HHS awards $366K for surveying services in New Mexico, with Precision Surveys Inc. as the contractor

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $36,658 ($36.7K)

Contractor: Precision Surveys Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Health and Human Services

Start Date: 2024-10-22

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 555 days

Daily Burn Rate: $66/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: AAO/OEHE LAND SURVEYING SERVICES.

Place of Performance

Location: ALBUQUERQUE, BERNALILLO County, NEW MEXICO, 87110

State: New Mexico Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Health and Human Services obligated $36,658.01 to PRECISION SURVEYS INC for work described as: AAO/OEHE LAND SURVEYING SERVICES. Key points: 1. The contract value of $366,580 appears reasonable for specialized surveying services. 2. Competition dynamics for this contract are unclear due to limited information on the bidding process. 3. Potential risks include the short performance period and the specific geographic focus. 4. The contract supports essential land surveying needs for the Indian Health Service. 5. This award falls within the broader professional services sector for government contracting.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $366,580 for surveying and mapping services over approximately 1.5 years seems aligned with industry standards for similar federal contracts. Benchmarking against other surveying contracts of comparable scope and duration would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, given the specialized nature of land surveying, particularly for federal agencies like the Indian Health Service, the price appears to be within a fair range, assuming the scope of work is adequately defined and executed.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

The contract was competed under SAP (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), which typically involves a less formal bidding process than full and open competition. The number of bidders and the specific solicitation method are not detailed, making it difficult to assess the level of competition. While SAP can lead to quicker awards, it may not always yield the most competitive pricing compared to broader solicitations.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of SAP suggests a streamlined process, but the limited transparency on competition means taxpayers may not be benefiting from the lowest possible price achievable through robust bidding.

Public Impact

The Indian Health Service benefits from accurate land surveying for its facilities and land management in New Mexico. Essential services include boundary determination, topographic mapping, and potentially site planning support. The geographic impact is focused on New Mexico, specifically areas managed or utilized by the IHS. The contract supports specialized technical workforce needs within the surveying and mapping industry.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed competition information hinders assessment of taxpayer value.
Short contract duration may limit long-term relationship building or comprehensive project execution.
Geographic concentration could be a risk if unforeseen issues arise outside the specified area.

Positive Signals

Award to a specific contractor suggests a need for their specialized expertise.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Contract supports a critical federal agency's operational needs.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically within surveying and mapping. This sector is crucial for government infrastructure, land management, and development projects. Federal spending in this area supports a wide range of activities, from environmental assessments to construction site preparation. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other federal contracts for similar surveying services across different agencies and geographic regions.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the direct impact on small business set-asides is minimal. However, the prime contractor, Precision Surveys Inc., may engage small businesses as subcontractors, contributing to the broader small business ecosystem. Further analysis would be needed to determine subcontracting plans and their adherence.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its Indian Health Service (IHS) component. Standard contract administration processes, performance reviews, and payment verification would be in place. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract databases like FPDS, though detailed operational oversight specifics are not provided in this data.

Related Government Programs

Federal Land Management Services
Geographic Information System (GIS) Services
Architectural and Engineering Services
Environmental Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Limited competition transparency
Short contract duration
Geographic concentration risk

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Health and Human Services awarded $36,658.01 to PRECISION SURVEYS INC. AAO/OEHE LAND SURVEYING SERVICES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PRECISION SURVEYS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Health and Human Services (Indian Health Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $36,658.01.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-10-22. End: 2026-04-30.

What is the track record of Precision Surveys Inc. with federal contracts?

Information regarding Precision Surveys Inc.'s specific track record with federal contracts is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive review would involve examining their past performance on similar government contracts, including client satisfaction, adherence to timelines and budgets, and any history of disputes or contract terminations. Analyzing their award history across different agencies and contract types would offer further insight into their capabilities and reliability as a federal contractor. Without this historical data, it is difficult to definitively assess their suitability beyond the current award.

How does the contract value compare to similar surveying contracts awarded by the IHS or other federal agencies?

Benchmarking this $366,580 contract against similar surveying contracts requires access to a broader dataset of federal procurements. Factors such as the specific scope of work (e.g., boundary surveys, topographic mapping, site assessments), geographic location, contract duration, and complexity of the terrain significantly influence pricing. While the value appears reasonable for a contract of approximately 1.5 years, a detailed comparison with contracts for similar services in New Mexico or for other IHS facilities would be necessary to confirm if it represents excellent, good, or fair value for money. The current data lacks sufficient comparative context for a definitive assessment.

What are the primary risks associated with this specific contract?

Key risks for this contract include the relatively short performance period (555 days), which might limit the scope or depth of surveying achievable, and the concentrated geographic focus on New Mexico. If unforeseen complexities arise in the surveyed areas or if the scope needs to expand significantly, the current contract structure might not adequately accommodate these changes without modifications or additional funding. Furthermore, the limited information on the competition process raises a potential risk of suboptimal pricing if the procurement did not achieve maximum price competition.

How effective is the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) process for ensuring competitive pricing in surveying services?

Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) are designed for procurements under $250,000 (or higher thresholds for certain categories), aiming for efficiency and speed. While SAP can be effective for smaller, straightforward purchases, its effectiveness in ensuring maximum price competition for specialized services like surveying can be variable. The process often involves fewer bidders and less formal solicitation requirements compared to full and open competition. This can lead to quicker awards but may not always drive prices down to the lowest possible level. For surveying services, where technical expertise and specific equipment are crucial, the quality of competition under SAP depends heavily on how well the solicitation reaches potential qualified bidders and encourages robust responses.

What is the historical spending trend for surveying and mapping services by the Indian Health Service?

Analyzing the historical spending trends for surveying and mapping services by the Indian Health Service (IHS) would require accessing historical contract data over several fiscal years. This would involve identifying all contracts awarded by IHS for NAICS code 541370 (Surveying and Mapping Services) and similar codes. Examining this data could reveal patterns in contract values, types of services procured, geographic distribution of awards, and the primary contractors utilized. Such an analysis could indicate whether spending on these services has been increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, and whether this specific award aligns with historical patterns or represents a deviation.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 9200 SAN MATEO BLVD NE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 87113

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $36,658

Exercised Options: $36,658

Current Obligation: $36,658

Actual Outlays: $33,174

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 75H70724D00005

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline