NIH Spends $4.37M on Fire Protection Engineering Services via Full and Open Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $4,367,903 ($4.4M)
Contractor: DLH, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2022-02-20
End Date: 2027-02-19
Contract Duration: 1,825 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: THIS ACQUISITION IS FOR COMMERCIAL FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING SERVICES WHERE A CONTRACTOR FACILITATES THE RESOLUTION OF A WIDE RANGE OF FIRE PROTECTION ISSUES IN SUPPORT OF THE NIH PROGRAMS.
Place of Performance
Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20892
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $4.4 million to DLH, LLC for work described as: THIS ACQUISITION IS FOR COMMERCIAL FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING SERVICES WHERE A CONTRACTOR FACILITATES THE RESOLUTION OF A WIDE RANGE OF FIRE PROTECTION ISSUES IN SUPPORT OF THE NIH PROGRAMS. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to DLH, LLC for essential fire protection engineering services supporting NIH programs. 2. The acquisition utilizes a Time and Materials contract type, common for services requiring flexibility. 3. Competition was full and open, suggesting a robust price discovery process. 4. The contract duration is 5 years, indicating a long-term need for these services.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract is a delivery order under a larger IDIQ, making direct price comparison difficult. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure is standard for this type of service.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which typically leads to competitive pricing. The use of a delivery order under an existing IDIQ suggests that the initial competition for the IDIQ established a baseline for pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by driving down costs through market forces.
Public Impact
Ensures safety and compliance for critical NIH research facilities. Supports the continuity of vital research by mitigating fire-related risks. Provides specialized engineering expertise not readily available in-house.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
- Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data.
- Potential for scope creep in engineering services.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Supports critical national health research infrastructure.
- Long-term contract provides stability for essential services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Engineering Services (NAICS 541330). Spending in this sector is driven by infrastructure needs, research and development, and specialized technical support across government agencies.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate if small businesses were involved in this specific delivery order. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
As a delivery order under a larger contract, oversight likely resides with the contracting officer for the parent IDIQ and the agency program manager. Monitoring of the Time and Materials contract is crucial.
Related Government Programs
- Engineering Services
- Department of the Interior Contracting
- Departmental Offices Programs
Risk Flags
- Time and Materials contract type risk
- Potential for undefined scope creep
- Limited visibility into parent IDIQ contract details
- Lack of specific performance metrics provided
Tags
engineering-services, department-of-the-interior, md, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $4.4 million to DLH, LLC. THIS ACQUISITION IS FOR COMMERCIAL FIRE PROTECTION ENGINEERING SERVICES WHERE A CONTRACTOR FACILITATES THE RESOLUTION OF A WIDE RANGE OF FIRE PROTECTION ISSUES IN SUPPORT OF THE NIH PROGRAMS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is DLH, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $4.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-02-20. End: 2027-02-19.
What is the estimated total cost for the parent IDIQ contract, and how does this delivery order compare to other orders placed against it?
The provided data only details this specific delivery order's value ($4.37M). To assess value comprehensively, information on the total ceiling of the parent IDIQ contract and the distribution of funds across other delivery orders is necessary. This would reveal if this order represents a significant portion or is in line with typical spending patterns.
What are the specific fire protection engineering services required, and are there established benchmarks for these services?
The description is broad ('wide range of fire protection issues'). Understanding the specific deliverables (e.g., system design, risk assessments, code compliance reviews) is key. Benchmarking would require comparing rates and proposed hours against industry standards for similar specialized engineering tasks, considering the NIH's unique research environment.
How effectively are the Time and Materials contract terms being managed to ensure cost control and prevent scope creep?
Effective management of T&M contracts relies on robust oversight, clear task definitions, and regular reviews of labor hours and material costs. The agency must ensure that the contractor's efforts are efficient and directly related to the defined scope, with mechanisms in place to flag and address any potential overruns or unauthorized work promptly.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: 140D0422Q0047
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: DLH Holdings Corp
Address: 6720B ROCKLEDGE DR STE 777, BETHESDA, MD, 20817
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $7,282,297
Exercised Options: $4,367,903
Current Obligation: $4,367,903
Actual Outlays: $3,262,517
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS10F0502X
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2022-02-20
Current End Date: 2027-02-19
Potential End Date: 2027-02-19 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-30
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