GSA awards $2.3M contract for R&D support services to Tecolote Research, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,338,291 ($2.3M)

Contractor: Tecolote Research, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2022-09-01

End Date: 2027-02-28

Contract Duration: 1,641 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: NSSI FINANCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, EL PASO County, COLORADO, 80914

State: Colorado Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $2.3 million to TECOLOTE RESEARCH, INC. for work described as: NSSI FINANCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract is for Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type aims to control costs for the government. 4. The contract duration is over 4 years, indicating a long-term need for these services. 5. The awardee, Tecolote Research, Inc., is a single entity, suggesting specialized capabilities. 6. The contract is a Delivery Order, likely part of a larger Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $2.34 million over approximately 4.5 years appears reasonable for specialized R&D support services. Benchmarking against similar contracts for R&D support is difficult without more specific service details. However, the firm fixed-price structure suggests an effort to ensure predictable costs. The contract's value is relatively modest in the context of overall federal R&D spending.

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 data does not specify the number of bidders, but this method generally fosters price discovery and encourages competitive pricing. The government likely received multiple proposals, allowing for selection of the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it typically leads to more competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified contractors, ensuring the government receives the best possible value for its investment.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely government agencies requiring specialized research and development support in physical, engineering, and life sciences. Services delivered will support the advancement of scientific and technological capabilities within the federal government. The geographic impact is primarily linked to the location of Tecolote Research, Inc. in Colorado, and potentially other locations where the R&D activities are conducted. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for scientists, engineers, and support staff at Tecolote Research, Inc.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if the R&D objectives are not clearly defined and managed.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical R&D support services could pose a risk if performance issues arise.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Long contract duration suggests a stable and ongoing need for the services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences (NAICS 541712). This sector is crucial for innovation and technological advancement across various government functions. Federal spending in R&D is substantial, supporting everything from basic scientific inquiry to applied engineering solutions. Contracts like this contribute to the broader ecosystem of scientific research and development providers.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from this specific award. The primary contractor, Tecolote Research, Inc., is likely a mid-to-large-sized business given the contract value and nature of services.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the awarding agency (General Services Administration, Federal Acquisition Service). The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of cost control. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases like FPDS. Specific Inspector General jurisdiction would depend on the ultimate agency utilizing the R&D support services.

Related Government Programs

Federal R&D Spending
Scientific and Technical Services
Engineering Services
Physical Sciences Research
Life Sciences Research

Risk Flags

Contract awarded to a single entity.
Potential for undefined scope in R&D services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $2.3 million to TECOLOTE RESEARCH, INC.. NSSI FINANCIAL SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TECOLOTE RESEARCH, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-09-01. End: 2027-02-28.

What is the track record of Tecolote Research, Inc. in performing similar R&D support services for the federal government?

Tecolote Research, Inc. has a history of performing various research and development support services for the federal government. While specific details on past performance for contracts identical to this one are not provided in the summary data, their presence as a recipient of federal contracts suggests experience in areas relevant to physical, engineering, and life sciences. Further investigation into their contract history, past performance reviews, and any reported issues would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment of their track record. The award of this contract, especially if through full and open competition, implies they met the government's requirements and demonstrated capability.

How does the value of this contract compare to similar R&D support service contracts awarded by the GSA or other agencies?

The contract value of approximately $2.34 million over 4.5 years translates to an average annual value of roughly $520,000. This is a moderate-sized contract within the federal R&D support services landscape. Larger contracts in this domain can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars, often supporting major research initiatives or extensive program management. Smaller contracts might focus on very specific, short-term research tasks. Without detailed service scope comparisons, it's challenging to definitively benchmark, but this award appears to be for specialized, focused support rather than broad, large-scale R&D efforts.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Key risks include potential performance issues if the contractor's capabilities do not fully align with the complex R&D needs, and the risk of cost overruns if the scope of work is not tightly managed, although the Firm Fixed Price (FFP) structure mitigates this. Another risk is the potential for contractor dependency. Mitigation strategies likely include robust performance monitoring by the GSA, clear definition of deliverables and milestones within the contract, and the competitive nature of the award process itself, which should have selected a capable vendor. The FFP contract type incentivizes the contractor to manage costs effectively.

How effective is the firm fixed-price contract type in ensuring value for money for this specific R&D support service?

The firm fixed-price (FFP) contract type is generally effective in ensuring value for money when the scope of work is well-defined and the risks of unforeseen costs are manageable. For R&D support services, FFP can provide significant cost certainty to the government, as the contractor assumes most of the risk for cost overruns. This incentivizes the contractor to be efficient and manage resources effectively. However, if the R&D objectives are highly uncertain or prone to significant changes, an FFP contract might lead the contractor to build in higher contingency costs, potentially increasing the price. The success of FFP here depends on the clarity and stability of the R&D tasks.

What are the historical spending patterns for R&D support services under the GSA's Federal Acquisition Service?

Historical spending patterns for R&D support services under GSA's Federal Acquisition Service (FAS) show a consistent demand for specialized expertise across various scientific and engineering disciplines. GSA FAS often acts as a procurement vehicle for other agencies, facilitating access to a wide range of professional services, including R&D support. Spending in this area can fluctuate based on agency priorities, congressional appropriations for research, and the overall economic climate. Analyzing past FAS spending trends would reveal which specific R&D sub-disciplines (e.g., engineering, physical sciences, life sciences) have seen the most investment and which contractors have been historically successful in securing these types of awards.

What is the significance of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541712 for this contract?

The NAICS code 541712, 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology),' is highly significant as it precisely defines the nature of the services being procured. This code indicates that the contract is for scientific research and experimental development work that advances knowledge in these specific fields. It distinguishes this contract from R&D in other areas, such as computer research (541715) or biotechnology (541713). Understanding this code helps in benchmarking the contract against spending in similar R&D categories and identifying the relevant industry sector and potential competitors.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 47QFAA22Q0010

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 420 S FAIRVIEW AVE, GOLETA, CA, 93117

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,787,846

Exercised Options: $2,338,291

Current Obligation: $2,338,291

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00F052CA

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline