NSF Awards $8.7M Contract to TJFACT, LLC for Nanotechnology Coordination Office Support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $8,728,306 ($8.7M)

Contractor: Totally Joined for Achieving Collaborative Techniques (tjfact), LLC

Awarding Agency: National Science Foundation

Start Date: 2023-04-01

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY COORDINATION OFFICE SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: ALEXANDRIA, ALEXANDRIA CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22314

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Science Foundation obligated $8.7 million to TOTALLY JOINED FOR ACHIEVING COLLABORATIVE TECHNIQUES (TJFACT), LLC for work described as: NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY COORDINATION OFFICE SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to TJFACT, LLC for administrative and management consulting services. 2. The contract has a duration of 1460 days, ending March 31, 2027. 3. Full and open competition was utilized for this award. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 541611.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract is a Time and Materials (T&M) type, which can lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. The awarded amount is $8.7M, but the final cost will depend on actual hours and rates. Benchmarking T&M contracts for similar services is difficult without more specific data.

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 generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more favorable pricing for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is intended to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently by fostering a competitive environment for contract awards.

Public Impact

Supports the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office, crucial for advancing nanotechnology research. The contract duration of nearly four years provides stability for ongoing support services. Funding for this contract comes from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost overruns if not closely monitored.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess value for money.
Small business participation is not indicated, potentially missing opportunities for smaller firms.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
Contract supports a critical national research coordination office.
Long-term contract provides continuity of essential services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under administrative management and general management consulting services. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on agency needs, but consistent support for research coordination offices is typical for agencies like the NSF.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false, sb: false). There is no specific mention of small business subcontracting goals or participation in the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the contracting agency, responsible for oversight. The contract type (Delivery Order) suggests it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, which may have its own oversight mechanisms.

Related Government Programs

Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services
National Science Foundation Contracting
National Science Foundation Programs

Risk Flags

Time and Materials contract type.
Lack of detailed performance metrics.
No indication of small business participation.
Limited insight into specific value-added services beyond administration.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Science Foundation awarded $8.7 million to TOTALLY JOINED FOR ACHIEVING COLLABORATIVE TECHNIQUES (TJFACT), LLC. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY COORDINATION OFFICE SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TOTALLY JOINED FOR ACHIEVING COLLABORATIVE TECHNIQUES (TJFACT), LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: National Science Foundation (National Science Foundation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $8.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.

What specific deliverables and performance metrics are included in the contract to ensure the effective support of the National Nanotechnology Coordination Office?

The provided data does not detail specific deliverables or performance metrics. Effective support would typically involve timely reporting, coordination of meetings, dissemination of information, and support for strategic planning activities. Without these details, assessing the effectiveness of the support is challenging.

How does the Time and Materials pricing structure compare to fixed-price or labor-hour contracts for similar management consulting services, and what are the associated risks?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts offer flexibility but carry a higher risk of cost overruns if not managed diligently, as the government pays for actual labor hours and material costs. Fixed-price contracts offer cost certainty but less flexibility, while labor-hour contracts are similar to T&M but often have capped hours. The risk with T&M is ensuring the contractor's efficiency and necessity of hours billed.

What is the projected impact of this contract on the advancement of nanotechnology research and development in the US, beyond administrative support?

While the contract focuses on administrative and management support for the NNCO, effective coordination can indirectly accelerate R&D by facilitating collaboration, information sharing, and strategic alignment among researchers and institutions. The true impact hinges on the quality of the support provided and the NNCO's ability to leverage that support for its core mission.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 235 PEACHTREE ST NE STE 2400, ATLANTA, GA, 30303

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,189,197

Exercised Options: $10,736,375

Current Obligation: $8,728,306

Actual Outlays: $6,076,508

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA18D00BU

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline