Treasury's Bureau of Engraving and Printing awards $547K for spectrometer maintenance to PerkinElmer

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $54,755 ($54.8K)

Contractor: Perkinelmer U.S. LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of the Treasury

Start Date: 2025-03-29

End Date: 2027-03-28

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $75/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND CALIBRATION OF SPECTROMETERS AND ACCESSORIES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20228

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Treasury obligated $54,755.34 to PERKINELMER U.S. LLC for work described as: PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND CALIBRATION OF SPECTROMETERS AND ACCESSORIES Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for specialized equipment maintenance over a two-year period. 2. Sole-source award limits price discovery and potential for competitive savings. 3. Reliance on a single vendor for critical equipment maintenance poses a potential risk. 4. Maintenance ensures operational continuity for essential scientific instruments. 5. This contract falls within the broader category of electronic and precision equipment repair. 6. The contract is a firm-fixed-price purchase order, providing cost certainty.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $547,553.34 for two years of preventative maintenance and calibration for spectrometers seems within a reasonable range for specialized equipment. However, without specific details on the number and type of spectrometers, or the scope of services included, a precise value-for-money assessment is difficult. Benchmarking against similar contracts for PerkinElmer equipment or comparable manufacturers would be necessary for a more robust evaluation. The firm-fixed-price nature offers cost predictability.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed under simplified acquisition procedures, indicating a sole-source award. This means only one vendor, PerkinElmer U.S. LLC, was solicited. The lack of competition limits the government's ability to explore alternative pricing or service providers, potentially leading to higher costs than if multiple bids were considered. The justification for a sole-source award is not provided but is typically based on unique capabilities or proprietary technology.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards mean taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible price due to the absence of competitive bidding. This can result in higher overall government spending for essential services.

Public Impact

The Bureau of Engraving and Printing benefits from ensured operational readiness of its scientific instruments. Services include preventative maintenance and calibration, crucial for accurate scientific measurements. The contract's geographic impact is limited to the District of Columbia, where the Bureau is located. The contract supports specialized technical roles related to equipment maintenance and calibration.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing and potential cost savings for taxpayers.
Lack of competition may indicate a lack of market availability or a reliance on proprietary technology.
Potential for vendor lock-in if PerkinElmer is the sole provider of necessary parts or expertise.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for budgeting.
Maintenance ensures the reliability and accuracy of critical scientific equipment.
Contract duration of two years allows for stable planning of essential services.

Sector Analysis

The market for scientific instrument maintenance and calibration is specialized, often dominated by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) like PerkinElmer. This contract falls under the broader electronic and precision equipment repair and maintenance sector (NAICS 811210). While specific market size data for spectrometer maintenance is not readily available, the overall repair and maintenance industry is substantial. This contract represents a small but critical component of the Bureau of Engraving and Printing's operational infrastructure, ensuring the functionality of its analytical and measurement tools.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded to PerkinElmer U.S. LLC and does not appear to have a small business set-aside. There is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal for this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

As a purchase order, oversight would typically be managed by the contracting officer and relevant program managers within the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature and lack of publicly available justification. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule Contracts
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Equipment Maintenance Contracts
Department of Energy (DOE) Scientific Equipment Support

Risk Flags

Sole-source award may limit cost-effectiveness.
Lack of competition could indicate market limitations or vendor dependency.
Performance metrics and SLAs not detailed, impacting oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Treasury awarded $54,755.34 to PERKINELMER U.S. LLC. PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE AND CALIBRATION OF SPECTROMETERS AND ACCESSORIES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PERKINELMER U.S. LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Treasury (Bureau of Engraving and Printing).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $54,755.34.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-03-29. End: 2027-03-28.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis to PerkinElmer U.S. LLC?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP,' which typically implies a sole-source award. The specific justification for this sole-source determination is not included in the data. Common reasons for sole-source awards include the unique capability or proprietary nature of the product or service offered by a single vendor, urgent and compelling needs where competition is not feasible, or when only one responsible source exists. Without further documentation, it's impossible to ascertain the exact rationale, but it suggests that PerkinElmer may be the only entity capable of providing the required maintenance and calibration for the specific spectrometers used by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

How does the $547,553.34 contract value compare to historical spending on similar maintenance services by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for spectrometer maintenance at the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. To perform this comparison, one would need to access historical contract databases or agency procurement records to identify previous awards for similar services, potentially from the same vendor or competitors. Analyzing past expenditures would help determine if the current contract represents an increase, decrease, or stable cost for these essential maintenance services over time. This context is crucial for assessing value for money and identifying potential cost efficiencies or escalations.

What are the specific types and quantities of spectrometers covered under this maintenance contract?

The provided data does not specify the exact types or quantities of spectrometers and accessories that are included in this preventative maintenance and calibration contract. The contract number and vendor name are given, along with the overall value and duration. To understand the scope and potentially benchmark the cost more accurately, details regarding the specific models of spectrometers, their age, and the number of units requiring service would be necessary. This information is critical for assessing whether the price is commensurate with the equipment being serviced and the complexity of the maintenance required.

What are the potential risks associated with relying on a sole-source provider for critical equipment maintenance?

Relying on a sole-source provider like PerkinElmer U.S. LLC for critical equipment maintenance carries several potential risks. Firstly, it eliminates competitive pressure, which can lead to higher prices and reduced incentives for the vendor to innovate or improve service quality. Secondly, it creates a dependency; if PerkinElmer experiences financial difficulties, supply chain issues, or decides to discontinue support for certain equipment, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing could face significant operational disruptions. Thirdly, the lack of competition may mean less flexibility in contract terms or service level agreements. Finally, it limits the government's ability to switch to potentially more cost-effective or technologically advanced solutions from other vendors in the future.

What performance standards or service level agreements (SLAs) are included in this contract to ensure effective maintenance?

The provided data for this contract does not include details on specific performance standards or service level agreements (SLAs). While it is a firm-fixed-price purchase order for preventative maintenance and calibration, the metrics for success, response times for service calls, calibration accuracy requirements, or penalties for non-performance are not specified. Effective oversight would require clearly defined SLAs and mechanisms to track the vendor's adherence to them. Without this information, assessing the contractor's performance and the overall effectiveness of the maintenance program is challenging.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Other Services (except Public Administration) › Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance › Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 710 BRIDGEPORT AVE, SHELTON, CT, 06484

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $77,195

Exercised Options: $54,755

Current Obligation: $54,755

Actual Outlays: $33,587

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline