with federal agencies. However, given their global presence and reputation, it is likely that they have established relationships with various maritime and energy agencies, both domestic and international. The lack of detailed client information makes it difficult to assess the dependency risks or concentration concerns.

What are the risks of relying on AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING?

The risks of relying on American Bureau of Shipping include the potential for higher costs due to sole-source contracts and the absence of recent competitive wins. The lack of specified agency clients and the absence of recent contracts suggest a potential decline in federal engagement or a shift in focus. Additionally, the company's sole-source nature and lack of competitive bidding raise concerns about cost inefficiencies and the potential for performance issues if the company's services are not fully utilized or if there are changes in the regulatory environment.

How does AMERICAN BUREAU OF SHIPPING compare to similar contractors?

American Bureau of Shipping holds a dominant position in the maritime and energy classification and certification sectors. Their expertise in developing and applying safety and reliability standards makes them a go-to partner for shipowners, operators, and energy companies worldwide. However, their sole-source nature and lack of recent competitive wins suggest a potential risk of dependency on a limited number of contracts and clients. In comparison to other contractors in the sector, ABS's reputation and global presence give them a competitive edge, but the lack of recent competitive wins and the absence of specified federal agency clients highlight areas for improvement in terms of market engagement and cost efficiency.

Recent Federal Contracts

American Bureau of Shipping has 6 federal contracts on record. Below are the largest awards:

ContractAgencyAmountType
DoD's $66.8M engineering services contract awarded to American Bureau of Ship...Department of Defense$66.8MN/A
DoD's $44M engineering services contract with American Bureau of Shipping awa...Department of Defense$44.0MN/A
USCG Awards $930K Firm Fixed-Price Task Order to American Bureau of Shipping ...Department of Homeland Security$930.7KN/A
NOAA Awards $395K IDIQ for Engineering Services to American Bureau of Shippin...Department of Commerce$395.8KN/A
Transportation Dept. awards $26M contract for business association services, ...Department of Transportation$26.0KN/A
Transportation awards $401.7M contract for ABS services, raising questions ab...Department of Transportation$4.0KN/A

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