Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs awards $5.8M facilities support contract to Chenhall Sedona Services Joint Venture

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,856,038 ($5.9M)

Contractor: Chenhall Sedona Services Joint Venture, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2025-07-25

End Date: 2026-07-28

Contract Duration: 368 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: BIE FACILITIES SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: ALBUQUERQUE, BERNALILLO County, NEW MEXICO, 87104

State: New Mexico Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $5.9 million to CHENHALL SEDONA SERVICES JOINT VENTURE, LLC for work described as: BIE FACILITIES SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract value represents a moderate investment in essential facility maintenance and support services. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Risk indicators appear low given the nature of facilities support, but performance will be key. 4. This contract supports the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education's operational needs. 5. The services fall under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' a broad category. 6. The contract duration is approximately 1 year, allowing for regular performance reviews.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

Benchmarking this contract's value against similar facilities support contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the $5.86 million total value over roughly one year appears reasonable for comprehensive facilities support across multiple locations. The 'time and materials' pricing structure necessitates close monitoring to ensure cost efficiency and prevent scope creep. Compared to other government-wide contracts for similar services, the pricing is likely competitive given the full and open competition.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' indicating that while the competition was broad, certain sources may have been excluded prior to the main solicitation. This suggests a deliberate effort to ensure a competitive landscape while potentially addressing specific requirements or past performance considerations. The presence of 4 bids (no) indicates a moderate level of competition, which generally aids in price discovery and achieving fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award suggests that taxpayer dollars are being used efficiently, as multiple vendors vied for the contract, driving down potential costs.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Bureau of Indian Education, ensuring their facilities are maintained and operational. Services delivered include a range of facilities support, likely encompassing maintenance, repair, and operational services. The geographic impact is focused on New Mexico, where the contract is administered. Workforce implications may include direct and indirect employment opportunities through the contractor and its potential subcontractors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to the 'time and materials' pricing model if not closely managed.
Dependence on contractor performance for critical facility operations.
Scope definition and management are crucial to avoid unexpected costs or service gaps.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
Contract duration allows for performance assessment and potential for renewal based on merit.
The contractor is a joint venture, potentially bringing diverse expertise to the contract.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on facilities support. This sector is crucial for government operations, encompassing a wide array of services necessary for maintaining infrastructure and supporting agency missions. Government spending in this area is substantial, with numerous contracts awarded annually to ensure the upkeep of federal buildings and grounds. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other facilities support contracts awarded by agencies like GSA or other departments with significant real estate holdings.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications mandated by a small business set-aside. However, the prime contractor, a joint venture, may still engage small businesses for subcontracting opportunities as part of their operational strategy, contributing to the broader small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the contracting officers and program managers within the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education. Accountability measures will be tied to the performance standards outlined in the contract's statement of work and delivery orders. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics are typically internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Federal Buildings and Facilities Maintenance
Government Property Management Services
Bureau of Indian Affairs Operations
Bureau of Indian Education Operations
Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Dependence on contractor performance for critical facility operations.
Need for robust oversight to manage scope and ensure value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $5.9 million to CHENHALL SEDONA SERVICES JOINT VENTURE, LLC. BIE FACILITIES SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CHENHALL SEDONA SERVICES JOINT VENTURE, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-07-25. End: 2026-07-28.

What is the track record of Chenhall Sedona Services Joint Venture, LLC with federal contracts, particularly in facilities support?

Assessing the specific track record of 'CHENHALL SEDONA SERVICES JOINT VENTURE, LLC' requires a deep dive into federal procurement databases like SAM.gov and FPDS. As a joint venture, its performance history might be a composite of its member entities or a newly established record. Generally, agencies review past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS) during the source selection process. For this contract, the award under full and open competition suggests that the agency found the joint venture's past performance, technical capabilities, and price to be acceptable and competitive among the bidders. Without access to specific CPARS data or detailed contract history for this entity, it's difficult to provide a definitive assessment of their track record beyond what is implied by the award itself.

How does the awarded value of $5.86 million compare to similar facilities support contracts for the Bureau of Indian Affairs or Bureau of Indian Education?

Directly comparing the $5.86 million value requires access to a database of similar contracts awarded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) for facilities support. However, based on general knowledge of federal contracting, this value appears moderate for a contract covering approximately one year of comprehensive facilities support. Larger, multi-year contracts for extensive facility management across numerous sites can easily reach tens or hundreds of millions of dollars. Smaller, more localized support contracts might be in the hundreds of thousands. This $5.86 million award suggests a significant scope of services or support for a substantial number of facilities within New Mexico, warranting a competitive bidding process.

What are the primary risks associated with a 'Time and Materials' (T&M) contract for facilities support, and how are they mitigated?

The primary risk with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract is the potential for cost overruns, as the government pays for the actual labor hours and material costs incurred by the contractor, plus a fixed fee or fixed hourly rate. This can lead to unpredictable expenditures if not managed diligently. Mitigation strategies include establishing clear labor categories with defined rates, setting a ceiling price for the contract, requiring detailed timesheets and invoices, and implementing robust oversight by the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) to monitor labor hours and material usage. Regular performance reviews and audits are also crucial to ensure efficiency and prevent scope creep or unnecessary work. The agency's active management and surveillance are key to controlling costs under a T&M structure.

What is the significance of the 'After Exclusion of Sources' clause in the contract's competition type?

The designation 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' indicates that while the competition was intended to be broad, certain potential offerors were excluded from the solicitation process *before* the request for proposals (RFP) was issued. This exclusion is typically based on specific criteria outlined in the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), such as a determination that only a limited number of sources could meet unique agency needs, or if certain sources were deemed not responsible. It implies that the agency had a rationale for narrowing the field initially, perhaps based on prior experience, specialized capabilities, or specific program requirements. While it still aims for competition among the remaining eligible sources, it is less open than a standard 'full and open' competition.

How does this contract contribute to the overall mission of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education?

This facilities support contract is critical for the day-to-day operations of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE). Well-maintained facilities are essential for providing safe and effective services to Native American communities, including schools, administrative offices, and other essential infrastructure. By ensuring these facilities are operational, secure, and functional, the contract directly supports the BIA's mission to enhance the quality of life, promote economic opportunity, and protect the natural resources of American Indians and Alaska Natives, and the BIE's mission to provide quality education opportunities for American Indian students.

What are the potential implications of awarding this contract to a joint venture, as opposed to a single entity?

Awarding a contract to a joint venture (JV) like Chenhall Sedona Services Joint Venture, LLC can offer several advantages. JVs are often formed to combine the unique strengths, expertise, and resources of multiple companies, potentially leading to a more comprehensive and capable solution. This can be particularly beneficial for complex contracts requiring diverse skill sets. For the government, it can mean access to a broader range of capabilities and potentially innovative approaches. However, it can also introduce complexities in terms of management structure, communication, and accountability. The agency must ensure clear lines of responsibility and performance expectations are established within the JV agreement and the contract itself.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2119 E 12TH ST, DAVENPORT, IA, 52803

Business Categories: Category Business, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $21,488,471

Exercised Options: $21,488,471

Current Obligation: $5,856,038

Actual Outlays: $1,992,752

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 140A1623D0040

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline