Interior Department's $20.5M Engineering Services Contract Awarded to General Atomics
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $20,519,482 ($20.5M)
Contractor: General Atomics
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2003-05-15
End Date: 2006-12-31
Contract Duration: 1,326 days
Daily Burn Rate: $15.5K/day
Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Number of Offers Received: 51
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Place of Performance
Location: UTAH
State: Utah Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $20.5 million to GENERAL ATOMICS for work described as: Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in specialized engineering services. 2. Competition dynamics for this contract require further examination to ensure optimal value. 3. Performance history and risk indicators associated with General Atomics should be closely monitored. 4. The contract's duration and firm-fixed-price structure suggest a focus on predictable cost outcomes. 5. This award positions General Atomics as a key provider within the Department of the Interior's engineering support landscape.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The total award amount of $20.5 million for engineering services over approximately three years appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized federal contracts. However, without specific benchmarks for the exact nature of the engineering services provided (e.g., environmental, structural, electrical), a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. Comparing this to similar contracts for comparable services across different agencies could provide a clearer picture of pricing efficiency. The firm-fixed-price structure suggests an attempt to control costs, but the ultimate value will depend on the quality and timeliness of the deliverables.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: unknown
The contract type is listed as 'COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER,' which implies that multiple vendors were considered. However, the specific details regarding the number of bidders, the solicitation process, and whether it was a full and open competition or a limited competition are not provided. A competitive process is generally expected to foster price discovery and encourage better offers, but the extent to which this occurred cannot be determined from the available data.
Taxpayer Impact: The level of competition directly impacts taxpayer value. A robust competition typically leads to lower prices and better terms, maximizing the return on public funds. If the competition was limited, there's a risk that taxpayers may have paid more than necessary.
Public Impact
The Department of the Interior benefits from specialized engineering expertise to support its various missions. Services delivered likely contribute to the planning, design, or oversight of infrastructure projects or environmental initiatives. The geographic impact is primarily within Utah, where the contract is stated to be performed. Workforce implications may include the direct employment of engineers and technical staff by General Atomics, as well as potential indirect employment through subcontractors.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of detailed competition information raises questions about potential price efficiencies.
- The specific nature of the engineering services is not detailed, making it difficult to assess performance risks.
- Contract duration of over three years requires ongoing monitoring to ensure continued alignment with agency needs.
Positive Signals
- Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the agency.
- Award to a known entity like General Atomics suggests a level of confidence in their capabilities.
- Competitive delivery order implies some level of market vetting occurred.
Sector Analysis
Engineering services are a critical component of government operations, supporting a wide array of sectors including infrastructure, defense, and environmental management. The market for these services is diverse, ranging from large, established firms like General Atomics to smaller, specialized consultancies. Federal spending in engineering services can fluctuate based on infrastructure investment cycles and national priorities. This contract fits within the broader category of professional services procured by federal agencies to augment their internal capabilities.
Small Business Impact
The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss and sb fields) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or mandated small business set-aside benefits to analyze. The impact on the small business ecosystem would be indirect, depending on whether General Atomics utilizes small businesses as subcontractors, which is not specified.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the Department of the Interior's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract, requiring delivery of specified services. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, although detailed performance reports are often internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.
Related Government Programs
- Department of the Interior - General Services
- Engineering and Technical Services Contracts
- Professional Services Contracts
- Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) Awards
Risk Flags
- Lack of detailed competition information
- Ambiguity in specific service deliverables
- Potential for cost overruns if scope is not well-defined
Tags
engineering-services, department-of-the-interior, general-atomics, firm-fixed-price, competitive-delivery-order, professional-services, utah, federal-contract, naics-541330
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $20.5 million to GENERAL ATOMICS. See the official description on USAspending.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GENERAL ATOMICS.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $20.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2003-05-15. End: 2006-12-31.
What is the specific nature of the engineering services provided under this contract?
The provided data indicates the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541330, which corresponds to 'Engineering Services.' This broad category encompasses a wide range of activities, including civil, mechanical, electrical, environmental, and aerospace engineering. Without further details from the contract's statement of work, it is impossible to specify the exact services rendered. These could range from design and analysis to consulting, testing, and project management for various Department of the Interior projects, potentially related to land management, resource conservation, or infrastructure within their jurisdiction.
How does the $20.5 million award compare to similar engineering services contracts awarded by the Department of the Interior or other federal agencies?
A direct comparison of the $20.5 million award requires identifying contracts with similar scope, duration, and service complexity. The Department of the Interior, like other large agencies, procures engineering services across a spectrum of values. Contracts for large-scale infrastructure projects or specialized environmental engineering can easily reach tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. Conversely, smaller, more focused engineering support might be awarded for amounts significantly less than $20.5 million. Benchmarking this specific award would necessitate analyzing contracts under NAICS code 541330 with comparable performance periods and specific service descriptions to determine if the pricing is competitive and reflects fair market value.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate General Atomics' performance on this contract?
Specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract are not detailed in the provided summary data. However, for engineering services contracts, typical KPIs often revolve around adherence to project timelines, quality of deliverables (e.g., accuracy of designs, completeness of reports), cost control within the firm-fixed-price structure, and responsiveness to agency requests. Performance evaluations would likely involve regular reviews by the contracting officer's representative (COR) and potentially formal quality assurance processes. Failure to meet these implicit or explicit KPIs could lead to contract modifications, penalties, or non-renewal.
What is the historical spending pattern for engineering services by the Department of the Interior, and how does this contract fit within that trend?
The Department of the Interior consistently procures engineering services to support its vast responsibilities, which include managing federal lands, natural resources, and infrastructure. Historical spending patterns would reveal fluctuations based on agency priorities, budget allocations, and major project cycles. This $20.5 million award represents a specific instance of that ongoing expenditure. To understand its place in the trend, one would need to examine the total annual spending on engineering services by the DOI over several years, identifying whether this award is typical, an outlier, or part of a strategic increase or decrease in investment in such services.
What is General Atomics' track record with federal engineering services contracts, particularly with the Department of the Interior?
General Atomics is a well-established defense and energy company known for its work in advanced technologies. While their primary recognition often comes from defense systems and nuclear technologies, they also possess engineering capabilities applicable to various sectors. Their track record with federal engineering services contracts would need to be assessed by reviewing their past performance ratings on similar contracts, any past performance issues or awards, and their specific experience with the Department of the Interior. A review of contract databases and past performance information repositories would provide insights into their reliability and expertise in delivering engineering solutions to government clients.
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: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER
Offers Received: 51
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Contractor Details
Address: 3550 GENERAL ATOMICS CT, SAN DIEGO, CA, 90
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $20,519,482
Exercised Options: $20,519,482
Current Obligation: $20,519,482
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS23F0150L
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2003-05-15
Current End Date: 2006-12-31
Potential End Date: 2006-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2012-06-27
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