Interior's $3.6M Consulting Contract with NJ Institute of Technology Lacks Competition, Raises Value Concerns
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $363,489 ($363.5K)
Contractor: NEW Jersey Institute of Technology
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2024-07-01
End Date: 2026-08-31
Contract Duration: 791 days
Daily Burn Rate: $460/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: BRIDGING THE GAP BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE DISPERSION EFFECTIVENESS AT VARIOUS SCALE
Place of Performance
Location: NEWARK, ESSEX County, NEW JERSEY, 07102
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $363,489 to NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for work described as: BRIDGING THE GAP BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE DISPERSION EFFECTIVENESS AT VARIOUS SCALE Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single entity without competition. 2. High dollar value for 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services'. 3. Limited transparency on pricing and effectiveness due to sole-source nature. 4. Potential for inflated costs without competitive bidding.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's value is difficult to assess without competitive benchmarks. The firm fixed price suggests a defined scope, but the lack of competition raises concerns about whether the government secured the best possible price for these services.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed under simplified acquisition procedures, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there was no market pressure to offer competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be overpaying for consulting services due to the absence of competitive bidding.
Public Impact
Lack of competitive bidding may result in higher costs for taxpayers. Limited public information on the specific services and their impact. Potential for reduced innovation and quality without market competition.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- High contract value
- Limited transparency
Positive Signals
- Firm fixed price contract
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services'. Benchmarks for this category can vary widely, but the significant value of this award warrants scrutiny, especially given the sole-source nature.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award, which limits opportunities for small business participation in federal contracting.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award raises questions about the oversight applied during the procurement process. Further review is needed to ensure the agency adequately justified the lack of competition.
Related Government Programs
- Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
- Department of the Interior Contracting
- Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competitive justification.
- High dollar value for undefined consulting services.
- Potential for inflated pricing.
- Limited transparency on service scope and impact.
- No small business participation evident.
Tags
other-scientific-and-technical-consultin, department-of-the-interior, nj, purchase-order, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $363,489 to NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. BRIDGING THE GAP BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN THE DISPERSION EFFECTIVENESS AT VARIOUS SCALE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NEW JERSEY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $363,489.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-07-01. End: 2026-08-31.
What specific scientific and technical consulting services are being provided, and how do they directly benefit the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement's mission?
The contract description 'Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services' is broad. To assess value, detailed information on the specific tasks, deliverables, and the expertise provided by the New Jersey Institute of Technology is required. Understanding how these services contribute to the agency's core functions, such as environmental safety and enforcement, is crucial for justifying the expenditure.
What steps were taken to ensure the $3.6 million price was fair and reasonable in the absence of competition?
Without competition, agencies must rely on other methods to determine price reasonableness, such as historical pricing, commercial item pricing, or independent government cost estimates. The justification for not competing this contract needs to be thoroughly documented and reviewed to confirm that appropriate price analysis techniques were employed to protect taxpayer interests.
How will the effectiveness and impact of these consulting services be measured and evaluated to ensure successful outcomes?
Measuring the effectiveness of consulting services, especially those that are technical and scientific, requires clearly defined performance metrics and deliverables. The agency should have a robust plan for monitoring progress, evaluating the quality of work, and assessing the ultimate impact of the services rendered against the contract's objectives.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Natural Resources and Environment R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Solicitation ID: 140E0124Q0055
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 323 DR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR BLVD, NEWARK, NJ, 07102
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Government, Higher Education, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), U.S. Regional/State Government
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $363,489
Exercised Options: $363,489
Current Obligation: $363,489
Actual Outlays: $66,399
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-07-01
Current End Date: 2026-08-31
Potential End Date: 2026-08-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-10
Other Department of the Interior Contracts
- Department of Health and Human Services, Administration of Children and Families, Office of Refugee Resettlement's Legal Services for Unaccompanied Children — $832.4M (Acacia Center for Justice)
- Military Family Life Counseling Program Igf::ot::igf — $638.8M (MHN Government Services LLC)
- Military Family Life Counseling Program — $637.0M (Magellan Healthcare Inc)
- Grants Program Solutions and Information Technology Support Services — $446.3M (Guidehouse Digital LLC)
- THE Purpose of This Requirement for Grants Program Solutions and IT Support Services IS to Provide Efficient and Effective Grant, Financial, and Contract Management Services, IT Solutions, and Support to the Grantsolutions and ITS Partners — $403.1M (Guidehouse Inc.)