DOI Awards $6.1M for Buoy Data Systems at Colorado Reservoirs
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $61,458 ($61.5K)
Contractor: Nevada System of Higher Education
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2025-05-01
End Date: 2027-04-30
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $84/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: SUPPORT OF SYSTEM DESIGN AND INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OF BUOYS MEASURING EVAPORATION DATA AT LAKE NIGHTHORSE AND LEMON RESERVOIR, CO.
Place of Performance
Location: DURANGO, LA PLATA County, COLORADO, 81303
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $61,458 to NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION for work described as: SUPPORT OF SYSTEM DESIGN AND INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OF BUOYS MEASURING EVAPORATION DATA AT LAKE NIGHTHORSE AND LEMON RESERVOIR, CO. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential evaporation data collection for water management. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and potential cost savings. 3. Risk of vendor lock-in and limited market research for technical services. 4. Sector: Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $6.1M for 729 days appears high for 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services'. Benchmarking against similar contracts for specialized environmental monitoring systems is difficult without more detail on the scope of work.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for taxpayers as competitive pressures are absent.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition could lead to inflated prices, impacting taxpayer value for essential water resource management services.
Public Impact
Ensures continued monitoring of vital evaporation data for water resource management in Colorado. Supports scientific research and operational decisions for Lake Nighthorse and Lemon Reservoir. Potential for higher costs due to sole-source procurement impacts taxpayer funds.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpricing
- Limited transparency on technical requirements
Positive Signals
- Essential service for water management
- Supports scientific data collection
- Long-term contract for system upkeep
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services,' a broad category. Spending in this area can vary widely depending on the specific technical expertise required. Benchmarking is challenging without more granular data.
Small Business Impact
The contract does not indicate any specific set-asides for small businesses. The award to Nevada System of Higher Education suggests a focus on institutional capabilities rather than small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure the price is fair and reasonable and that the services provided meet the government's needs effectively.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Department of the Interior Contracting
- Bureau of Reclamation Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
- Potential for inflated costs due to lack of competition.
- Limited transparency on technical requirements and vendor capabilities.
- Risk of vendor lock-in for specialized technical services.
- No clear small business participation noted.
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, department-of-the-interior, co, definitive-contract, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $61,458 to NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION. SUPPORT OF SYSTEM DESIGN AND INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP, AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER OF BUOYS MEASURING EVAPORATION DATA AT LAKE NIGHTHORSE AND LEMON RESERVOIR, CO.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NEVADA SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Bureau of Reclamation).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $61,458.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-05-01. End: 2027-04-30.
What specific technical capabilities justify the sole-source award for these buoy systems?
The justification for a sole-source award typically rests on unique capabilities, specialized knowledge, or proprietary technology that only one vendor can provide. Without further documentation, it's unclear if the Nevada System of Higher Education possesses such exclusive qualifications for buoy system design, installation, maintenance, and technology transfer for evaporation data at these specific Colorado reservoirs.
How was the $6.1M price determined to be fair and reasonable without competition?
Determining fairness and reasonableness without competition often involves comparing the proposed price to historical prices for similar services, using independent government cost estimates, or analyzing market research data. The absence of a competitive process means these benchmarks are crucial for validating the $6.1M award and ensuring taxpayer funds are used efficiently for the buoy system services.
What are the long-term implications for system maintenance and technology transfer under this sole-source arrangement?
A sole-source contract can lead to long-term dependency on the awarded entity, potentially limiting future cost-saving opportunities through competitive bidding for upgrades or maintenance. Ensuring robust technology transfer clauses and clear performance metrics is vital to guarantee the government gains full benefit and control over the buoy systems over time.
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: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 140R4025Q0030
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2215 RAGGIO PKWY, RENO, NV, 89512
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $88,205
Exercised Options: $61,458
Current Obligation: $61,458
Actual Outlays: $10,471
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-05-01
Current End Date: 2027-04-30
Potential End Date: 2028-04-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
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