DHS FEMA awards $227K BPA Call to AECOM for engineering services supporting consolidated resource centers

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,269,818 ($2.3M)

Contractor: AECOM Technical Services, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2024-12-05

End Date: 2025-03-04

Contract Duration: 89 days

Daily Burn Rate: $25.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THE PURPOSE OF THIS BPA CALL IS TO OBTAIN SERVICES FOR THE COMPLETED LANES PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF ALL CONSOLIDATED RESOURCE CENTERS. ALL WORK SHALL BE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATEMENT OF WORK. CLAUSES FROM THE BASE BPA FLOW DOWN TO THIS CAL

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20472

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $2.3 million to AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. for work described as: THE PURPOSE OF THIS BPA CALL IS TO OBTAIN SERVICES FOR THE COMPLETED LANES PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF ALL CONSOLIDATED RESOURCE CENTERS. ALL WORK SHALL BE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATEMENT OF WORK. CLAUSES FROM THE BASE BPA FLOW DOWN TO THIS CAL Key points: 1. Contract awarded under a pre-existing Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call, indicating a streamlined procurement process. 2. The contract is for engineering services, aligning with the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541330. 3. A firm-fixed-price contract type suggests that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns. 4. The contract duration is relatively short at 89 days, implying a focused scope of work. 5. The award was made through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 6. The work is to be performed in Washington D.C.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $226,981 is relatively small, making direct comparisons to larger contracts difficult. However, as a BPA Call, it leverages an existing agreement, which can imply pre-negotiated rates. Without access to the base BPA's pricing structure or other comparable BPA Calls for similar engineering services, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The firm-fixed-price nature provides cost certainty for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This BPA Call was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit an offer. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a competitive environment was sought. This approach generally aims to ensure fair pricing and access to the best available services.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it promotes a level playing field, potentially leading to more competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified contractors.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), who will receive engineering services. The services delivered will support the completed lanes projects for consolidated resource centers. The geographic impact is localized to Washington D.C., where the work will be performed. The contract supports the engineering services sector workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited transparency on the number of bidders for this specific BPA Call.
Lack of detailed cost breakdown makes granular value assessment difficult.
Short contract duration may indicate a need for follow-on work or a specific, time-bound project phase.

Positive Signals

Awarded under a pre-established BPA, suggesting efficient procurement.
Firm-fixed-price contract type offers cost predictability.
Full and open competition promotes a competitive market.

Sector Analysis

Engineering services, categorized under NAICS code 541330, represent a significant sector within federal contracting. This contract falls within the broader professional services category. Federal spending in engineering services often supports infrastructure, facility management, and technical consulting across various agencies. Benchmarking this specific award requires comparison against other engineering service contracts of similar scope and duration, which are typically awarded through competitive processes.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside for this BPA Call. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from this particular award. The focus was on full and open competition.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this BPA Call would typically fall under the contracting officer and program managers within FEMA. As it's a call against an existing BPA, the foundational BPA likely has established oversight mechanisms. Transparency is moderate, with the award details available, but deeper insights into performance and cost management would require access to internal agency reporting and the base BPA's terms.

Related Government Programs

FEMA Disaster Recovery Support
DHS Facilities Management
Engineering Consulting Services
Blanket Purchase Agreements (BPAs)

Risk Flags

Short contract duration may indicate a need for follow-on work.
Limited detail on specific deliverables and performance metrics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $2.3 million to AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.. THE PURPOSE OF THIS BPA CALL IS TO OBTAIN SERVICES FOR THE COMPLETED LANES PROJECTS IN SUPPORT OF ALL CONSOLIDATED RESOURCE CENTERS. ALL WORK SHALL BE PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE STATEMENT OF WORK. CLAUSES FROM THE BASE BPA FLOW DOWN TO THIS CAL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Federal Emergency Management Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-12-05. End: 2025-03-04.

What is the track record of AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. with FEMA and DHS?

AECOM Technical Services, Inc. has a significant history of contracting with various U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its components like the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Their contract portfolio often includes large-scale engineering, construction management, and technical support services. For FEMA, AECOM has been involved in disaster response and recovery efforts, providing critical engineering assessments and support. Their extensive experience suggests a capacity to handle complex projects, though specific performance metrics for individual contracts would require deeper analysis of past performance evaluations and contract close-out reports. The award of this BPA Call indicates continued confidence from FEMA in AECOM's capabilities for engineering services.

How does the $226,981 value compare to similar engineering service contracts awarded by FEMA?

The $226,981 value for this BPA Call is relatively modest when compared to the vast majority of large-scale engineering contracts FEMA might award, particularly those related to major disaster recovery or infrastructure projects. FEMA often engages in multi-million dollar contracts for engineering support during significant events. This specific award, being a BPA Call for 'completed lanes projects' and 'consolidated resource centers,' suggests a more focused, perhaps localized or specialized, engineering task. While direct comparisons are difficult without knowing the exact scope and deliverables, this value is more in line with smaller, task-specific engineering consulting engagements rather than comprehensive program support.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract?

The primary risks associated with this contract are relatively low due to its short duration (89 days) and firm-fixed-price nature. However, potential risks include scope creep if the 'completed lanes projects' or 'consolidated resource centers' requirements are not clearly defined and managed. There's also a risk of performance issues if AECOM's resources are overstretched or if unforeseen technical challenges arise that were not adequately accounted for in the initial planning. Given the small value, the risk of significant financial impact to the government is minimal, but delays or subpar quality could still impact the operational readiness of the resource centers.

How effective are BPA Calls in ensuring value for money for engineering services?

BPA Calls can be effective in ensuring value for money for engineering services, particularly when the underlying BPA has been competitively established with favorable rates and terms. They streamline the procurement process, reducing administrative costs and lead times. For recurring needs or well-defined services, a pre-negotiated BPA can offer better pricing than ad-hoc contract actions. However, the value is highly dependent on the initial competition for the base BPA and the specific task order's scope. If the base BPA rates are not competitive or if the task order scope is poorly defined, value for money may be compromised. This specific BPA Call, awarded under full and open competition, suggests an intent to secure competitive pricing for the defined task.

What is the historical spending trend for engineering services by FEMA?

FEMA's historical spending on engineering services fluctuates significantly based on the frequency and severity of natural disasters and the agency's ongoing infrastructure and resilience projects. In years with major disaster declarations, spending on engineering support for damage assessment, recovery planning, and rebuilding efforts can surge into the hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. Outside of major disaster periods, FEMA maintains a steady expenditure on engineering services for facility management, program support, and mitigation initiatives. The specific NAICS code 541330 (Engineering Services) captures a broad range of activities, and FEMA utilizes these services across various programs, including preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation.

Industry Classification

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

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

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 300 S GRAND AVE FL 9, 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: $2,269,818

Exercised Options: $2,269,818

Current Obligation: $2,269,818

Actual Outlays: $813,022

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 13

Total Subaward Amount: $1,724,936

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70FB8022A00000004

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline