NOAA Awards $9.1M Contract for Remote Sensing Services to Earth Resources Technology, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $9,124,347 ($9.1M)
Contractor: Earth Resources Technology, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2023-09-15
End Date: 2026-09-14
Contract Duration: 1,095 days
Daily Burn Rate: $8.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: NOS/NGS SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION REMOTE SENSING DIVISION
Place of Performance
Location: SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20910
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $9.1 million to EARTH RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY, LLC for work described as: NOS/NGS SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION REMOTE SENSING DIVISION Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Earth Resources Technology, LLC for scientific and technical services. 2. The contract is for NOAA's Remote Sensing Division, focusing on environmental consulting. 3. Awarded under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call. 4. The contract duration is 1095 days, ending September 14, 2026. 5. No small business participation noted.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $9.1M over three years appears reasonable for specialized scientific and technical services. Benchmarking against similar environmental consulting contracts is difficult without more specific service details, but the award method suggests competitive pricing was sought.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the government receives the best value.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive bidding process that aims to secure cost-effective services for critical environmental monitoring and research.
Public Impact
Supports NOAA's vital mission in understanding Earth's environment through remote sensing. Ensures continuity of scientific and technical expertise for critical data analysis. Potential for advancements in environmental monitoring and climate research. Services provided are essential for informed policy and decision-making.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of small business participation.
- Reliance on a single BPA call for a significant award.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Supports critical scientific mission of NOAA.
- Long-term contract provides stability for services.
Sector Analysis
The contract falls under Environmental Consulting Services (NAICS 541620). Spending in this sector is driven by regulatory requirements, environmental protection initiatives, and scientific research. Benchmarks vary widely based on specialization and contract scope.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses and that the awardee is not a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business subcontracting opportunities exist or were considered.
Oversight & Accountability
The award was made under a BPA Call, which implies a pre-existing framework agreement. Oversight would focus on the performance of Earth Resources Technology, LLC against the BPA call's specific requirements and adherence to the time and materials pricing structure.
Related Government Programs
- Environmental Consulting Services
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to T&M contract type.
- Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data.
- No indication of small business participation or subcontracting goals.
- Reliance on a single BPA call may limit future competition.
Tags
environmental-consulting-services, department-of-commerce, md, bpa-call, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $9.1 million to EARTH RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY, LLC. NOS/NGS SCIENTIFIC AND PROFESSIONAL/TECHNICAL SERVICES FOR THE NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION REMOTE SENSING DIVISION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is EARTH RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $9.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-09-15. End: 2026-09-14.
What specific remote sensing technologies and data analysis techniques will be employed under this contract?
The contract details do not specify the exact remote sensing technologies or data analysis techniques. However, given NOAA's mission, it likely involves satellite imagery, aerial photography, lidar, and associated software for processing, interpreting, and modeling environmental data related to oceans, atmosphere, and land resources.
What is the potential risk of cost overruns with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for these services?
Time and Materials contracts carry a higher risk of cost overruns as they are not capped. Effective oversight, clear task definitions, and regular performance reviews are crucial to manage this risk. NOAA must closely monitor labor hours and material costs to ensure they remain within the overall contract value and align with expected productivity.
How will the effectiveness of Earth Resources Technology, LLC's services be measured to ensure NOAA's objectives are met?
Effectiveness will likely be measured through performance metrics defined in the BPA call, such as timely delivery of data products, accuracy of analyses, successful completion of research tasks, and adherence to scientific standards. Regular progress reports and stakeholder feedback from NOAA's Remote Sensing Division will be key indicators.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Environmental Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 6404 IVY LN STE 650, GREENBELT, MD, 20770
Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $9,701,420
Exercised Options: $9,701,420
Current Obligation: $9,124,347
Actual Outlays: $7,265,536
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 1305M223ANCNL0006
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-09-15
Current End Date: 2026-09-14
Potential End Date: 2026-09-14 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-04
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