DOT awards $349K contract for lidar data analysis to improve plume rise algorithm validation

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $34,944 ($34.9K)

Contractor: AECOM Technical Services, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2026-04-01

End Date: 2026-12-31

Contract Duration: 274 days

Daily Burn Rate: $128/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROVIDE EXPERTISE IN ANALYZING LIDAR DATA LAX, ATL, AND DEN TO DEVELOP A SERIES OF PARAMETERS NECESSARY FOR THE VALIDATION OF A REVISED PLUME RISE ALGORITHM.

Place of Performance

Location: LOS ANGELES, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 90071

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $34,944 to AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. for work described as: PROVIDE EXPERTISE IN ANALYZING LIDAR DATA LAX, ATL, AND DEN TO DEVELOP A SERIES OF PARAMETERS NECESSARY FOR THE VALIDATION OF A REVISED PLUME RISE ALGORITHM. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on specialized environmental consulting for aviation safety. 2. AECOM Technical Services, Inc. selected for expertise in lidar data analysis. 3. The purchase order is for a fixed price, indicating defined scope and cost. 4. Project duration is 274 days, suggesting a focused, short-term engagement. 5. The contract is not competed under simplified acquisition procedures, raising questions about competition. 6. Geographic focus on California (st: CA) for this specific task.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $349,440 for environmental consulting services appears reasonable for a specialized task involving lidar data analysis and algorithm validation. Benchmarking against similar contracts for environmental consulting, particularly those involving complex data analysis and algorithm development, would provide a clearer picture of value for money. The fixed-price nature of the award suggests a defined scope, which can help control costs, but the lack of competitive bidding limits the ability to assess if the price is truly market-driven.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded as a sole-source purchase order, meaning it was not competed. The data indicates it was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), suggesting it may have been awarded without a broad solicitation. The lack of competition means there was no opportunity to solicit multiple bids, which could lead to higher prices and limit the government's ability to identify the most cost-effective solution or the contractor with the best technical approach at the lowest price.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition means taxpayers may not have received the benefit of a lower price that could have been achieved through a bidding process. Without a competitive environment, the government cannot be assured it secured the best possible value.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Transportation and potentially the aviation industry through improved safety algorithms. Services delivered include expert analysis of lidar data from specific airports (LAX, ATL, DEN) and parameter development. The geographic impact is localized to the specific airports where data was collected, but the algorithm improvements have broader national implications for aviation safety. The contract supports specialized technical expertise within the environmental consulting sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may result in a higher price than if multiple bids were solicited.
Limited transparency into the selection process due to sole-source award.
Potential for scope creep if the 'revised plume rise algorithm' requirements are not tightly managed.

Positive Signals

Awarded to a known entity (AECOM Technical Services, Inc.) with presumed expertise in the required field.
Fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Clear end date (December 31, 2026) and duration (274 days) for project management.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector, specifically focusing on specialized data analysis for aviation-related environmental modeling. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541620 confirms this. The market for such services is driven by regulatory requirements, technological advancements in data collection (like lidar), and the need for sophisticated modeling to ensure safety and environmental compliance in sectors like aviation. Comparable spending would involve contracts for environmental impact assessments, air quality modeling, and specialized scientific analysis for government agencies.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded to AECOM Technical Services, Inc. and there is no indication of a small business set-aside (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, this specific award does not directly benefit small businesses through set-aside provisions. However, as a large prime contractor, AECOM may engage small businesses as subcontractors, though this is not specified in the provided data. The impact on the broader small business ecosystem is likely minimal for this particular sole-source award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Transportation's Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation. As a purchase order, it is subject to standard procurement regulations and internal agency oversight. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award. Accountability would be managed through contract performance monitoring and adherence to the fixed-price agreement. Specific Inspector General jurisdiction would depend on the nature of any potential issues or fraud.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Consulting Services
Aviation Safety Programs
Lidar Data Analysis
Algorithm Development and Validation
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Research

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
Limited transparency in procurement process.
Potential for higher costs due to lack of competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $34,944 to AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.. PROVIDE EXPERTISE IN ANALYZING LIDAR DATA LAX, ATL, AND DEN TO DEVELOP A SERIES OF PARAMETERS NECESSARY FOR THE VALIDATION OF A REVISED PLUME RISE ALGORITHM.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Immediate Office of the Secretary of Transportation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $34,944.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2026-12-31.

What is AECOM Technical Services, Inc.'s track record with the Department of Transportation and similar federal agencies for environmental consulting and data analysis contracts?

AECOM Technical Services, Inc. has a significant history of performing federal contracts, including those with the Department of Transportation and other agencies requiring environmental consulting and technical services. While specific details of their past performance on lidar data analysis or plume rise algorithm validation are not provided here, their broad experience suggests a capacity to handle complex technical requirements. A deeper dive into their contract history, including past performance evaluations and any disputes or challenges, would be necessary to fully assess their suitability and reliability for this specific task. Their established presence in the federal contracting space indicates familiarity with government procurement processes and reporting requirements.

How does the $349,440 contract value compare to similar environmental consulting services for algorithm development and validation?

Benchmarking the $349,440 contract value requires comparing it to similar sole-source or competitively awarded contracts for specialized environmental consulting, particularly those involving advanced data analysis (like lidar) and the development or validation of complex algorithms. Without access to a comprehensive database of such contracts, a precise comparison is difficult. However, given the specialized nature of the work—requiring expertise in lidar data, plume rise modeling, and algorithm parameters—this value appears to be within a reasonable range for a focused, short-term project (274 days). The lack of competition, however, prevents a definitive assessment of whether this represents optimal value for money compared to what might have been achieved through a competitive bidding process.

What are the primary risks associated with this sole-source award, and how are they mitigated?

The primary risks associated with this sole-source award include potential overpricing due to the absence of competition, and a lack of assurance that the most technically capable or cost-effective solution was selected. There's also a risk that the government may not have access to the full range of innovative approaches available in the market. Mitigation strategies would typically involve rigorous internal review of the justification for sole-source procurement, thorough negotiation of the contract terms and price, and close project management to ensure the scope is adhered to and deliverables meet quality standards. The fixed-price nature of the award helps mitigate cost overrun risks, provided the scope is well-defined.

What is the expected effectiveness of the revised plume rise algorithm based on this analysis, and how will its success be measured?

The effectiveness of the revised plume rise algorithm is directly dependent on the quality and comprehensiveness of the lidar data analysis and parameter development performed under this contract. The contract aims to provide the necessary parameters for validation, implying that the analysis will yield insights into how the algorithm performs under various conditions, using real-world data. Success measurement would likely involve comparing the algorithm's predictions (using the new parameters) against observed phenomena or established benchmarks, assessing its accuracy, reliability, and applicability across different scenarios. The contract specifies the development of parameters for validation, suggesting that the direct output will be inputs for a subsequent evaluation phase, rather than the algorithm's final validated state itself.

What are the historical spending patterns for environmental consulting services related to aviation safety and algorithm development within the Department of Transportation?

Historical spending patterns for environmental consulting services related to aviation safety and algorithm development within the Department of Transportation can vary significantly based on agency priorities, technological advancements, and regulatory changes. While this specific $349,440 contract is a single data point, broader trends might show increased investment in data-driven solutions and advanced modeling to enhance safety and efficiency. Agencies like the FAA often fund research and development in areas such as air traffic management, weather impact analysis, and safety systems, which can include algorithm development. Analyzing past budgets and contract awards for similar services would reveal whether this contract represents a typical investment or a notable increase/decrease in spending for such specialized work.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Environmental Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS PROTECTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 6913G626Q300017

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 300 S GRAND AVE, LOS ANGELES, CA, 90071

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $34,944

Exercised Options: $34,944

Current Obligation: $34,944

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline