DOI Awards $6.9M for Hydrologic Instrumentation Facility to Stanley Consultants, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,895,980 ($6.9M)

Contractor: Stanley Consultants, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2020-01-21

End Date: 2026-06-19

Contract Duration: 2,341 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: A-E SVCS, NEW HYDROLOGIC INSTRUMENTATION FACILITY

Place of Performance

Location: MUSCATINE, MUSCATINE County, IOWA, 52761

State: Iowa Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $6.9 million to STANLEY CONSULTANTS, INC. for work described as: A-E SVCS, NEW HYDROLOGIC INSTRUMENTATION FACILITY Key points: 1. Contract awarded for architectural services related to a new facility. 2. Stanley Consultants, Inc. is the prime contractor. 3. The contract is a Firm Fixed Price type. 4. The award falls under the Architectural Services NAICS code. 5. The contract duration is 2341 days.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount is $6,895,980.23. Without specific benchmarks for similar hydrologic instrumentation facility projects, assessing the value is difficult. The firm fixed price contract type suggests a defined scope and cost.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which generally promotes competitive pricing. The firm fixed price structure aims to control costs, but the effectiveness depends on the accuracy of the initial cost estimates.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is intended to secure the best value for taxpayers. The final cost will be determined by the project's execution and any potential change orders.

Public Impact

Taxpayers will fund the development of new scientific infrastructure. The project aims to enhance hydrological research capabilities. The contract duration suggests a long-term commitment to the facility's development.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long contract duration (2341 days) may lead to cost overruns if not managed effectively.
Scope definition for complex instrumentation facilities can be challenging, potentially leading to change orders.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting potential for competitive pricing.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty if scope is well-defined.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Architectural Services sector, specifically for a scientific facility. Spending in this area is driven by research needs and infrastructure upgrades. Benchmarks are difficult without specific project details.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses and the prime contractor is Stanley Consultants, Inc., a larger firm. There is no information on small business subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made by the Department of the Interior, U.S. Geological Survey. Oversight will be crucial given the long duration and specialized nature of the project to ensure cost control and adherence to scope.

Related Government Programs

Architectural Services
Department of the Interior Contracting
U.S. Geological Survey Programs

Risk Flags

Long contract duration.
Potential for scope creep in specialized facility design.
Reliance on a single prime contractor for a complex project.
Lack of specific cost benchmarks for comparison.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $6.9 million to STANLEY CONSULTANTS, INC.. A-E SVCS, NEW HYDROLOGIC INSTRUMENTATION FACILITY

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is STANLEY CONSULTANTS, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (U.S. Geological Survey).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-01-21. End: 2026-06-19.

What is the estimated cost per square foot or per unit of instrumentation for this facility, and how does it compare to industry standards?

Without detailed project specifications, calculating a precise cost per square foot or per unit of instrumentation is not possible. However, the total award of $6.9 million over potentially several years for a specialized facility suggests significant investment. A thorough review of the architectural plans and equipment lists would be necessary to establish relevant benchmarks and assess value for money.

What are the primary risks associated with the long contract duration and the firm-fixed-price structure for this specialized facility?

The primary risks with a long duration (2341 days) include potential inflation impacting material and labor costs, unforeseen site conditions, and evolving technological requirements for the instrumentation. A firm-fixed-price contract, while offering cost certainty, can become problematic if the initial scope is not perfectly defined, potentially leading to costly change orders or a compromise in quality if the contractor faces unexpected cost increases.

How will the effectiveness of the new hydrologic instrumentation facility be measured post-completion?

The effectiveness of the facility will likely be measured by its ability to support advanced hydrological research, the accuracy and reliability of the instrumentation housed within, and the scientific output generated (e.g., publications, data sets). Key performance indicators could include uptime of critical equipment, successful completion of research objectives, and contributions to understanding hydrological processes.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Architectural Services

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ARCHITECT-ENGINEER FAR 6.102

Solicitation ID: 140G0119R0031

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 225 IOWA AVE, MUSCATINE, IA, 52761

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,895,980

Exercised Options: $6,895,980

Current Obligation: $6,895,980

Actual Outlays: $6,670,255

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 10

Total Subaward Amount: $2,289,370

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline