Interior Department awards $1.08M for utilities, highlighting a sole-source purchase order for water services in North Dakota

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $108,406 ($108.4K)

Contractor: Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2025-01-17

End Date: 2027-01-16

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $149/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: UTILITIES-SEWER & WATER SERVICE

Place of Performance

Location: BELCOURT, ROLETTE County, NORTH DAKOTA, 58316

State: North Dakota Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $108,405.5 to TURTLE MOUNTAIN PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION for work described as: UTILITIES-SEWER & WATER SERVICE Key points: 1. The contract value of $1.08 million for utilities, specifically sewer and water services, appears reasonable for a multi-year duration. 2. The sole-source nature of this award limits opportunities for competitive bidding and potentially higher prices. 3. The firm fixed-price contract type mitigates cost overrun risks for the government. 4. Performance is expected over two years, with a potential for extension, indicating ongoing service needs. 5. This contract falls under the 'Utilities-Sewer & Water Service' NAICS code, aligning with essential infrastructure support. 6. The award to Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission suggests a localized and potentially specialized provider.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $1.08 million over two years for water and sewer services is difficult to benchmark without more specific details on the scope of services and the population served. However, for a public utility commission providing essential services, the price appears within a plausible range. The firm fixed-price structure offers cost certainty. Without comparable sole-source contracts or detailed service level agreements, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed. This typically occurs when only one responsible source is available or capable of meeting the requirement. The lack of competition means that the government did not benefit from a bidding process that could have potentially driven down prices or offered a wider range of solutions. The rationale for the sole-source award is not detailed in the provided data.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not have received the best possible price due to the absence of competitive bidding. This award highlights a potential area where exploring competitive options in the future could lead to cost savings.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely the residents and facilities served by the Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission in North Dakota. Essential services including water supply and wastewater treatment are being delivered. The geographic impact is concentrated in North Dakota, specifically within the service area of the awarded utility. This contract supports the operational workforce of the utility commission, ensuring continued employment and service delivery.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits price discovery and potential savings for taxpayers.
Lack of competition raises questions about whether the most cost-effective solution was secured.
Limited data on performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the quality of service being provided.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides budget certainty and mitigates risk of cost overruns.
Award to a public utility commission suggests a focus on essential, reliable service delivery.
Contract duration of two years with potential for extension indicates a stable, ongoing need for these services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Utilities-Sewer & Water Service sector, a critical component of public infrastructure. The market for such services is often localized and dominated by public entities or specialized private firms. Spending in this sector is driven by population growth, infrastructure maintenance, and regulatory requirements. Comparable spending benchmarks are highly dependent on the specific geographic area and the scale of services provided, making broad comparisons difficult.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract involved small business set-asides or subcontracting opportunities. As a sole-source award to a public utility commission, it is unlikely to have a direct impact on the small business ecosystem in terms of prime contracting. However, the utility itself may engage small businesses for ancillary services not covered by this specific contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, given their role in awarding the contract. Accountability measures would be tied to the terms and conditions of the purchase order, including service delivery standards and payment schedules. Transparency is limited by the sole-source nature and the lack of publicly available performance reports.

Related Government Programs

Federal Water Infrastructure Programs
Bureau of Indian Affairs Utilities Management
Rural Water and Wastewater Systems

Risk Flags

Sole-source award may indicate a lack of market research or limited vendor pool.
Potential for higher costs due to lack of competition.
Limited transparency on performance metrics and justification for sole-source.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $108,405.5 to TURTLE MOUNTAIN PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION. UTILITIES-SEWER & WATER SERVICE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TURTLE MOUNTAIN PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.

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 $108,405.5.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-01-17. End: 2027-01-16.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The provided data indicates the contract was awarded as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' which is synonymous with a sole-source award. The specific justification, such as the unique capabilities of the Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission, the lack of other qualified providers in the service area, or an urgent need that precluded a competitive process, is not detailed in the data. Typically, sole-source justifications are documented by the contracting agency and may be subject to review. Without this documentation, it's difficult to fully assess the necessity of this procurement approach.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar water and sewer services provided to federal entities?

Benchmarking the pricing for this $1.08 million contract is challenging without more granular data on the specific services rendered (e.g., volume of water, treatment levels, infrastructure maintenance scope) and the geographic area's cost of living and operations. However, for a two-year contract providing essential utilities, the amount is not inherently excessive. To perform a true comparison, one would need to identify similar contracts awarded to public utility commissions or other providers for comparable federal facilities or communities, analyzing their per-unit costs or total contract values relative to service scope and duration.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how is performance being monitored?

The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract. As a purchase order for utilities, KPIs would typically relate to service reliability (e.g., water pressure, uptime), water quality standards, response times for service disruptions, and adherence to environmental regulations. Monitoring would likely be conducted by the contracting officers' representatives (CORs) within the Bureau of Indian Affairs or Bureau of Indian Education, who would review service reports, utility bills, and potentially conduct site inspections to ensure compliance with the contract terms.

What is the historical spending pattern for water and sewer services by the Department of the Interior in North Dakota?

Historical spending data for water and sewer services by the Department of the Interior in North Dakota is not provided in the current dataset. To analyze this, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending) for contracts awarded by the Department of the Interior and its sub-agencies (like BIA and BIE) within North Dakota, filtering for relevant NAICS codes (e.g., 221310) or keywords related to utilities. This analysis would reveal trends in contract values, types of services procured, and the prevalence of sole-source versus competitive awards over time.

What is the track record of the Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission in serving federal facilities or similar large-scale clients?

Information regarding the specific track record of the Turtle Mountain Public Utilities Commission in serving federal facilities or other large-scale clients is not detailed in the provided contract data. As a public utility commission, its primary mandate is likely to serve the local community. Its capacity and experience with federal contracts would need to be assessed through its past performance records, references, and potentially through reviews of its operational history and certifications. The fact that this is a sole-source award might imply a recognized capability or existing relationship.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Utilities › Water, Sewage and Other Systems › Water Supply and Irrigation Systems

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › UTILITIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 140A2325P0053

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1001 CHIEF LITTLE SHELL ST NE, BELCOURT, ND, 58316

Business Categories: U.S. Government Authorities, Category Business, Government, Native American Tribal Government, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Tribally Owned Firm

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $221,942

Exercised Options: $108,406

Current Obligation: $108,406

Actual Outlays: $51,638

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline