DoD's $29.4M contract for RDTE/Services-Basic Research awarded to URS Federal Services Inc. shows fair competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $29,398,892 ($29.4M)

Contractor: URS Federal Services Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2004-09-27

End Date: 2006-11-15

Contract Duration: 779 days

Daily Burn Rate: $37.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: R&D

Official Description: 200412!010032!2100!W56HZV!TACOM - WARREN !DAAE0798DT060 !A!N! !N!0097 ! !20040927!20050131!073871048!065262573!043271568!N!LEAR SIEGLER SERVICES INC !900 CLOPPER ROAD !GAITHERSBURG !MD!20878!31175!031!24!GAITHERSBURG !MONTGOMERY !MARYLAND !+000004000000!N!N!000000000000!AD21!RDTE/SERVICES-BASIC RESEARCH !S1 !SERVICES !000 !* !541330!E! !5!B!M! !A! !99990909!B! ! !B! !A!N!Y!2!006!B! !Z!N!Z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !C!C!A!A!000!A!C!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! !

Place of Performance

Location: GERMANTOWN, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20876

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $29.4 million to URS FEDERAL SERVICES INC. for work described as: 200412!010032!2100!W56HZV!TACOM - WARREN !DAAE0798DT060 !A!N! !N!0097 ! !20040927!20050131!073871048!065262573!043271568!N!LEAR SIEGLER SERVICES INC !900 CLOPPER ROAD !GAITHERSBURG !MD!20878!31175!031!24!GAITHERSBURG !MONT… Key points: 1. Contract value of $29.4M for basic research and development services. 2. Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 3. Contract duration of 779 days, spanning from September 2004 to November 2006. 4. The contract was a Time and Materials type, suggesting flexibility in service delivery. 5. The primary contractor, URS Federal Services Inc., has a significant presence in federal contracting. 6. The contract was managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency. 7. The contract was awarded to a large business, with no indication of small business set-aside.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $29.4 million for basic research and development services appears reasonable given the duration and the nature of R&D work. Benchmarking against similar contracts for basic research is challenging due to the specialized and often unique nature of R&D projects. However, the contract's Time and Materials pricing structure suggests that costs could fluctuate based on actual labor and material usage, which is typical for R&D. Without more granular data on the specific services rendered and the labor categories involved, a precise value-for-money assessment is difficult, but the competitive award process provides some assurance of fair pricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The data indicates there were 6 bidders for this contract. A competitive process with multiple bidders generally leads to better price discovery and can result in more favorable pricing for the government compared to sole-source or limited competition awards. The presence of 6 bidders suggests a healthy level of interest and competition for this type of research and development service.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition with multiple bidders likely resulted in a more competitive price for taxpayers. This process helps ensure that the government is not overpaying for the research and development services procured.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary of this contract is the Department of Defense, which receives basic research and development services. The services delivered are related to RDTE (Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation) and basic research, contributing to technological advancements. The contract was awarded to URS Federal Services Inc., a company headquartered in Maryland, suggesting potential workforce implications in that region. The contract supports the advancement of defense-related technologies through fundamental research.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the R&D services.
The Time and Materials contract type can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
Limited information on the specific research areas funded makes it hard to gauge strategic alignment with DoD priorities.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
The contractor, URS Federal Services Inc., is a well-established entity in federal contracting.
The contract duration of over two years suggests a sustained effort in the research area.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically focusing on basic research services for the Department of Defense. The R&D sector is critical for innovation and maintaining technological superiority. Federal spending in this area often supports advancements in science and engineering that can have dual-use applications. Comparable spending benchmarks for basic research are difficult to establish precisely due to the bespoke nature of R&D projects, but the overall federal investment in R&D is substantial, supporting a wide range of scientific and technological endeavors.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that this award was made to a large business (URS Federal Services Inc.) and does not mention any small business set-aside provisions. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this specific contract appears to be minimal, unless URS Federal Services Inc. voluntarily engaged small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would have been primarily managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), which is responsible for ensuring contractor compliance and performance. The contract type (Time and Materials) necessitates close monitoring of labor hours and material costs to prevent overspending. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense Research and Development Contracts
Basic Research Services
Time and Materials Contracts
Federal R&D Spending

Risk Flags

Contract type is Time and Materials, which requires careful monitoring to control costs.
Basic research outcomes are inherently uncertain, posing a risk to achieving specific objectives.
Limited public information on specific research areas and performance metrics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $29.4 million to URS FEDERAL SERVICES INC.. 200412!010032!2100!W56HZV!TACOM - WARREN !DAAE0798DT060 !A!N! !N!0097 ! !20040927!20050131!073871048!065262573!043271568!N!LEAR SIEGLER SERVICES INC !900 CLOPPER ROAD !GAITHERSBURG !MD!20878!31175!031!24!GAITHERSBURG !MONTGOMERY !MARYLAND !+000004000000!N!N!000000000000!AD21!RDTE/SERVICES-BASIC RESEARCH !S1 !SERVICES !000 !* !541330!E! !5!B!M! !A! !999

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is URS FEDERAL SERVICES INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Contract Management Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $29.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-09-27. End: 2006-11-15.

What specific areas of basic research did this contract cover?

The provided data indicates the contract's Product Service Code (PSC) is AD21, which falls under 'R&D/SERVICES-BASIC RESEARCH'. However, the specific scientific or technological domains of the basic research are not detailed in the available information. Basic research typically aims to increase knowledge and understanding of fundamental principles, without a specific commercial or military application in view at the outset. For this contract, the research could have spanned a wide array of fields relevant to national security, such as materials science, advanced computing, physics, or engineering principles, depending on the Department of Defense's strategic research priorities at the time.

How does the $29.4 million contract value compare to other basic research contracts awarded by the DoD during that period?

Comparing the $29.4 million value requires access to a broader dataset of DoD basic research contracts awarded between 2004 and 2006. Without that comparative data, it's difficult to definitively state if this contract was large, small, or average. However, R&D contracts, especially those involving basic research, can vary significantly in cost depending on the complexity, duration, and personnel required. The fact that it was competed under 'full and open' with 6 bidders suggests it was of sufficient scope and interest to attract multiple participants, implying it was not an insignificant award.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how was performance measured?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or the detailed performance measurement criteria for this contract. For Time and Materials contracts, performance is often assessed based on the timely delivery of services, adherence to agreed-upon labor rates, and the quality of the research output as defined in the contract's statement of work. The Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) would have been responsible for monitoring performance. However, the specific metrics for evaluating the success of 'basic research' are inherently challenging to define and quantify, often relying on milestones, reports, and expert review rather than easily measurable outputs.

What is the track record of URS Federal Services Inc. in securing and performing on DoD R&D contracts?

URS Federal Services Inc. (now part of AECOM) has a substantial history of performing various services for the U.S. government, including extensive work within the Department of Defense. While this specific contract highlights their involvement in basic research, their broader portfolio often includes engineering, environmental services, base operations support, and other technical services. Their track record generally indicates experience with large, complex federal contracts. Specific performance details on past R&D contracts would require a deeper dive into historical contract databases and performance reviews, but their continued presence in the federal contracting space suggests a generally satisfactory performance history.

Were there any significant risks identified or mitigation strategies employed for this contract?

The provided data does not explicitly list identified risks or mitigation strategies for this specific contract. However, common risks associated with basic research contracts include the inherent uncertainty of research outcomes, potential for scope creep, challenges in defining measurable success, and managing technical expertise. For a Time and Materials contract, a key risk is cost control, which is typically managed through rigorous oversight of labor hours, resource utilization, and regular progress reviews by the contracting officer's representative (COR) and DCMA.

How did the competition level (6 bidders) influence the final contract price?

A competition level with 6 bidders generally exerts downward pressure on pricing. When multiple firms vie for a contract, they are incentivized to offer competitive bids to secure the award. This scenario allows the government to benefit from price discovery, where the market effectively determines a fair price based on the proposals submitted. While the exact price reduction attributable to competition cannot be calculated without knowing the baseline or estimated cost, having 6 bidders suggests that the government likely secured a more favorable price than if the contract had been awarded under limited or sole-source conditions.

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: AECOM Global II, LLC (UEI: 043271568)

Address: 175 ADMIRAL COCHRANE DR, ANNAPOLIS, MD, 03

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DAAE0798DT060

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline