NOAA awards $54.5M for business operations support to Global Science & Technology, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $54,505,275 ($54.5M)

Contractor: Global Science & Technology, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2020-09-21

End Date: 2027-03-20

Contract Duration: 2,371 days

Daily Burn Rate: $23.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 8

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: R&D

Official Description: BUSINESS OPERATION SUPPORT TASK ORDER AWARD

Place of Performance

Location: SILVER SPRING, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20910

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $54.5 million to GLOBAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, LLC for work described as: BUSINESS OPERATION SUPPORT TASK ORDER AWARD Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in essential business operations. 2. Competition dynamics suggest a potentially competitive bidding process for this task order. 3. Performance period extends over several years, indicating a long-term need. 4. The contract type (Time and Materials) can pose cost control challenges if not managed closely. 5. This award falls within the R&D sector, specifically supporting physical, engineering, and life sciences. 6. The awardee has a substantial contract duration, suggesting a strong existing relationship or capability.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award of $54.5 million over approximately 6.5 years averages to about $8.4 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar business operations support contracts is difficult without more specific service details. However, the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure, while common, can lead to higher costs if not carefully monitored for scope creep and efficient labor utilization. The contract's duration suggests a sustained need, but the value-for-money will depend heavily on the actual services rendered and the efficiency of Global Science & Technology, LLC in delivering them.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The presence of 8 bidders, as suggested by the 'no' field, points to a healthy level of competition for this task order. A competitive environment generally benefits the government by driving down prices and encouraging innovation from multiple offerors. The specific details of the bidding process, such as the number of proposals received and the evaluation criteria, would provide further insight into the effectiveness of this competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition with multiple bidders typically leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for taxpayers compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and its various scientific and operational divisions, which will receive essential business support services. Services delivered likely include administrative, logistical, financial, and potentially project management support crucial for NOAA's mission. The contract is geographically focused on Maryland (ST: MD, SN: MARYLAND), indicating support for NOAA operations within that state. Workforce implications include the potential for job creation or retention within Global Science & Technology, LLC, particularly in the Maryland area.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can lead to cost overruns if not managed diligently.
The long performance period (over 6 years) requires sustained oversight to ensure continued value.
Lack of specific service details makes it challenging to assess true value-for-money without deeper analysis.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
Multiple bidders (8) indicate a competitive market for these services.
The contractor, Global Science & Technology, LLC, has secured a significant contract, implying capability and trust.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector, excluding biotechnology. This broad category encompasses a wide range of scientific endeavors. NOAA's mission heavily relies on R&D, making support services critical. While specific market size data for 'business operations support' within this niche is not readily available, the federal government's overall spending on R&D support services is substantial, often involving numerous task orders under larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contracts or direct awards like this one.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or benefits specifically tied to small business set-asides for this particular award. The focus is on the prime contractor, Global Science & Technology, LLC. Any subcontracting would be at the discretion of the prime contractor, and its impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on their subcontracting plan, if any.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) contracting officers and program managers. They are responsible for monitoring performance, ensuring compliance with contract terms, and managing the T&M aspects to control costs. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would typically fall under the Department of Commerce's Office of Inspector General, which investigates fraud, waste, and abuse in federal programs.

Related Government Programs

NOAA Operations Support
Federal R&D Services
Business Support Services
Department of Commerce Contracts
Science and Technology Support

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to T&M contract type.
Need for sustained, diligent oversight over a long contract duration.
Risk of scope creep without strict management.
Dependence on contractor's ability to manage resources efficiently.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $54.5 million to GLOBAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, LLC. BUSINESS OPERATION SUPPORT TASK ORDER AWARD

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GLOBAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY, 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 $54.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-09-21. End: 2027-03-20.

What is the track record of Global Science & Technology, LLC with NOAA and other federal agencies?

Global Science & Technology, LLC (GST) has a history of performing contracts for various federal agencies, including NOAA and NASA. Their portfolio often includes scientific, engineering, and technical support services. Analyzing GST's past performance ratings, any past performance issues or awards, and their financial stability would be crucial for a comprehensive assessment. For this specific NOAA contract, reviewing past task orders or related prime contracts awarded to GST would reveal their experience level and success in delivering similar services. Information on contract closeouts, any disputes, or contractor performance evaluations (CPEs) would further illuminate their reliability and effectiveness as a federal contractor.

How does the $54.5 million award compare to similar NOAA business operations support contracts?

Direct comparison of this $54.5 million award for 'BUSINESS OPERATION SUPPORT TASK ORDER AWARD' to similar NOAA contracts is challenging without more granular detail on the specific services encompassed. NOAA procures a wide array of support services, from IT and administrative functions to specialized scientific support. However, considering the 6.5-year duration, the average annual value is approximately $8.4 million. This figure is substantial and suggests a significant scope of work. Benchmarking would require identifying contracts with comparable service descriptions, contract types (T&M), and performance periods within NOAA or related scientific agencies. The 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences' NAICS code (541712) indicates a focus beyond basic administrative tasks, potentially including project management, data analysis, or research support, which can command higher values.

What are the primary risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract of this magnitude and duration?

The primary risk with a T&M contract, especially one valued at $54.5 million over 6.5 years, is cost escalation. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M agreements reimburse the contractor for direct labor hours at specified rates and for the actual cost of materials. This structure provides flexibility but can lead to costs exceeding initial estimates if work is inefficiently performed, scope creep occurs without proper controls, or labor rates are not effectively managed. For NOAA, risks include potential budget overruns, difficulty in accurately forecasting total expenditure, and the need for robust oversight to ensure the contractor is diligently managing resources and labor hours. The government must actively monitor the work performed against the necessity of the hours billed and the reasonableness of material costs to mitigate these risks.

How effective is the 'full and open competition' process likely to be in ensuring value for this NOAA contract?

Full and open competition is generally the most effective method for ensuring value for taxpayer dollars, as it allows all responsible sources to compete, fostering price reductions and innovation. With 8 bidders identified for this task order, the competition appears robust. This suggests that NOAA likely received multiple proposals, enabling a thorough evaluation of technical capabilities and pricing. The effectiveness hinges on the clarity of the solicitation requirements, the evaluation criteria used, and the diligence of the source selection process. If the evaluation properly weighed technical merit against price, the competitive environment should have driven the selection of a capable contractor at a reasonable price point. However, the T&M nature of the contract means ongoing vigilance is required to maintain value throughout the performance period.

What is the historical spending pattern for business operations support at NOAA or within the Department of Commerce?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for business operations support at NOAA or the broader Department of Commerce requires access to detailed federal procurement data over several fiscal years. Generally, agencies like NOAA, involved in extensive scientific research, operations, and data management, require significant ongoing support services. This includes administrative, financial, IT, and project management functions. Spending in these areas can fluctuate based on agency priorities, budget allocations, and the lifecycle of major programs. Contracts for such support are often awarded through various mechanisms, including IDIQs, task orders, and direct awards. Understanding historical spending trends can help contextualize the $54.5 million award, indicating whether it represents a typical investment, an increase, or a decrease in this category of support for NOAA.

What are the implications of the R&D sector classification (NAICS 541712) for the nature of the business operations support provided?

Classifying this contract under NAICS code 541712 ('Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences') suggests that the 'business operations support' extends beyond generic administrative functions. It implies that the support is tailored to the unique needs of R&D activities. This could include specialized project management for research initiatives, data management and analysis support for scientific endeavors, technical writing and reporting for research findings, logistical support for experiments or field operations, and potentially administrative support for grant management or compliance within the R&D context. The contractor, Global Science & Technology, LLC, likely possesses expertise relevant to the scientific and engineering domains supported by NOAA, enabling them to provide more targeted and effective operational assistance.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › General Science and Technology R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 8

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7855 WALKER DR STE 200, GREENBELT, MD, 20770

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $58,596,484

Exercised Options: $58,596,484

Current Obligation: $54,505,275

Actual Outlays: $21,756,605

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DOCST133017CQ0050

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline