NOAA awards $4.6M for scientific and technical support, with environmental consulting services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $4,636,962 ($4.6M)
Contractor: Consolidated Safety Services Incorporated
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2023-09-15
End Date: 2025-09-14
Contract Duration: 730 days
Daily Burn Rate: $6.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SDI
Place of Performance
Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22030
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $4.6 million to CONSOLIDATED SAFETY SERVICES INCORPORATED for work described as: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SDI Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential scientific and technical support for the Scientific Data Infrastructure. 2. The award was made under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call. 3. This contract type is Time and Materials, which can pose cost control challenges. 4. The contractor, Consolidated Safety Services Inc., has secured this award. 5. The contract duration is two years, ending in September 2025. 6. The contract is not set aside for small businesses.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $4.6 million over two years for scientific and technical support appears moderate for the scope of environmental consulting services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for scientific data infrastructure support is challenging without more specific details on the services rendered. The Time and Materials pricing structure warrants close monitoring to ensure costs remain within reasonable bounds and do not escalate unexpectedly.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the full and open nature suggests a competitive process. This approach is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it promotes a level playing field, encouraging multiple vendors to offer their best pricing and services, potentially leading to cost savings.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are likely NOAA's scientific divisions that rely on the Scientific Data Infrastructure. Services delivered include scientific and technical support, crucial for data management and analysis. The geographic impact is primarily within NOAA's operational areas, likely nationwide. Workforce implications may involve specialized scientific and technical personnel employed by the contractor.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the support.
- Limited information on the number of bidders in the full and open competition.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
- Contract supports critical scientific data infrastructure for NOAA.
- Contract duration of two years provides stability for service delivery.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Scientific and Technical Services sector, specifically focusing on environmental consulting and data infrastructure support. The market for such services is competitive, with numerous firms offering specialized expertise. NOAA's spending in this area is consistent with its mission to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts, requiring robust data management and analysis capabilities.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This means the primary award went to a larger entity, and the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this specific award is likely minimal unless the prime contractor engages in significant small business subcontracting.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by NOAA contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance work statement and delivery of scientific and technical support. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award being publicly available, but detailed performance data may not be readily accessible.
Related Government Programs
- NOAA Scientific Data Infrastructure Support
- Environmental Consulting Services
- Scientific and Technical Support Services
Risk Flags
- Cost Overrun Risk (T&M Contract)
- Scope Creep Potential
- Performance Monitoring Challenges
Tags
scientific-support, technical-support, sdi, noaa, department-of-commerce, environmental-consulting, time-and-materials, full-and-open-competition, bpa-call, federal-contract, scientific-services, data-infrastructure
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $4.6 million to CONSOLIDATED SAFETY SERVICES INCORPORATED. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SDI
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CONSOLIDATED SAFETY SERVICES INCORPORATED.
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 $4.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-09-15. End: 2025-09-14.
What specific scientific and technical support tasks are included under this contract?
The provided data indicates the contract is for 'SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SDI' and falls under the NAICS code '541620' for Environmental Consulting Services. While the exact tasks are not detailed, this suggests support related to the Scientific Data Infrastructure (SDI). This could encompass a range of activities such as data management, system maintenance, software development, data analysis, technical consulting, and potentially research support related to environmental science or oceanic and atmospheric data. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure implies that the contractor will be reimbursed for direct labor hours at specified rates and for the actual cost of materials used, which is common for services where the scope of work may evolve or is difficult to define precisely upfront.
How does the $4.6 million contract value compare to similar NOAA contracts for scientific data infrastructure?
Benchmarking the $4.6 million contract value against similar NOAA contracts for scientific data infrastructure requires access to a broader dataset of historical awards and their specific scopes of work. Without more granular information on the services provided, such as the complexity of the data, the number of users supported, or the specific technologies involved, a direct comparison is difficult. However, for a two-year duration, $4.6 million suggests a moderate-sized contract, likely supporting a specific component or a defined set of services within NOAA's overall data infrastructure. Larger, enterprise-wide data management contracts could easily run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars over similar or longer periods.
What are the potential risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for this type of service?
The primary risk with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract is the potential for cost overruns. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts reimburse the contractor for actual labor hours and material costs incurred. If the scope of work is not well-defined, or if project management is weak, the contractor may incur more hours or use more expensive materials than anticipated, leading to a higher final cost. For scientific and technical support, this risk is amplified if the project's technical challenges are underestimated or if there are frequent changes in requirements. Effective oversight, clear task definitions, and robust monitoring of labor hours and material usage are crucial to mitigate these risks and ensure value for money.
What is the significance of this contract being awarded under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call?
A Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) is a simplified method of filling anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services. A BPA Call is an order placed against an existing BPA. This indicates that NOAA likely has a pre-established BPA with Consolidated Safety Services Inc. for environmental consulting services or related scientific and technical support. Awarding a call against a BPA can streamline the procurement process, reduce administrative burden, and potentially offer better pricing due to pre-negotiated terms. It signifies that the agency has confidence in the contractor's ability to meet its needs based on prior agreements and performance.
What is the track record of Consolidated Safety Services Inc. in securing government contracts, particularly with NOAA?
Consolidated Safety Services Inc. (CSSI) has a history of securing government contracts. While specific details on their entire contract portfolio are not provided here, their award from NOAA for scientific and technical support indicates they are an active participant in the federal contracting space. To fully assess their track record, one would need to examine their past performance on similar contracts, client feedback, and any history of contract disputes or performance issues. Their ability to win this contract under full and open competition suggests they possess the necessary qualifications and competitive pricing to be considered by federal agencies.
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: 2750 PROSPERITY AVE, FAIRFAX, VA, 22031
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $4,636,962
Exercised Options: $4,636,962
Current Obligation: $4,636,962
Actual Outlays: $4,636,962
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: DOCEA133C17BA0049
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-09-15
Current End Date: 2025-09-14
Potential End Date: 2025-09-14 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-18
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