NOAA Awards $3.6M Hydrographic Survey Contract to Woolpert, Inc. for Pacific Islands
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,592,063 ($3.6M)
Contractor: Woolpert, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2025-09-09
End Date: 2026-12-31
Contract Duration: 478 days
Daily Burn Rate: $7.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 14
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: NOS/OCS/HSD HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY ACT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
Place of Performance
Location: TINIAN, TINIAN County, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS, 96952
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $3.6 million to WOOLPERT, INC. for work described as: NOS/OCS/HSD HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY ACT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Woolpert, Inc. for essential hydrographic survey services. 2. Focus on Pacific Islands highlights strategic geographic importance. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type aims for cost certainty. 4. No small business participation noted, potentially limiting broader economic impact.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $3.6M for a 478-day duration appears reasonable for specialized hydrographic surveying services. Benchmarking against similar NOAA contracts for surveying in remote locations would provide further validation.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method is expected to yield fair market pricing for the services required.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for a critical national security and environmental mapping need, with competition aiming for efficient allocation.
Public Impact
Enhances navigational safety in Pacific Islands, crucial for trade and defense. Supports environmental monitoring and resource management in ecologically sensitive areas. Provides vital data for charting and maritime infrastructure development.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of small business participation.
- Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen conditions arise in remote locations.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost predictability.
- Addresses critical national need for hydrographic data.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under surveying and mapping services, a niche but vital sector for national infrastructure and environmental stewardship. Spending in this area is often project-driven and dependent on specific geographic needs.
Small Business Impact
The contract indicates no small business participation, which is a missed opportunity to support smaller enterprises in the surveying and mapping sector. Future contracts could explore set-asides or subcontracting requirements.
Oversight & Accountability
The award is managed by NOAA, a reputable agency with established oversight mechanisms. The firm fixed price contract and defined delivery period should facilitate accountability.
Related Government Programs
- Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of small business involvement.
- Geographic remoteness presents logistical challenges.
- Potential for weather-related delays.
- Reliance on a single awardee for a critical service.
Tags
surveying-and-mapping-except-geophysical, department-of-commerce, mp, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $3.6 million to WOOLPERT, INC.. NOS/OCS/HSD HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY SERVICES IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY ACT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WOOLPERT, INC..
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 $3.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-09-09. End: 2026-12-31.
What is the specific methodology and technology Woolpert, Inc. will employ for the hydrographic surveys, and how does it align with modern standards for accuracy and efficiency?
The contract likely mandates adherence to standards set by the Hydrographic Survey Act and potentially international guidelines like S-44. Woolpert, Inc., as a reputable firm, is expected to utilize advanced sonar, multibeam echo sounders, and GPS positioning systems. The specific methodology will detail survey patterns, data acquisition rates, and processing techniques to ensure high-resolution bathymetry, seabed characterization, and feature identification, meeting NOAA's stringent accuracy requirements.
What are the potential risks associated with conducting hydrographic surveys in remote Pacific Islands, and what mitigation strategies are in place?
Risks include challenging weather conditions, logistical difficulties in accessing remote sites, equipment malfunction in harsh environments, and potential environmental sensitivities. Mitigation strategies likely involve detailed pre-survey planning, robust equipment maintenance protocols, contingency plans for weather delays, and adherence to environmental protection guidelines. The firm fixed price contract also incentivizes efficient risk management by the contractor.
How will the data collected from these surveys be integrated into existing maritime databases and contribute to future navigational safety and resource management efforts?
The collected data will be processed, quality-controlled, and formatted according to NOAA's data standards before being incorporated into the National Bathymetric Data grid. This updated information will be used to revise nautical charts, inform maritime safety broadcasts, and support coastal zone management, marine spatial planning, and scientific research, ultimately enhancing safety and enabling sustainable resource utilization in the Pacific Islands region.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services
Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 14
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4454 IDEA CENTER BLVD, BEAVERCREEK, OH, 45430
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $3,592,063
Exercised Options: $3,592,063
Current Obligation: $3,592,063
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 1305M225D0010
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-09-09
Current End Date: 2026-12-31
Potential End Date: 2026-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-09
More Contracts from Woolpert, Inc.
- S120F10 Labor - BAA #10-024 Topic- AGC-31 — $18.0M (Department of Defense)
- Nv_northeasterngreatbasin_mag_rad_d25 — $5.2M (Department of the Interior)
- Lidar and Bathymetric Extraction South Pacific — $4.5M (Department of Defense)
- Id_westernbeltbasin_mag_rad_d25 — $2.4M (Department of the Interior)
Other Department of Commerce Contracts
- THE Purpose of This Contract IS to Develop the Ground System That Will Support Noaa S Next Generation Geostationary Satellite Series, Goes-R. This NEW Series of Spacecraft, SET to Begin Launching in 2015, IS Expected to Double the Clarity of Today S Satellite Imagery and Provide AT Least 20 Times More Atmospheric Observations From Space. the Contractor IS to Design, Develop, Test and Implement the Goes-R Ground System. the Ground System Will Capture Data From the Goes-R Satellites, and Process and Distribute the Information to Operational Users — $1.8B (L3harris Technologies, Inc.)
- Engineering Services and Development Leading to the Delivery of the Jpss Common Ground System Instrument and Support — $1.6B (Raytheon Company)
- Enterprise Solutions Framework (ESF) for Multi-Tiered Acquisition Framework for Systems Engineering and Integration - Program Tier Work Order 003 - 2020 Census Technical Integrator — $1.5B (T-Rex Solutions LLC)
- THE Goal of the Decennial Response Integration System (dris) Contract IS to Obtain a Practical Solution to Providing Respondent Assistance and Data Capture for the 2010 Census — $930.7M (Lockheed Martin Services, LLC)
- 2020 Census Questionnaire Assistance (2020 CQA) — $918.3M (Maximus Federal Services, Inc.)