DOJ awards $2M+ engineering services contract to M.C. Dean, Inc. for 3 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,043,163 ($2.0M)

Contractor: M. C. Dean, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2024-04-18

End Date: 2026-08-12

Contract Duration: 846 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: NEW TO

Place of Performance

Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $2.0 million to M. C. DEAN, INC. for work described as: NEW TO Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract is a firm-fixed-price type, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 3. Performance period spans over two years, indicating a medium-term engagement. 4. The award is a BPA Call, suggesting it's part of a larger pre-negotiated agreement. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541330 points to engineering services. 6. The contract is not set aside for small businesses, nor does it indicate subcontracting plans.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of over $2 million for a 3-year period for engineering services appears reasonable. Without specific details on the scope of work, direct comparisons are challenging. However, the firm-fixed-price structure is generally favorable for the government, as it caps potential cost overruns. Benchmarking against similar engineering service contracts awarded by federal agencies would provide a clearer picture of value for money, but the initial award amount does not raise immediate red flags.

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 a bid. The number of bidders is not specified, but this method of procurement generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service offerings for the government. The agency likely sought to maximize competition to ensure the best value was obtained.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it typically drives down prices through market forces and encourages a wider range of innovative solutions, ultimately leading to more efficient use of public funds.

Public Impact

The U.S. Marshals Service will benefit from these engineering services, likely supporting their operational infrastructure. The services provided will contribute to the maintenance and potentially the upgrade of federal facilities or systems. The contract is geographically located in Virginia, impacting the local economy and workforce there. The nature of engineering services suggests a need for skilled professionals, potentially creating or sustaining jobs in specialized fields.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific details on the scope of work makes it difficult to fully assess the value and potential risks.
The BPA Call mechanism, while efficient, could potentially obscure the true cost-effectiveness if not managed carefully against the parent BPA.
No information is provided on small business participation, which could be a missed opportunity for economic inclusion.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust and fair bidding process.
Firm-fixed-price contract type transfers cost risk to the contractor, providing budget certainty.
The contract duration of over two years suggests a stable and predictable need for these services.

Sector Analysis

Engineering services, classified under NAICS code 541330, represent a significant sector within federal procurement. This industry encompasses a wide range of activities, from civil and mechanical engineering to specialized technical consulting. Federal agencies frequently contract for these services to support infrastructure projects, facility management, and complex system development. The market for federal engineering services is competitive, with numerous firms vying for contracts. Benchmarks for similar contracts vary widely based on specialization, duration, and complexity, but this award appears to be within a typical range for medium-term engineering support.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements. This means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific award are limited unless they are prime contractors who won the bid. The absence of small business set-asides or subcontracting plans suggests that the primary focus was on obtaining the most competitive offer from any responsible source, rather than specifically promoting small business engagement for this particular procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the U.S. Marshals Service, the end-user agency. Contract performance will be monitored through regular reporting, milestone reviews, and adherence to the firm-fixed-price terms. Accountability is ensured by the contract's deliverables and the potential for penalties or remedies if performance standards are not met. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, allowing for general oversight, though specific performance details may be internal.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice Facilities Management Contracts
U.S. Marshals Service Operational Support
Federal Engineering Services Procurement
Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call Awards

Risk Flags

Undefined Scope of Work
Potential for Change Orders
Contractor Performance Risk

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $2.0 million to M. C. DEAN, INC.. NEW TO

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is M. C. DEAN, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (U.S. Marshals Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-04-18. End: 2026-08-12.

What is the specific scope of engineering services required under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'Engineering Services' under NAICS code 541330. However, the specific scope of work is not detailed. This typically includes a range of activities such as design, consultation, analysis, and potentially project management related to various engineering disciplines. For the U.S. Marshals Service, these services could pertain to facility engineering, security systems engineering, IT infrastructure support, or other operational needs. A detailed statement of work (SOW) within the contract documents would outline the precise tasks, deliverables, and performance standards expected from M.C. Dean, Inc.

How does the $2 million award compare to historical spending on similar engineering services by the U.S. Marshals Service?

To accurately compare this $2 million award to historical spending, one would need to analyze past contracts awarded by the U.S. Marshals Service for engineering services, specifically those with similar scopes of work and durations. The provided data does not include historical spending patterns. However, a $2 million contract over approximately 2.5 years (846 days) suggests an average annual value of roughly $800,000. This figure can be benchmarked against previous awards to determine if it represents an increase, decrease, or consistent level of investment in engineering support. Without that historical context, it's difficult to definitively assess value relative to past expenditures.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will M.C. Dean, Inc.'s performance be measured?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for engineering services contracts, KPIs would be defined in the Statement of Work (SOW) and could include metrics such as on-time delivery of reports or designs, adherence to budget (though less critical for FFP), quality of work (e.g., error rates, compliance with standards), responsiveness to requests, and overall client satisfaction. Performance measurement would likely involve regular progress reviews between the U.S. Marshals Service contracting officer's representative (COR) and the contractor, assessment of deliverables against the SOW, and potentially formal performance evaluations at contract milestones or upon completion.

What is M.C. Dean, Inc.'s track record with the Department of Justice and other federal agencies for similar engineering services?

M.C. Dean, Inc. is a large, established government contractor with a significant history of performing engineering and technical services for various federal agencies, including the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security. While specific contract details with the Department of Justice are not provided in the summary data, their extensive experience suggests a substantial track record. A deeper dive into contract databases like SAM.gov or FPDS would reveal the full extent of their past performance, including contract values, agencies served, and performance ratings, which would provide a comprehensive view of their reliability and capability in delivering engineering solutions.

Are there any identified risks associated with this contract, such as potential cost overruns or performance failures, given the firm-fixed-price structure?

The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract structure inherently shifts the risk of cost overruns to the contractor, M.C. Dean, Inc. This is generally a positive for the government, as it provides budget certainty. However, risks can still arise. If the scope of work is not clearly defined, the contractor may face unexpected challenges leading to performance issues or requests for change orders, which could increase costs. Performance failures are always a risk, regardless of contract type, and could stem from inadequate staffing, technical difficulties, or project mismanagement. The government's risk mitigation strategy would involve robust oversight, clear communication, and diligent monitoring of performance against the contract's requirements.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: ALARM, SIGNAL, SECURITY DETECTION

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: 1765 GREENSBORO STATION PL, TYSONS, VA, 22102

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,043,163

Exercised Options: $2,043,163

Current Obligation: $2,043,163

Actual Outlays: $1,021,581

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15M20019AA32NP01D

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline