NOAA awards $6.36M contract for Class B support to ECS Federal, LLC, with a 3-year duration

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,362,361 ($6.4M)

Contractor: ECS Federal, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2022-11-01

End Date: 2025-12-31

Contract Duration: 1,156 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: CLASS B SUPPORT FOR NOAA OMAO

Place of Performance

Location: SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20910

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $6.4 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC for work described as: CLASS B SUPPORT FOR NOAA OMAO Key points: 1. Contract awarded via BPA Call, indicating a pre-competed framework. 2. Time and Materials pricing structure may pose cost control challenges. 3. The contract is for engineering services, a critical support function for NOAA's operations. 4. Awarded to ECS Federal, LLC, a single contractor for this specific task order. 5. The contract duration extends through December 2025, providing long-term support. 6. Geographic location is Maryland, a hub for federal agencies and contractors.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount of $6.36 million for engineering services over approximately three years suggests a moderate investment. Benchmarking this against similar contracts for specialized engineering support within NOAA or other federal agencies would be necessary for a precise value assessment. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing model, while flexible, can sometimes lead to higher costs if not closely managed, compared to fixed-price contracts. Without specific performance metrics or detailed cost breakdowns, it's challenging to definitively assess value for money, but the duration and scope indicate a significant need.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call, which implies that the underlying BPA was established through full and open competition. However, the specific task order was awarded to a single contractor, ECS Federal, LLC. While the initial BPA likely involved multiple bidders, the award of a specific call to one entity suggests that ECS Federal was deemed the best fit or most responsive for this particular requirement at the time of the call.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of a BPA Call suggests that competition was considered at the BPA level. However, the award to a single entity for this specific task order means taxpayers may not have benefited from direct price competition for this particular service delivery.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), receiving essential engineering support. Services delivered include Class B support, crucial for maintaining and operating NOAA's marine and aviation assets. The geographic impact is centered in Maryland, where NOAA's operations are significantly based. This contract supports a specialized workforce of engineers and technical personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials pricing can lead to cost overruns if not meticulously managed and monitored.
Reliance on a single contractor for this task order under the BPA Call limits immediate competitive pressure on pricing.
The specific nature of 'Class B support' requires further definition to fully understand the scope and potential risks.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a pre-competed BPA, suggesting a streamlined procurement process.
The contract duration of over three years provides stability for NOAA's operational needs.
Engineering services are critical for maintaining NOAA's vital infrastructure and operational capabilities.

Sector Analysis

The engineering services sector is a broad category encompassing design, development, and technical support across various industries. For federal agencies like NOAA, these services are crucial for maintaining complex infrastructure, research equipment, and operational fleets. The market for federal engineering services is competitive, with numerous firms specializing in areas such as marine engineering, aerospace, and environmental consulting. This contract fits within the broader IT and professional services category, often procured through IDIQs, GWACs, and BPAs.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (sb) is false, and there is no indication of a small business set-aside (ss) for this contract. Therefore, this contract does not appear to directly benefit small businesses through set-asides. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses are not explicitly detailed in the provided data but would depend on ECS Federal's subcontracting plan.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO) and the Department of Commerce's contracting officers. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Accountability measures are typically embedded in the contract terms, including performance standards and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any issues of fraud, waste, or abuse arise.

Related Government Programs

NOAA Fleet Operations
NOAA Aviation Operations
Engineering and Technical Services
Marine Operations Support
Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR)

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to T&M pricing
Limited direct competition at the task order level
Dependency on a single contractor for critical support

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $6.4 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC. CLASS B SUPPORT FOR NOAA OMAO

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ECS FEDERAL, 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 $6.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-11-01. End: 2025-12-31.

What is the specific nature of 'Class B Support' required by NOAA OMAO under this contract?

Class B support, in the context of NOAA's Office of Marine and Aviation Operations (OMAO), typically refers to a category of technical and engineering services essential for the maintenance, repair, and operational readiness of NOAA's diverse fleet of research vessels and aircraft. This can encompass a wide range of activities, including but not limited to, structural integrity assessments, propulsion system maintenance, avionics support, diagnostic services, and the implementation of upgrades or modifications to ensure compliance with safety and operational standards. The exact scope would be detailed in the Performance Work Statement (PWS) associated with the BPA Call, outlining specific deliverables, technical requirements, and performance metrics that ECS Federal, LLC is obligated to meet. Understanding the precise definition of Class B support is crucial for evaluating the contract's value and risks.

How does the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure compare to other contract types for similar engineering services?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, like the one awarded to ECS Federal, LLC, are characterized by reimbursement for direct labor hours at specified fixed hourly rates and actual costs of materials. This contrasts with fixed-price contracts, where the total price is set regardless of actual costs incurred, and cost-plus contracts, where the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs plus a fee. T&M contracts offer flexibility, allowing for adjustments in scope without formal change orders, which can be beneficial for services with evolving requirements. However, they carry a higher risk of cost overruns for the government if not closely monitored, as the contractor is incentivized to bill for more hours. For predictable, well-defined engineering tasks, fixed-price contracts often provide better cost certainty for the government. The choice of T&M suggests that NOAA anticipated some level of uncertainty or variability in the required engineering support.

What is the track record of ECS Federal, LLC in providing similar engineering services to federal agencies?

ECS Federal, LLC has a history of performing various services for federal agencies, including IT support, engineering, and program management. Reviewing their past performance on similar contracts, particularly those involving technical or engineering support for agencies like NOAA or other maritime or aviation-focused organizations, is essential. Key indicators include on-time delivery, adherence to budget, quality of work, and client satisfaction ratings. Information on past performance can often be found in contract databases and through agency performance evaluations. A strong track record in comparable projects would suggest a lower performance risk for this contract, while a history of issues might raise concerns about ECS Federal's ability to meet NOAA's requirements effectively.

What are the potential risks associated with a single-award BPA Call for this type of engineering service?

A single-award BPA Call, while efficient, carries specific risks. Firstly, it limits direct price competition for this particular task order, potentially leading to less favorable pricing than if multiple vendors had bid on this specific requirement. Secondly, it creates a dependency on ECS Federal, LLC; any performance issues, financial instability, or capacity limitations on their part could directly impact NOAA's operations without immediate alternative options. While the underlying BPA may have been competitively awarded, the specific call bypasses a fresh competitive process for this defined scope. This necessitates robust contract management and performance monitoring by NOAA to ensure value and mitigate risks associated with a sole-source award at the task order level.

How does this contract's value and duration compare to historical NOAA spending on engineering support?

The $6.36 million award over approximately three years for Class B support represents a significant, but not exceptionally large, investment for an agency like NOAA, which manages extensive operational assets. Historical spending patterns for NOAA's OMAO on engineering and technical services would provide context. If NOAA has consistently spent similar amounts annually or biannually on comparable support functions, this contract aligns with established budgetary norms. Conversely, if this award is substantially higher or lower than previous expenditures for similar services, it warrants further investigation into the reasons, such as increased scope, market rate fluctuations, or changes in operational needs. Analyzing trends in NOAA's engineering support spending can reveal efficiency gains or potential cost escalations.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT 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

Parent Company: Asgn Incorporated

Address: 2750 PROSPERITY AVE STE 600, 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: $7,952,691

Exercised Options: $7,952,691

Current Obligation: $6,362,361

Actual Outlays: $5,369,247

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 1305M222ANMAN0002

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline