NOAA Awards $4.68M for Class C Vessel Support Services to ECS Federal, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,676,344 ($4.7M)

Contractor: ECS Federal, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2022-11-16

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 1,261 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: CLASS C VESSEL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NOAA OMAO

Place of Performance

Location: SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20910

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $4.7 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC for work described as: CLASS C VESSEL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR NOAA OMAO Key points: 1. Contract awarded for essential vessel support services to NOAA's fleet. 2. ECS Federal, LLC, a non-small business, secured the contract. 3. The contract spans over three years, indicating a need for sustained support. 4. Engineering services are critical for maintaining operational readiness of NOAA vessels.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $4.68M over approximately 3.5 years suggests a moderate annual spend. Benchmarking against similar vessel support contracts would be necessary to fully assess pricing reasonableness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which generally promotes competitive pricing. The use of a BPA Call indicates a pre-negotiated framework, potentially streamlining the process but requiring scrutiny of the underlying BPA terms.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential operational support of NOAA's scientific and environmental monitoring fleet.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operation of NOAA's vital research and monitoring vessels. Supports scientific missions related to oceans, atmosphere, and climate. Contributes to the readiness of assets used for environmental stewardship and disaster response.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of small business participation noted.
Contract type (Time and Materials) can pose cost control risks if not managed closely.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Supports critical government functions for NOAA.

Sector Analysis

The engineering services sector supporting maritime assets is specialized. Spending benchmarks for vessel support services can vary significantly based on vessel type, complexity, and required expertise. NOAA's need for Class C vessel support falls within this specialized domain.

Small Business Impact

The contract explicitly states that small business participation was not a factor (ss: false, sb: false). This indicates that opportunities for small businesses in this specific procurement were either not pursued or not met.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be crucial to ensure that the Time and Materials contract is managed effectively, preventing cost overruns and ensuring that services rendered align with the stated needs of NOAA's vessel operations.

Related Government Programs

Engineering Services
Department of Commerce Contracting
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of small business involvement.
Potential for cost overruns with T&M contract.
Limited detail on specific engineering services provided.
Reliance on a single awardee for critical vessel support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $4.7 million to ECS FEDERAL, LLC. CLASS C VESSEL SUPPORT SERVICES 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 $4.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-11-16. End: 2026-04-30.

What specific engineering services are included under this contract, and how do they align with NOAA's mission objectives?

The contract covers 'CLASS C VESSEL SUPPORT SERVICES,' which broadly encompasses engineering expertise for NOAA's fleet. This likely includes maintenance, repair, technical consultation, and potentially upgrades for various vessel classes. These services are fundamental to ensuring NOAA's research, survey, and operational vessels can effectively carry out their scientific and environmental monitoring missions, contributing directly to understanding and protecting the nation's oceans and atmosphere.

Given the Time and Materials contract type, what measures are in place to mitigate cost escalation risks?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts, while flexible, carry inherent risks of cost escalation. Effective mitigation requires robust government oversight, including detailed tracking of labor hours and rates, strict adherence to pre-approved material costs, and clear performance metrics. NOAA should implement regular reviews and audits to ensure efficiency and prevent scope creep, potentially utilizing CLINs (Contract Line Item Numbers) with established ceilings to manage expenditures.

How does the full and open competition process for this BPA Call ensure optimal value for taxpayer dollars?

Full and open competition is designed to solicit offers from the widest possible range of qualified contractors, fostering a competitive environment that ideally drives down prices and improves service quality. For this BPA Call, it suggests that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid, and ECS Federal was selected based on the best value criteria established within the BPA. Continued monitoring of task order performance and pricing against market rates is essential to confirm sustained value.

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: $5,916,887

Exercised Options: $5,916,887

Current Obligation: $4,676,344

Actual Outlays: $2,425,075

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 1305M222ANMAN0002

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline