DOE awards $37K for antenna replacements, highlighting potential for cost efficiencies in IT hardware
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $37,290 ($37.3K)
Contractor: Tribalco LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2023-02-07
End Date: 2023-05-11
Contract Duration: 93 days
Daily Burn Rate: $401/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: AVIAT ANTENNA REPLACEMENTS
Place of Performance
Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20814
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $37,290.12 to TRIBALCO LLC for work described as: AVIAT ANTENNA REPLACEMENTS Key points: 1. Contract value is relatively small, suggesting a focused need for specific hardware. 2. Full and open competition indicates a healthy market for these services. 3. Fixed-price contract type helps mitigate cost overrun risks. 4. Short duration suggests a tactical, short-term requirement. 5. Contractor has a single award, indicating limited prior federal experience. 6. No small business set-aside was used, potentially limiting opportunities for smaller firms.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $37,290.12 is modest, making direct comparison to larger IT hardware contracts difficult. However, the firm fixed-price nature suggests that the government secured a defined cost for the antenna replacements. Without specific unit pricing or a detailed scope of work, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the competitive award process likely contributed to a fair market price.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The presence of two bidders suggests a degree of competition for this specific requirement. While two bidders is better than one, a higher number of offers would typically provide stronger price discovery and potentially more competitive pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition process ensures that taxpayer dollars are likely being used efficiently by allowing multiple vendors to bid, driving down costs through market forces.
Public Impact
The Department of Energy benefits from updated or replaced antenna systems, crucial for its IT infrastructure. This contract supports the operational continuity of specific DOE facilities. The primary service delivered is the provision and potential installation of antenna hardware. The geographic impact is localized to the facility where the antennas are deployed in Maryland.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited contractor history with only one prior award could indicate a higher risk of performance issues.
- The small contract value might not attract the most competitive bids if larger firms perceive it as too small to pursue.
Positive Signals
- Firm fixed-price contract protects against cost overruns.
- Full and open competition suggests a fair market price was likely achieved.
- Short contract duration minimizes long-term commitment risk.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the broader IT hardware and services sector, specifically related to telecommunications and networking equipment. The market for antenna replacements is diverse, with numerous manufacturers and service providers. The spending benchmark for such items can vary widely based on antenna type, quantity, and installation complexity. This specific award is a small transaction within the vast federal IT procurement landscape.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, and the prime contractor, TRIBALCO LLC, is not listed as a small business for this award. There is no indication of subcontracting requirements in the provided data, suggesting limited direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular transaction.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, implying that the underlying contract has undergone its own review and oversight. The firm fixed-price nature provides a degree of financial oversight by locking in costs. Transparency is facilitated by the public availability of contract award data, allowing for scrutiny of the procurement process.
Related Government Programs
- Federal IT Hardware Procurement
- Department of Energy IT Services
- Telecommunications Equipment Contracts
Risk Flags
- Limited Contractor Performance History
- Potential for Market Concentration (Low Bidder Count)
Tags
it, department-of-energy, maryland, delivery-order, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, computer-related-services, telecommunications-equipment, small-contract-value
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $37,290.12 to TRIBALCO LLC. AVIAT ANTENNA REPLACEMENTS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is TRIBALCO LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $37,290.12.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-02-07. End: 2023-05-11.
What is the track record of TRIBALCO LLC with federal contracts?
TRIBALCO LLC has a limited federal contracting history based on the provided data, with this award being their only recorded federal contract. This single award suggests that the company may be relatively new to federal contracting or has focused on a niche area. Further investigation into other contract vehicles or databases would be necessary to ascertain a more comprehensive track record, including past performance ratings, types of services rendered, and overall value of previous awards. A limited history can sometimes correlate with higher performance risks, as there is less documented evidence of successful project completion and adherence to federal regulations and timelines.
How does the value of this contract compare to similar antenna replacement contracts?
The contract value of $37,290.12 for antenna replacements is relatively small, making direct comparisons to larger, more complex IT hardware procurements challenging. Similar contracts could range from a few thousand dollars for basic replacements to hundreds of thousands or even millions for large-scale system upgrades or installations across multiple facilities. The specific type of antenna, its technical specifications, and whether installation services are included significantly influence cost. Given the modest value and the firm fixed-price structure, this award appears to address a specific, localized need rather than a broad infrastructure overhaul.
What are the primary risks associated with this contract?
The primary risks associated with this contract are relatively low due to its small value and fixed-price nature. However, potential risks include performance risk if TRIBALCO LLC lacks sufficient experience with the specific antenna technology or federal deployment standards, leading to delays or subpar installation. There's also a minor risk of obsolescence if the chosen antennas are not future-proofed for evolving communication needs. Given the short duration (93 days), schedule risk is also present, though manageable. The limited competition (two bidders) could also imply a risk of not achieving the absolute lowest possible price, although the full and open competition mitigates this significantly.
How effective is full and open competition for IT hardware of this nature?
Full and open competition is generally highly effective for IT hardware procurements, including antenna replacements, as it maximizes the pool of potential suppliers and encourages competitive pricing. For a contract of this size, it ensures that various vendors, from specialized suppliers to larger distributors, can bid, leading to a fair market price. The presence of two bidders in this instance indicates that competition was present, contributing to price discovery. However, the effectiveness is amplified when more bidders participate, as it intensifies price pressure and innovation. For specialized or niche hardware, the number of bidders might naturally be lower, but the principle of allowing all qualified sources to compete remains a cornerstone of efficient federal spending.
What is the historical spending pattern for antenna replacements at the Department of Energy?
Historical spending patterns for antenna replacements at the Department of Energy are not detailed in the provided data. To assess this, one would need to analyze past contract awards for similar goods and services (e.g., PSC code 541519 - Other Computer Related Services, or related telecommunications equipment codes) over several fiscal years. This analysis would reveal trends in contract values, frequency of awards, types of antennas procured, and the contractors most frequently utilized. Understanding historical spending helps in benchmarking current awards, identifying potential cost savings, and forecasting future needs. Without this broader context, it's difficult to determine if this $37,290 award is typical, an outlier, or indicative of a changing procurement strategy.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services
Product/Service Code: COMM/DETECT/COHERENT RADIATION
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Tribalco, LLC
Address: 7735 OLD GEORGETOWN RD, BETHESDA, MD, 20814
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Manufacturer of Goods, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $37,290
Exercised Options: $37,290
Current Obligation: $37,290
Actual Outlays: $37,290
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNG15SC51B
IDV Type: GWAC
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-02-07
Current End Date: 2023-05-11
Potential End Date: 2023-05-11 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-07
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