NRC Awards $14.6M Contract for International Regulatory Assistance to Advanced Systems Technology & Management, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,604,482 ($14.6M)

Contractor: Advanced Systems Technology & Management, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Start Date: 2020-03-27

End Date: 2025-08-31

Contract Duration: 1,983 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ASSISTANCE

Place of Performance

Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Nuclear Regulatory Commission obligated $14.6 million to ADVANCED SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT, INC. for work described as: INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ASSISTANCE Key points: 1. Contract awarded for specialized engineering services in international regulatory assistance. 2. Advanced Systems Technology & Management, Inc. is the sole awardee. 3. The contract duration is over 5 years, indicating a long-term need. 4. The sector is primarily professional services, specifically engineering. 5. Potential risks include reliance on a single vendor for critical expertise.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's value of $14.6 million over approximately 5 years suggests a moderate level of spending for specialized services. Benchmarking against similar engineering services contracts would be necessary for a precise assessment, but the duration implies a significant, ongoing requirement.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' indicating a limited competition scenario. This method might impact price discovery by restricting the pool of potential bidders, potentially leading to higher costs than a truly open competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer impact is moderate, reflecting the cost of specialized engineering services for regulatory assistance. The effectiveness of these services in achieving regulatory goals will ultimately determine the value for taxpayers.

Public Impact

Ensures continued international regulatory support for nuclear safety. Supports U.S. influence in global nuclear regulatory standards. Provides specialized expertise that may not be readily available internally.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition may lead to suboptimal pricing.
Long contract duration increases risk of cost overruns or scope creep.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical international regulatory functions.

Positive Signals

Addresses a specific, critical need for international regulatory assistance.
Contractor possesses specialized expertise required for the task.
Clear end date provides a defined period for service delivery.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically engineering services. Spending in this area is often driven by specialized expertise and regulatory requirements, with benchmarks varying widely based on the complexity and duration of the services.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded to a small business. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. Oversight would focus on performance metrics, adherence to labor hours, and the successful delivery of international regulatory assistance as defined in the contract.

Related Government Programs

Engineering Services
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Contracting
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in due to specialized nature of services.
Risk of scope creep given the long contract duration.
Dependency on a single contractor for critical international relations.
Lack of small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Nuclear Regulatory Commission awarded $14.6 million to ADVANCED SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT, INC.. INTERNATIONAL REGULATORY ASSISTANCE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ADVANCED SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Nuclear Regulatory Commission).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-03-27. End: 2025-08-31.

What specific international regulatory assistance is being provided, and how does it align with the NRC's strategic goals?

The contract aims to provide specialized engineering services for international regulatory assistance. This likely involves supporting the NRC's mission to foster cooperation and share expertise with international partners on nuclear safety and security. The alignment with strategic goals would depend on the specific projects undertaken, such as harmonizing regulations, providing technical reviews, or assisting in capacity building for other nations' regulatory bodies.

What is the justification for limiting competition, and what steps were taken to ensure fair pricing?

The justification for limited competition, 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' suggests that while competition was sought, only specific sources met the stringent requirements. The NRC likely conducted market research to identify qualified contractors and may have used historical pricing data or independent cost estimates to validate the proposed price. However, the limited pool inherently reduces competitive pressure.

How will the effectiveness of the 'international regulatory assistance' be measured to ensure value for taxpayer money?

Effectiveness will likely be measured through performance metrics outlined in the contract's statement of work. These could include timely delivery of reports, successful completion of technical reviews, positive feedback from international partners, and adherence to agreed-upon regulatory standards. The NRC's program managers will be responsible for monitoring these metrics and ensuring the contractor's deliverables contribute to the agency's international engagement objectives.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 31310019R0054

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7925 JONES BRANCH DR STE 5400, MCLEAN, VA, 22102

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,726,107

Exercised Options: $14,726,107

Current Obligation: $14,604,482

Actual Outlays: $14,604,482

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline