NOAA Awards $41.2M for Fairbanks Data Station Operations to Netcentric Technology, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $41,213,257 ($41.2M)
Contractor: Netcentric Technology, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce
Start Date: 2022-06-01
End Date: 2026-05-31
Contract Duration: 1,460 days
Daily Burn Rate: $28.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: FAIRBANKS COMMAND AND DATA ACQUISITION STATION (FCDAS) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: FAIRBANKS, FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR County, ALASKA, 99701
State: Alaska Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Commerce obligated $41.2 million to NETCENTRIC TECHNOLOGY, LLC for work described as: FAIRBANKS COMMAND AND DATA ACQUISITION STATION (FCDAS) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Netcentric Technology, LLC for facilities support services. 2. The contract has a total value of $41.2 million over approximately four years. 3. Competition method was 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources'. 4. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, indicating price certainty. 5. No small business participation was noted in the award.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $41.2 million for four years of operations and maintenance services appears reasonable for specialized facilities support. Benchmarking against similar contracts for remote command and data acquisition stations is difficult without more specific service details.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The competition method 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' suggests that while the competition was intended to be broad, specific criteria or circumstances led to the exclusion of certain potential bidders. This could limit the pool of competitors and potentially impact price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: The $41.2 million expenditure supports critical data acquisition infrastructure, but the limited competition raises questions about whether the most cost-effective solution was secured for taxpayers.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operation of the Fairbanks Command and Data Acquisition Station. Supports NOAA's mission in data collection and environmental monitoring. Provides essential facilities support services in a remote Alaskan location.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition method may have restricted price optimization.
- Lack of small business participation.
Positive Signals
- Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
- Long-term contract ensures operational continuity.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Facilities Support Services, a broad category encompassing the operation and maintenance of specialized government facilities. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on the complexity and location of the facility. The value here is significant for a single station.
Small Business Impact
The award notice indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this specific contract. This could be due to the specialized nature of the services required or the size of the contract, which may not be conducive to small business prime contracting.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Department of Commerce. Oversight would involve ensuring Netcentric Technology, LLC meets performance requirements and adheres to contract terms throughout the period of performance.
Related Government Programs
- Facilities Support Services
- Department of Commerce Contracting
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Limited competition may have resulted in suboptimal pricing.
- Potential for vendor lock-in due to specialized services.
- Lack of small business involvement.
- Geographic remoteness could present logistical challenges and increase costs.
Tags
facilities-support-services, department-of-commerce, ak, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Commerce awarded $41.2 million to NETCENTRIC TECHNOLOGY, LLC. FAIRBANKS COMMAND AND DATA ACQUISITION STATION (FCDAS) OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NETCENTRIC 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 $41.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-06-01. End: 2026-05-31.
What specific technical capabilities or geographic requirements justified the 'Exclusion of Sources' in the competition process?
The justification for excluding certain sources likely stems from unique operational requirements of the Fairbanks Command and Data Acquisition Station, such as specialized technical expertise, existing infrastructure integration, or the logistical challenges of operating in a remote Alaskan environment. These factors may have narrowed the field of qualified bidders to a specific set.
How does the per-unit cost of operating this station compare to similar NOAA or other agency facilities?
Without detailed breakdowns of operational costs (e.g., personnel, utilities, maintenance, equipment) and specific benchmarks for comparable remote data acquisition stations, a precise per-unit cost comparison is not feasible. The total contract value of $41.2 million over 1460 days averages approximately $28,228 per day, which needs to be contextualized against the station's specific functions and operational demands.
What are the long-term implications of relying on a single contractor for these critical operations?
Long-term reliance on a single contractor can lead to potential risks such as vendor lock-in, reduced incentive for innovation, and price increases upon contract renewal if competition is not re-established. However, it can also foster deep institutional knowledge and operational efficiency if the contractor performs well and maintains a strong working relationship with the agency.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Facilities Support Services › Facilities Support Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - NETWORK
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: 1332KP21RNEEB0003
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Arctic Slope Regional Corporation
Address: 3301 STATE ROUTE 66 BLDG A, NEPTUNE, NJ, 07753
Business Categories: Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $52,062,896
Exercised Options: $41,213,257
Current Obligation: $41,213,257
Actual Outlays: $25,943,814
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 5
Total Subaward Amount: $1,325,024
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2022-06-01
Current End Date: 2026-05-31
Potential End Date: 2027-05-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-08-04
More Contracts from Netcentric Technology, LLC
- Kirtland Engineering Operations Services (keos) for Kirtland AIR Force Base (kafb, NEW Mexico — $213.3M (Department of Defense)
- STS Services for Ca/Cst — $163.0M (Department of State)
- DOD Dhra Dmdc Cybersecurity Support Services — $79.8M (General Services Administration)
- Cape Launch Operations and Infrastructure Support III Space Launch Delta 45 — $35.2M (Department of Defense)
- Geographic Specialist Services Base Period 03/16/2023 - 03/15/2024 — $24.1M (Department of Commerce)
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.)