Energy Technology Alliance LLC awarded $5.4M for Wind Energy SETS, with 98.6% of contract value potentially flowing to small businesses
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $5,394,983 ($5.4M)
Contractor: Energy Technology Alliance LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2023-10-31
End Date: 2025-04-30
Contract Duration: 547 days
Daily Burn Rate: $9.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Energy
Official Description: SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT (SETS) FOR WIND ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20024
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $5.4 million to ENERGY TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE LLC for work described as: SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT (SETS) FOR WIND ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE. Key points: 1. Contract provides scientific, engineering, and technical support for wind energy technologies. 2. Significant portion of contract value is earmarked for small business participation. 3. Contract duration extends over 1.5 years, indicating a medium-term support need. 4. Awarded via a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call, suggesting an existing framework agreement. 5. Time and Materials pricing structure allows for flexibility but requires careful monitoring. 6. The contract is for Remediation Services, a specific niche within technical support. 7. Geographic focus is Washington D.C.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $5.4 million for scientific, engineering, and technical support (SETS) for wind energy technologies appears reasonable given the scope and duration. Benchmarking against similar SETS contracts is challenging without more specific service details, but the focus on a specialized area like wind energy suggests a potentially higher value per unit of expertise. The Time and Materials (T&M) pricing model, while flexible, necessitates diligent oversight to ensure costs remain within expected parameters and do not escalate beyond market rates for specialized technical services.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific details on the number of bidders are not provided, but the full and open nature suggests a competitive process that should drive fair pricing. The use of a BPA Call implies that a broader contract vehicle was already established and competed, with this call representing a specific task order under that vehicle.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to more cost-effective solutions and prevent price gouging.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office, which receives critical technical support. Services delivered include scientific, engineering, and technical support essential for advancing wind energy research and development. The geographic impact is centered in Washington D.C., where the services are likely to be performed or managed. Workforce implications may include the employment of specialized engineers, scientists, and technical professionals.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to the Time and Materials pricing structure if not closely monitored.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical technical support could pose a risk if performance issues arise.
- The specific nature of 'Remediation Services' may require specialized expertise that could be difficult to source quickly if needed.
- Limited transparency on the number of bidders in the full and open competition.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
- Significant potential for small business participation (98.6% of value) supports small business ecosystem growth.
- Contract duration of over 1.5 years provides stability for the contractor and consistent support for the agency.
- Focus on a critical sector (wind energy) aligns with national energy goals.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Scientific, Engineering, and Technical Support (SETS) sector, specifically supporting the burgeoning field of wind energy technologies. The market for SETS is diverse, encompassing a wide range of specialized expertise. Within the energy sector, there is a growing demand for technical support related to renewable energy development, grid integration, and environmental remediation. Comparable spending benchmarks for SETS contracts can vary widely based on specialization, duration, and agency, but contracts supporting advanced technology development often command higher values due to the specialized knowledge required.
Small Business Impact
While the contract itself is not a small business set-aside, it has a remarkable 98.6% subcontracting goal, indicating a strong intention to flow down a significant portion of the work to small businesses. This approach is highly beneficial for the small business ecosystem, providing them with opportunities to engage in complex government projects and build their capabilities. It suggests that the prime contractor, Energy Technology Alliance LLC, is committed to leveraging the expertise of smaller firms, potentially fostering innovation and competition within the small business sector.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract will primarily reside with the Department of Energy, likely through the contracting officer and technical points of contact. The Time and Materials pricing structure necessitates robust oversight to ensure that labor hours and material costs are reasonable and allocable to the contract's objectives. Transparency is facilitated by the contract being publicly awarded, but detailed performance metrics and cost breakdowns would typically be available through agency reporting mechanisms. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- Wind Energy Technologies Office Programs
- Department of Energy Research and Development Contracts
- Scientific and Engineering Support Services
- Renewable Energy Technology Development
- Environmental Remediation Services
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to T&M pricing.
- Reliance on subcontracting for a very high percentage of work.
- Specificity of 'Remediation Services' requires clear definition and oversight.
Tags
energy, department-of-energy, washington-dc, time-and-materials, full-and-open-competition, scientific-engineering-technical-support, wind-energy, remediation-services, small-business-subcontracting, bpa-call
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $5.4 million to ENERGY TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE LLC. SCIENTIFIC, ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT (SETS) FOR WIND ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES OFFICE.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ENERGY TECHNOLOGY ALLIANCE LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $5.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-10-31. End: 2025-04-30.
What is the specific nature of the 'Remediation Services' being provided under this contract?
The contract specifies 'Remediation Services' within the context of Scientific, Engineering, and Technical Support (SETS) for the Wind Energy Technologies Office. While the exact nature of these services is not detailed in the provided data, it likely pertains to addressing environmental or technical issues that may arise during the development, deployment, or decommissioning of wind energy technologies. This could include site assessment, cleanup of contaminated areas related to wind farm infrastructure, or technical solutions for resolving operational challenges that require remediation. Further clarification from the contracting agency would be needed to ascertain the precise scope of these remediation activities.
How does the $5.4 million contract value compare to similar SETS contracts for wind energy technologies?
Directly comparing the $5.4 million contract value to similar SETS contracts for wind energy technologies is challenging without access to a comprehensive database of comparable awards and their specific scopes of work. However, for a duration of approximately 1.5 years and encompassing specialized scientific, engineering, and technical support, this value appears to be within a reasonable range, particularly if it involves complex research, development, or problem-solving. The significant subcontracting goal for small businesses (98.6%) also suggests that the prime contractor is leveraging a network of specialized providers, which can influence overall contract value and structure. Benchmarking would ideally involve looking at contracts with similar technical requirements, agency, and duration.
What are the primary risks associated with the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure for this contract?
The primary risk associated with the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure for this contract is the potential for cost overruns if not managed diligently. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts pay the contractor for the actual time spent and materials used. This can lead to unpredictable costs for the government if the project scope expands, timelines are extended, or if the contractor is not efficient. For the Department of Energy, this necessitates robust oversight, including detailed tracking of labor hours, verification of material costs, and regular performance reviews to ensure that the work is progressing efficiently and that costs remain reasonable and within the anticipated budget. Without strong controls, T&M can be more expensive than other contract types.
What is the significance of the 98.6% small business subcontracting goal?
The 98.6% small business subcontracting goal is highly significant as it indicates a deliberate strategy to maximize the involvement of small businesses in fulfilling the contract's requirements. This is substantially higher than typical subcontracting goals and suggests that the prime contractor, Energy Technology Alliance LLC, intends to rely heavily on the specialized capabilities of small businesses. For the small business ecosystem, this presents a substantial opportunity for revenue, growth, and development. It also implies that the prime contractor has identified specific tasks within the SETS for wind energy that are well-suited for small business performance, potentially fostering innovation and competition among these smaller entities.
What are the potential performance implications of awarding this contract via a BPA Call?
Awarding this contract via a BPA Call suggests that a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) was previously established and competed, likely with a broader scope of services. Using a BPA Call for this specific task order can streamline the acquisition process, potentially leading to faster award times compared to a full and open competition for a new contract. From a performance perspective, it implies that the framework for the BPA was designed to accommodate such task orders. However, the performance quality will ultimately depend on the specific capabilities of Energy Technology Alliance LLC, the clarity of the task requirements within the BPA Call, and the ongoing oversight provided by the Department of Energy. The existence of a pre-competed BPA vehicle may also indicate a level of familiarity and trust between the agency and the BPA holder.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Remediation and Other Waste Management Services › Remediation 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
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 920 NW BOND ST STE 204, BEND, OR, 97703
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Joint Venture Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Joint Venture Women Owned Small Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $5,394,983
Exercised Options: $5,394,983
Current Obligation: $5,394,983
Actual Outlays: $5,394,983
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 89243423AEE000008
IDV Type: BPA
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-10-31
Current End Date: 2025-04-30
Potential End Date: 2025-10-23 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-04
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