DOJ's $3.42B contract for lab instruments to Phamtech, Inc. awarded under full and open competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,420 ($3.4K)

Contractor: Phamatech, Incorporated

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-04-01

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 29 days

Daily Burn Rate: $118/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FY26 E3 PHAMATECH UA CUPS APR 26 BPA#: 15BNAS24A00000044 PHAMATECH LABORATORIES AND DIAGNOSTICS

Place of Performance

Location: SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO County, CALIFORNIA, 92128

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $3,420 to PHAMATECH, INCORPORATED for work described as: FY26 E3 PHAMATECH UA CUPS APR 26 BPA#: 15BNAS24A00000044 PHAMATECH LABORATORIES AND DIAGNOSTICS Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single vendor, Phamtech, Inc., for analytical laboratory instruments. 2. The contract has a duration of 29 days, suggesting a call order against a larger BPA. 3. Awarded under a Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract type, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 334516 indicates a focus on analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing. 5. The contract is not set aside for small businesses, indicating a focus on larger market players. 6. The contract is for the Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons, highlighting a specific government need.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The provided data lacks sufficient detail to benchmark the value-for-money of this specific call order. The total award amount of $3.42 billion is substantial, but without knowing the quantity of instruments or specific services procured, a direct comparison to similar contracts is difficult. The Firm Fixed Price nature is positive for cost control, but the short 29-day duration suggests this is a single order against a potentially larger Basic Purchasing Agreement (BPA). Further analysis would require understanding the scope of the BPA and the pricing structure for individual units or services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The data does not specify the number of bidders that participated in the competition for this specific call order. However, the fact that it was competed broadly suggests a healthy market for analytical laboratory instruments. The competitive process is expected to drive price discovery and potentially lead to more favorable pricing for the government compared to a sole-source or limited competition scenario.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to lower prices and better quality goods and services. This approach maximizes the potential for government savings.

Public Impact

The Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons is the primary beneficiary, receiving analytical laboratory instruments. These instruments are likely crucial for health and safety monitoring within correctional facilities. The geographic impact is national, serving the needs of federal prisons across the United States. The contract supports the manufacturing sector for analytical laboratory instruments, potentially impacting jobs in that industry.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed scope of work for the $3.42B award makes value assessment difficult.
Short contract duration (29 days) raises questions about the nature of the procurement and potential for follow-on actions.
No information on the number of bidders for this specific call order, despite full and open competition.
The substantial award amount without unit pricing or specific deliverables requires further scrutiny.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, maximizing potential for competitive pricing.
Firm Fixed Price contract type shifts cost risk to the contractor.
Procurement for the Federal Prison System addresses critical government operational needs.
Contract is for analytical laboratory instruments, a specialized and important category of equipment.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing sector, classified under NAICS code 334516. This industry is characterized by the production of scientific and technical instruments used for measurement, testing, and analysis. The market size for such instruments is significant, driven by demand from research institutions, healthcare, environmental testing, and government agencies like the Department of Justice. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing the average cost of similar instruments or the total government expenditure on laboratory equipment across various agencies.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, as indicated by 'sb': false. This suggests that the procurement was aimed at the broader market, likely involving larger manufacturers or distributors capable of meeting the scale and specifications required. There is no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. The impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal for this specific award, as it appears to be directed towards established players in the analytical instrument manufacturing industry.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Justice's procurement and contracting offices, specifically within the Federal Prison System. Accountability measures are inherent in the Firm Fixed Price contract type, which obligates the contractor to deliver specified goods or services at an agreed-upon price. Transparency is facilitated by the contract's award under full and open competition, with details typically available through federal procurement databases. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice Procurement
Federal Bureau of Prisons Operations
Analytical Laboratory Equipment
Medical and Diagnostic Equipment Manufacturing
Government Health Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep if BPA is not well-defined.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical laboratory instruments.
Lack of detailed information on specific instruments and quantities.
Short contract duration raises questions about the overall procurement strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $3,420 to PHAMATECH, INCORPORATED. FY26 E3 PHAMATECH UA CUPS APR 26 BPA#: 15BNAS24A00000044 PHAMATECH LABORATORIES AND DIAGNOSTICS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PHAMATECH, INCORPORATED.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3,420.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2026-04-30.

What is the specific scope of work and the exact quantity of analytical laboratory instruments being procured under this $3.42 billion award?

The provided data indicates a total award amount of $3.42 billion for 'PHAMATECH UA CUPS APR 26 BPA#: 15NAS24A00000044 PHAMATECH LABORATORIES AND DIAGNOSTICS' under the Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons. However, the specific scope of work and the exact quantity of analytical laboratory instruments are not detailed in the provided snippet. The short duration (29 days) suggests this might be a call order against a larger Basic Purchasing Agreement (BPA). Without further documentation, it is impossible to ascertain the precise deliverables or the number of units being acquired. This lack of specificity makes it challenging to perform a detailed value analysis or compare it to other procurements.

How does the $3.42 billion award compare to historical spending on analytical laboratory instruments by the Federal Prison System or the Department of Justice?

To compare the $3.42 billion award to historical spending, one would need to access historical procurement data for the Federal Prison System (FPS) and the broader Department of Justice (DOJ) related to analytical laboratory instruments. The provided data snippet is for a single award with a short duration, suggesting it might be a call against a BPA. If this $3.42 billion represents the total value of a BPA, then historical comparisons would involve looking at the total value of previous comparable BPAs or individual contract awards for similar equipment over multiple fiscal years. Without this historical context, it's difficult to determine if this award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of spending for the FPS or DOJ in this category.

What is the typical lead time and manufacturing capacity for the types of analytical laboratory instruments specified in this contract, and how does Phamtech, Inc.'s capacity align with the award?

The provided data does not specify the exact types of analytical laboratory instruments being procured, nor does it detail Phamtech, Inc.'s manufacturing capacity or typical lead times. The NAICS code 334516 covers a broad range of analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing. To assess this, one would need to identify the specific instruments (e.g., spectrometers, chromatographs, microscopes) and then research industry standards for production and delivery. Phamtech, Inc.'s track record, as indicated by past performance on similar contracts, would also be crucial in determining their ability to meet the demand implied by a $3.42 billion award, especially if it represents a BPA ceiling rather than an immediate order.

Given the 'full and open competition' designation, how many bids were received for this specific call order, and what was the range of proposed prices?

The data indicates that the contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' (ct: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION). However, it does not specify the number of bids received for this particular call order or the range of proposed prices. While full and open competition theoretically allows all responsible sources to bid, the actual number of participants and their pricing strategies are not provided in this snippet. To obtain this information, one would typically consult the contract award details in a federal procurement database like SAM.gov or FPDS, which often includes data on the number of offers received and the award amount relative to the government estimate.

What are the performance metrics and quality assurance measures in place to ensure the effectiveness and reliability of the analytical laboratory instruments provided by Phamtech, Inc.?

The provided data snippet does not contain information regarding the specific performance metrics, quality assurance measures, or service level agreements associated with this contract. For a contract of this magnitude, especially one involving laboratory instruments critical for government operations (like those in the Federal Prison System), robust performance standards and quality controls are expected. These would typically be detailed in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or Performance Work Statement (PWS). To assess these, one would need to review the full contract documentation, which would outline acceptance criteria, testing protocols, warranty provisions, and remedies for non-performance.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing › Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL/DENTAL/VETERINARY EQPT/SUPP

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 15BNAS24Q00000006

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 15175 INNOVATION DR, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92128

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,420

Exercised Options: $3,420

Current Obligation: $3,420

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15BNAS24A00000044

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline