USDA awards $976K contract for Amegaview maintenance, highlighting specialized equipment support needs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $976,151 ($976.2K)

Contractor: Safepoint Scientific LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2021-05-01

End Date: 2026-11-30

Contract Duration: 2,039 days

Daily Burn Rate: $479/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FFP SERVICE CONTRACT FOR COMPREHENSIVE ON-SITE AMEGAVIEW MAINTENANCE, SERVICE AND CALIBRATION.

Place of Performance

Location: AMES, STORY County, IOWA, 50010

State: Iowa Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $976,150.5 to SAFEPOINT SCIENTIFIC LLC for work described as: FFP SERVICE CONTRACT FOR COMPREHENSIVE ON-SITE AMEGAVIEW MAINTENANCE, SERVICE AND CALIBRATION. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on specialized maintenance and calibration, indicating a need for expert technical services. 2. The firm-fixed-price structure aims to control costs for a defined scope of work. 3. Competition under SAP suggests a streamlined process for acquiring these specialized services. 4. The contract duration of over 5 years points to a long-term requirement for this equipment. 5. Geographic focus on Iowa suggests localized operational needs for the equipment. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 811219 points to a niche repair and maintenance market.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $976,150.50 for over five years of comprehensive maintenance and calibration for Amegaview equipment appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the service. Benchmarking against similar contracts for high-precision scientific equipment maintenance is challenging without more specific market data. However, the firm-fixed-price (FFP) award suggests that the government has a clear understanding of the scope and has negotiated a price that aims to provide value for money by capping potential cost overruns.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating that it likely involved a competitive process among multiple bidders. While the exact number of bidders is not specified, SAP is designed to promote competition for acquisitions below certain dollar thresholds. The use of SAP suggests that the agency sought to obtain competitive pricing and a range of technical solutions for the Amegaview maintenance services.

Taxpayer Impact: Competition under SAP generally leads to better price discovery and value for taxpayers by encouraging multiple vendors to offer their best pricing and service terms.

Public Impact

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) benefits from the continued operational readiness of its Amegaview equipment. Services delivered include on-site maintenance, repair, and calibration, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of critical scientific instruments. The geographic impact is primarily focused on facilities within Iowa where the Amegaview equipment is located. The contract supports specialized technical jobs in the equipment maintenance and calibration sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for increased costs if unforeseen complex repairs arise beyond the scope of standard maintenance.
Dependence on a single contractor for specialized knowledge could create a knowledge gap if the contract is not renewed or transitioned effectively.
Limited visibility into the specific performance metrics and uptime guarantees without further contract details.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Long-term contract (over 5 years) suggests a stable relationship and potential for contractor expertise to grow.
Competition under SAP indicates an effort to secure a fair market price.
Specialized nature of the service implies a focus on quality and technical proficiency.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the broader sector of scientific and technical services, specifically focusing on the repair and maintenance of specialized electronic and precision equipment. The NAICS code 811219 covers establishments primarily engaged in repairing and maintaining electronic and precision equipment, such as medical equipment, laboratory instruments, and measuring devices. Spending in this sector is driven by the need to maintain the operational integrity and accuracy of critical infrastructure and research tools across various government agencies.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). As a result, the primary contractor, Safepoint Scientific LLC, is likely a larger entity or has the capacity to perform these specialized services. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses. The lack of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific contract are limited unless they are part of the supply chain or subcontracted by the prime.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of Agriculture's contracting officers and program managers within the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. Performance monitoring would likely involve regular reviews of maintenance logs, calibration reports, and equipment uptime. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Accountability measures are inherent in the FFP structure, where the contractor is responsible for delivering services within the agreed-upon price. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Federal Scientific Equipment Maintenance Contracts
Government IT and Technical Services
Department of Agriculture Equipment Support
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Operations

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen repairs are needed.
Risk of technological obsolescence impacting service relevance.
Dependence on a single contractor for specialized expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $976,150.5 to SAFEPOINT SCIENTIFIC LLC. FFP SERVICE CONTRACT FOR COMPREHENSIVE ON-SITE AMEGAVIEW MAINTENANCE, SERVICE AND CALIBRATION.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SAFEPOINT SCIENTIFIC LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $976,150.5.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-05-01. End: 2026-11-30.

What is the track record of Safepoint Scientific LLC in performing similar maintenance and calibration services for government agencies?

Assessing Safepoint Scientific LLC's track record requires a deeper dive into their past performance on federal contracts. While this award indicates they were selected for this specific Amegaview maintenance task, it doesn't automatically guarantee a history of successful performance. A thorough review would involve examining past performance evaluations (if available in government databases), any documented disputes or contract terminations, and their experience with similar types of specialized equipment. Without this detailed history, it's difficult to definitively assess their reliability and expertise beyond their current award.

How does the awarded price compare to market rates for similar specialized equipment maintenance and calibration services?

Benchmarking the $976,150.50 contract value against market rates for Amegaview maintenance is challenging without specific details on the equipment's complexity, the scope of services (e.g., preventative vs. corrective maintenance, response times), and the geographic coverage. However, given the specialized nature of scientific equipment calibration and maintenance, costs can be significantly higher than standard equipment. The firm-fixed-price structure suggests the agency aimed for cost certainty. A comprehensive market analysis would involve soliciting quotes from multiple specialized service providers in the relevant geographic area to establish a true benchmark.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract to ensure effective service delivery?

The provided data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. Typically, for maintenance and calibration services, KPIs might include equipment uptime percentages, response times for service calls, completion rates for scheduled maintenance, and accuracy of calibration results. SLAs would define the expected standards for these metrics and potential penalties or remedies if they are not met. The effectiveness of service delivery hinges on clearly defined and measurable KPIs/SLAs within the contract's statement of work.

What is the historical spending pattern for Amegaview equipment maintenance within the Department of Agriculture?

To understand the historical spending patterns for Amegaview equipment maintenance within the Department of Agriculture, one would need to analyze contract award data over several fiscal years. This would involve searching federal procurement databases for similar contracts awarded by APHIS or other USDA agencies for Amegaview or comparable specialized scientific equipment. Analyzing trends in contract values, durations, and awarded contractors can reveal whether spending has been consistent, increasing, or decreasing, and whether there's a history of sole-sourcing or competitive bidding for these services.

What are the potential risks associated with the long duration (over 5 years) of this maintenance contract?

The long duration of this contract, spanning over five years, presents several potential risks. Firstly, technological obsolescence of the Amegaview equipment or the maintenance procedures could occur, making the contract less relevant or requiring costly modifications. Secondly, the fixed price might become unfavorable to the contractor if unforeseen maintenance issues arise, potentially leading to reduced service quality or attempts to renegotiate. Conversely, if the market rates for such services decrease significantly over the contract period, the government might be locked into a higher-than-market price. Lastly, a long-term reliance on a single provider can reduce flexibility and competitive pressure.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Other Services (except Public Administration) › Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance › Other Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 12639521Q0036

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1008 INDUSTRIAL DR STE D, WEST BERLIN, NJ, 08091

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $976,151

Exercised Options: $976,151

Current Obligation: $976,151

Actual Outlays: $821,933

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline