NOAA awards $7.9M contract for scientific and technical support services to Consolidated Safety Services Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $7,954,187 ($8.0M)
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: $10.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SPATIAL PLANNING
Place of Performance
Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22030
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $8.0 million to CONSOLIDATED SAFETY SERVICES INCORPORATED for work described as: SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SPATIAL PLANNING Key points: 1. The contract value of $7.9 million over two years suggests a moderate investment in specialized scientific support. 2. Consolidated Safety Services Inc. secured this contract through full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 3. The use of a Time and Materials contract type may present cost escalation risks if not closely managed. 4. This award falls under environmental consulting services, a critical area for NOAA's mission. 5. The contract duration of 730 days provides a stable period for service delivery and performance evaluation.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $7.9 million for two years of scientific and technical support services appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized environmental consulting. Benchmarking against similar NOAA contracts for spatial planning support would provide a clearer picture of value for money. The Time and Materials pricing structure, however, warrants careful monitoring to ensure costs do not exceed expectations or market rates for the services rendered.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting that multiple qualified vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but this procurement method generally fosters price discovery and encourages competitive pricing. The agency likely sought the best value proposition from a range of potential offerors.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it aims to secure the most competitive pricing and best quality services available in the market.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are NOAA's scientific and planning divisions, which will receive essential technical support. Services delivered will likely include data analysis, research support, and technical expertise for spatial planning initiatives. The geographic impact is likely national, supporting NOAA's broad mandate, with specific applications potentially focused on coastal and marine environments. The contract supports specialized technical roles, potentially impacting a small but highly skilled segment of the environmental consulting workforce.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not managed diligently.
- Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess efficiency.
- The specific nature of 'spatial planning support' could be broad, leading to scope creep if not clearly defined.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
- Contract duration of two years provides stability for service delivery.
- Consolidated Safety Services Inc. is a known entity, implying some level of established capability.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector, a niche but vital part of the broader professional services market. The market for such services is driven by regulatory requirements, scientific research needs, and environmental management initiatives. NOAA's spending in this area is consistent with its mission to understand and predict changes in climate, weather, oceans, and coasts. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other federal agencies or large state/local governments procuring similar scientific and technical support.
Small Business Impact
The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from a set-aside provision. The focus remains on larger, potentially more specialized firms capable of competing in a full and open environment.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract's terms, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is generally facilitated through federal procurement databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.
Related Government Programs
- NOAA Scientific Support Contracts
- Environmental Consulting Services
- Spatial Planning and Analysis
- Federal Scientific Research Support
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials contract type.
- Scope creep risk in specialized technical support services.
- Need for detailed performance monitoring to ensure value.
Tags
environmental-consulting, scientific-support, spatial-planning, department-of-commerce, noaa, time-and-materials, full-and-open-competition, professional-services, bpa-call, virginia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $8.0 million to CONSOLIDATED SAFETY SERVICES INCORPORATED. SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SPATIAL PLANNING
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 $8.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-09-15. End: 2025-09-14.
What is the track record of Consolidated Safety Services Inc. with federal contracts, particularly with NOAA?
A review of federal procurement data (e.g., FPDS) would be necessary to fully assess Consolidated Safety Services Inc.'s track record. This would involve examining past contract awards, performance evaluations (if available), and any history of disputes or issues. Understanding their experience with NOAA specifically, and with contracts of similar scope and value, would provide crucial context for evaluating their capability and reliability on this new award. Without specific performance data, it's assumed they met the qualifications for this competitive bid.
How does the $7.9 million contract value compare to similar scientific and technical support contracts awarded by NOAA or other agencies?
Benchmarking this $7.9 million contract requires comparing it to similar services procured by NOAA or other agencies with comparable scientific missions. Factors such as the specific technical expertise required, the duration of the contract, and the complexity of the spatial planning tasks will influence pricing. If similar two-year contracts for specialized environmental consulting have ranged from $5 million to $10 million, this award would appear within a typical market range. Conversely, if comparable services were secured for significantly less, it might indicate potential overpricing or a less competitive outcome.
What are the primary risks associated with the Time and Materials (T&M) contract type for this specific service?
The primary risk with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract type is the potential for cost escalation, as the government pays for the actual labor hours and materials used. For scientific and technical support services, especially in spatial planning, the scope can sometimes be less defined than in fixed-price contracts. This ambiguity can lead to scope creep, where tasks expand beyond the initial intent, driving up costs. Effective risk mitigation requires robust oversight, detailed tracking of labor hours and expenses, and clear communication channels to manage any changes or unforeseen requirements promptly.
How effective is NOAA's oversight likely to be for this contract, given the T&M structure?
The effectiveness of NOAA's oversight for this T&M contract hinges on the diligence of its contracting officers and program managers. Robust oversight involves meticulous monitoring of all billable hours, material costs, and progress against defined milestones (even within a T&M framework). Regular reviews, clear communication protocols for any scope adjustments, and a proactive approach to identifying potential inefficiencies or cost overruns are critical. If NOAA has experienced personnel dedicated to contract management and possesses strong internal controls, oversight can be effective in controlling costs and ensuring value.
What historical spending patterns exist for scientific and technical support services at NOAA, and how does this contract fit?
Historical spending patterns for scientific and technical support at NOAA likely show consistent investment in areas crucial to its mission, such as climate monitoring, oceanographic research, and coastal management. Contracts for spatial planning support, data analysis, and specialized scientific expertise are common. This $7.9 million award appears to be a standard allocation for such services over a two-year period, fitting within the agency's ongoing need for external technical assistance to supplement its internal capabilities and address complex scientific challenges.
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: $7,954,187
Exercised Options: $7,954,187
Current Obligation: $7,954,187
Actual Outlays: $8,007,346
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: 2026-03-12
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