GIO Geobase Installations Contract Awarded to AECOM Technical Services, Inc. for $39.7M Over 5 Years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $39,694,291 ($39.7M)

Contractor: AECOM Technical Services, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2005-01-05

End Date: 2010-05-31

Contract Duration: 1,972 days

Daily Burn Rate: $20.1K/day

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: GIO GEOBASE INSTALLATIONS

Place of Performance

Location: LACKLAND AFB, BEXAR County, TEXAS, 78236

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $39.7 million to AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. for work described as: GIO GEOBASE INSTALLATIONS Key points: 1. Value for money appears fair given the duration and scope of environmental consulting services. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a moderate level of engagement with 4 bidders. 3. Risk indicators are moderate, with a Time and Materials contract type potentially leading to cost overruns if not managed closely. 4. Performance context suggests a long-term engagement for environmental services. 5. Sector positioning places this contract within the broader environmental consulting services industry.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $39.7 million over approximately 5 years averages to about $7.9 million annually. Benchmarking against similar large-scale environmental consulting contracts is difficult without more specific service details. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure, while flexible, carries inherent risks for cost control compared to fixed-price contracts. The total award value of $39.7M is within a reasonable range for extensive environmental consulting services over a multi-year period.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed with 4 bidders, suggesting a limited but not entirely restricted competition. This level of competition is sufficient to generate some price discovery but may not yield the most aggressive pricing compared to a full and open competition with a larger number of participants. The limited pool of bidders could indicate specialized requirements or a concentrated market for these services.

Taxpayer Impact: With 4 bidders, taxpayers likely received a competitive price, but there may be room for further savings if competition were broader. The government secured services from qualified vendors, but the potential for higher costs due to limited options exists.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely federal agencies requiring environmental consulting services, particularly those managed by the General Services Administration. Services delivered include environmental consulting, crucial for compliance, site assessment, and remediation. The geographic impact is centered in Texas, as indicated by the award details. Workforce implications involve the employment of environmental scientists, engineers, and technicians by AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. and potentially its subcontractors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost escalation if not closely monitored.
Limited competition may result in less favorable pricing than a broader competition.
Long contract duration requires sustained oversight to ensure continued value.

Positive Signals

Award to an established company, AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC., suggests a degree of reliability.
The contract was competed, indicating an effort to secure services through a procurement process.
The specific NAICS code (541620) points to specialized environmental consulting expertise.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Environmental Consulting Services sector, a subset of professional, scientific, and technical services. The market for environmental consulting is substantial, driven by regulatory requirements, infrastructure development, and corporate sustainability initiatives. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific nature of the environmental services provided, such as site assessments, remediation, or compliance monitoring. The General Services Administration (GSA) often procures such services to support various federal agencies.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a primary focus for this specific contract, as 'ss' (small business set-aside) and 'sb' (subcontracting) are both false. This suggests that the primary award was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no explicit indication of mandated small business subcontracting goals. Consequently, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular contract appears minimal, though AECOM may engage small businesses as subcontractors at its discretion.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officers and program managers within the General Services Administration (GSA). Accountability measures are embedded in the contract terms, including performance standards and payment schedules tied to deliverables. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise during the contract's performance.

Related Government Programs

Environmental Remediation Services
Environmental Planning and Assessment
Architectural and Engineering Services
Professional and Management Support Services

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials contract type.
Risk of suboptimal pricing due to limited competition.
Need for strong government oversight to manage performance and costs effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $39.7 million to AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.. GIO GEOBASE INSTALLATIONS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $39.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-01-05. End: 2010-05-31.

What is the historical spending pattern for environmental consulting services by the General Services Administration?

The General Services Administration (GSA) has a consistent history of procuring environmental consulting services to support its vast real estate portfolio and agency needs. Annual spending can fluctuate based on specific projects, regulatory changes, and infrastructure initiatives. Historically, GSA's spending in this area has been in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars annually, reflecting the broad scope of environmental compliance, assessment, and remediation required across federal facilities nationwide. The GIO GEOBASE INSTALLATIONS contract represents a significant, multi-year commitment within this broader spending context, indicating a sustained need for these specialized services.

How does the pricing structure (Time and Materials) of this contract compare to industry standards for environmental consulting?

Time and Materials (T&M) contracts are common in service-based industries like environmental consulting, offering flexibility when the scope of work is not fully defined at the outset. However, they carry a higher risk of cost overruns compared to fixed-price contracts. Industry standards often favor T&M for exploratory or undefined phases, while fixed-price or cost-plus-fixed-fee structures are preferred for well-defined projects. For AECOM's contract, the T&M approach suggests that the specific tasks and duration were subject to change or initial uncertainty. The effectiveness of T&M hinges on robust government oversight to manage labor hours and material costs, ensuring that the final price remains competitive relative to the value delivered.

What is AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC.'s track record with federal environmental consulting contracts?

AECOM TECHNICAL SERVICES, INC. has a substantial track record of performing environmental consulting services for various federal agencies, including significant work with the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and the Environmental Protection Agency, in addition to GSA. Their portfolio often includes large-scale projects involving site assessments, remediation planning, environmental impact statements, and compliance support. Past performance reviews and contract data generally indicate a capacity to handle complex environmental challenges. However, like any large contractor, specific contract performance can vary, and a detailed review of past performance metrics for similar GSA contracts would provide a more granular assessment of their reliability and efficiency in this specific context.

What are the potential risks associated with the limited competition for this contract?

Limited competition, with only four bidders, presents several potential risks for the government and taxpayers. Firstly, it can lead to higher prices than might be achieved in a more robustly competitive environment, as bidders face less pressure to offer their most aggressive rates. Secondly, it may restrict the pool of innovative solutions or specialized expertise available, as only a few firms are considered. Thirdly, it could indicate barriers to entry for other qualified firms, potentially due to contract complexity, specific pre-qualification requirements, or the concentrated nature of the environmental consulting market. This necessitates careful contract management and negotiation by the GSA to ensure fair value is obtained.

How does the $39.7 million award value compare to other GSA environmental consulting contracts?

The $39.7 million award value for the GIO GEOBASE INSTALLATIONS contract is a significant sum, placing it among the larger environmental consulting procurements by the GSA. While GSA awards a wide range of contract values, from small task orders to multi-million dollar programs, this figure suggests a substantial, long-term engagement. Many GSA environmental contracts are task-order based under larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicles, making direct comparisons challenging. However, for a single, comprehensive contract spanning several years, $39.7 million is indicative of a major program requiring extensive services across potentially multiple sites or complex environmental challenges.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Environmental Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT › NATURAL RESOURCES - OTHER SVCS

Contractor Details

Parent Company: AECOM (UEI: 153561212)

Address: 100 W BROADWAY STE 240, LONG BEACH, CA, 90

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $52,905,385

Exercised Options: $51,294,728

Current Obligation: $39,694,291

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS10F0209K

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline