NOAA awards $14.4M for Mission Performance & Systems Effectiveness Support to Earth Resources Technology, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,433,025 ($14.4M)

Contractor: Earth Resources Technology, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2007-09-27

End Date: 2013-03-22

Contract Duration: 2,003 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: TASK ORDER T0001 FOR MISSION PERFORMANCE AND SYSTEMS EFFECTIVENESS SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: LAUREL, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20707

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $14.4 million to EARTH RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY, LLC for work described as: TASK ORDER T0001 FOR MISSION PERFORMANCE AND SYSTEMS EFFECTIVENESS SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition after exclusion of sources. 2. Earth Resources Technology, LLC is the sole awardee for this task order. 3. The contract spans over 5 years, indicating a long-term need for these services. 4. Services fall under Engineering Services (NAICS 541330).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract was awarded on a Time and Materials basis, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. The total award value of $14.4M over 5 years suggests a significant investment, but without specific performance metrics or benchmarks, assessing value for money is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES'. This indicates that while competition was sought, specific circumstances led to excluding certain sources. The pricing mechanism (Time and Materials) may limit price discovery compared to fixed-price contracts.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is generally beneficial for taxpayers by encouraging competitive pricing. However, the specific exclusion of sources warrants further investigation to ensure fair market access and optimal pricing.

Public Impact

Supports critical mission performance and systems effectiveness for NOAA. Long-term contract (over 5 years) suggests sustained operational requirements. Awarded to a single vendor, highlighting specialized capabilities or market concentration. Services are essential for maintaining and improving NOAA's operational systems.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials pricing can lead to cost uncertainty.
Competition method 'after exclusion of sources' requires scrutiny.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, promoting market engagement.
Long contract duration indicates sustained need and potential for stable service delivery.

Sector Analysis

Engineering services are crucial for government agencies like NOAA to maintain and enhance complex systems. The spending benchmark for engineering services can vary widely based on specialization and project scope. This $14.4M award over 5 years appears substantial but requires comparison with similar NOAA contracts for precise benchmarking.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was sought or if the scope inherently favored larger, specialized firms.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would focus on the management of the Time and Materials contract to ensure costs remain within reasonable bounds and that performance objectives are met. Regular reviews of contractor performance and expenditures are essential for accountability.

Related Government Programs

Engineering Services
Department of Commerce Contracting
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
Lack of clarity on the 'exclusion of sources' justification.
Limited transparency on specific performance metrics and value realization.
No small business participation noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $14.4 million to EARTH RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY, LLC. TASK ORDER T0001 FOR MISSION PERFORMANCE AND SYSTEMS EFFECTIVENESS SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is EARTH RESOURCES TECHNOLOGY, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-09-27. End: 2013-03-22.

What specific systems or missions does this task order support, and how does the $14.4M investment align with NOAA's strategic goals for these areas?

This task order, T0001, focuses on 'Mission Performance and Systems Effectiveness Support.' While the specific systems are not detailed, it implies support for NOAA's operational infrastructure and scientific missions. The $14.4M investment over five years suggests a significant commitment to ensuring these systems function optimally and effectively contribute to NOAA's broader objectives, such as weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and oceanic research.

Given the 'exclusion of sources' in the competition, what were the justifications, and did this potentially limit competitive pricing or innovation?

The justification for excluding sources in a 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' scenario typically involves specific technical requirements, unique capabilities, or prior performance that only a limited number of vendors can meet. While this can ensure specialized expertise, it may also restrict the pool of bidders, potentially impacting price competitiveness and the introduction of novel solutions from a wider market.

How is the effectiveness of 'Mission Performance and Systems Effectiveness Support' being measured under this Time and Materials contract to ensure taxpayer value?

Measuring effectiveness under a Time and Materials contract requires robust performance metrics and diligent oversight. NOAA would need to establish clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to system uptime, response times, problem resolution rates, and successful mission support. Regular performance reviews and audits are crucial to ensure the contractor's efforts translate into tangible improvements and justify the expenditures.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 10810 GUILFORD RD STE 105, ANNAPOLIS JUNCTION, MD, 20701

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,508,297

Exercised Options: $14,508,297

Current Obligation: $14,433,025

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DOCDG133W07CQ0066

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline