DOJ's FBI Awards $194K for UPLC Systems Service, Ensuring Lab Operations
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $19,437 ($19.4K)
Contractor: Waters Technologies Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Justice
Start Date: 2025-04-01
End Date: 2026-03-31
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $53/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: TWO WATERS ULTRA HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY (UPLC) SYSTEMS SERVICE QUOTATION NO. 23696478
Place of Performance
Location: HUNTSVILLE, MADISON County, ALABAMA, 35801
State: Alabama Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Justice obligated $19,437.12 to WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION for work described as: TWO WATERS ULTRA HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY (UPLC) SYSTEMS SERVICE QUOTATION NO. 23696478 Key points: 1. Spending is for essential laboratory equipment maintenance. 2. Sole vendor identified, raising potential competition concerns. 3. Risk of price escalation due to limited vendor options. 4. IT/Analytical Instrument sector spending is generally stable.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $194,371.12 for a 364-day service period appears reasonable for specialized UPLC systems. However, without specific benchmarks for this niche equipment, a definitive assessment is challenging.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method is expected to yield fair pricing, though the specific number of bidders is not detailed.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for critical law enforcement support services, ensuring the operational readiness of analytical laboratories.
Public Impact
Ensures FBI's forensic and analytical capabilities remain operational. Supports critical investigations requiring precise scientific analysis. Maintains advanced scientific instrumentation for evidence processing.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 53 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition details
- Potential for vendor lock-in
Positive Signals
- Essential service for critical agency function
- Awarded under full and open competition
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the analytical laboratory instrument manufacturing and service sector. Spending in this area is driven by the need for advanced scientific equipment in government agencies, particularly for research and forensic applications.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific provisions or awards made to small businesses for this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the Department of Justice to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Standard procurement oversight processes would apply to ensure compliance and proper execution of the delivery order.
Related Government Programs
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- Department of Justice Contracting
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Programs
Risk Flags
- Limited competition details
- Potential for price increases in future renewals
- Dependence on a single vendor for specialized equipment maintenance
Tags
analytical-laboratory-instrument-manufac, department-of-justice, al, delivery-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Justice awarded $19,437.12 to WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION. TWO WATERS ULTRA HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY (UPLC) SYSTEMS SERVICE QUOTATION NO. 23696478
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WATERS TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Bureau of Investigation).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $19,437.12.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-04-01. End: 2026-03-31.
What is the typical service cost for similar UPLC systems from other manufacturers?
Benchmarking the service cost for UPLC systems requires detailed market research into comparable equipment from various manufacturers like Agilent, Shimadzu, or Thermo Fisher Scientific. Factors such as system complexity, age, and included service level agreements significantly influence pricing. Without this comparative data, assessing the 'fairness' of Waters' pricing is difficult.
What were the specific reasons for choosing Waters Technologies Corporation, given the full and open competition?
While awarded under full and open competition, the specific rationale for selecting Waters Technologies Corporation would likely stem from factors such as meeting all technical specifications, offering the most advantageous price, or potentially having unique expertise or proprietary technology for their UPLC systems. A detailed review of the solicitation responses and award decision documentation would clarify this.
How does the uptime and performance of these UPLC systems impact FBI's operational effectiveness?
The uptime and performance of these UPLC systems are critical for the FBI's analytical and forensic capabilities. Reliable operation ensures timely processing of evidence, supports ongoing investigations, and maintains the integrity of scientific findings. Any degradation in performance or extended downtime could significantly hinder investigative progress and operational effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing › Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: INSTRUMENTS AND LABORATORY EQPT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 34 MAPLE ST, MILFORD, MA, 01757
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $19,437
Exercised Options: $19,437
Current Obligation: $19,437
Actual Outlays: $19,437
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS07F0559X
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-04-01
Current End Date: 2026-03-31
Potential End Date: 2026-03-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-06
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