National Archives awards $77.9M facilities maintenance contract to LB & B Associates Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $77,901,936 ($77.9M)

Contractor: LB & B Associates Inc

Awarding Agency: National Archives and Records Administration

Start Date: 2010-09-01

End Date: 2016-02-29

Contract Duration: 2,007 days

Daily Burn Rate: $38.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: CONSOLIDATED FACILITIES MAINTENANCE (CFM) SERVICES FOR ARCHIVES I AND ARCHIVES II

Place of Performance

Location: COLLEGE PARK, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20740

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Archives and Records Administration obligated $77.9 million to LB & B ASSOCIATES INC for work described as: CONSOLIDATED FACILITIES MAINTENANCE (CFM) SERVICES FOR ARCHIVES I AND ARCHIVES II Key points: 1. Contract provides essential facilities support services for critical government archives. 2. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. A firm-fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 4. The duration of the contract and its delivery orders indicate a long-term need for these services. 5. The services are crucial for preserving historical records and ensuring operational continuity. 6. The contract's value places it within a significant tier for facilities management services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $77.9 million over its period of performance appears reasonable for comprehensive facilities maintenance services supporting two major archive facilities. Benchmarking against similar large-scale facilities management contracts for government buildings suggests this pricing is within expected ranges, especially considering the specialized nature of archive environments which may require enhanced security and environmental controls. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost predictability, which is a positive indicator of value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The presence of 5 bidders suggests a healthy level of competition for this significant facilities support services contract. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and ensures the government receives offers from a range of qualified contractors, potentially driving down costs and improving service quality.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers as it likely resulted in a more competitive price and a wider pool of qualified service providers, maximizing the value received for public funds.

Public Impact

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) benefits directly through the reliable maintenance of its facilities. Citizens and researchers benefit from the continued accessibility and preservation of historical records housed in Archives I and II. The contract supports the operational continuity of vital government functions related to record keeping. The services ensure a secure and environmentally controlled setting for sensitive historical documents. The contract likely supports a workforce involved in facilities management, maintenance, and related trades within Maryland.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen maintenance issues arise beyond the scope of the firm-fixed-price agreement.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical infrastructure maintenance could pose risks if performance issues emerge.
Ensuring consistent service quality across a long-term contract requires robust oversight.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract type helps control costs and provides budget certainty.
Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive market for these services.
The contract's duration suggests a stable and reliable provision of essential services.
The contractor has been awarded a significant contract, implying a level of established capability.

Sector Analysis

Facilities support services, including maintenance and management, represent a substantial segment of the government contracting market. This contract falls within the broader facilities support services sector, which encompasses a wide range of activities from janitorial services to complex building systems maintenance. The National Archives' need for specialized environmental controls and security for its holdings places this contract at the higher end of complexity within the sector. Comparable spending benchmarks for large federal facilities often run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the size and criticality of the installations.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. The award to LB & B Associates Inc., a larger entity, suggests that the primary focus was on securing comprehensive facilities management capabilities. This means that the direct economic impact on the small business ecosystem from this specific prime contract may be limited, though the prime contractor might engage small businesses for specific support roles.

Oversight & Accountability

The firm-fixed-price contract type inherently provides a degree of oversight through adherence to the agreed-upon scope and price. The National Archives and Records Administration, as the contracting agency, is responsible for monitoring contractor performance and ensuring compliance with contract terms. Further oversight mechanisms would typically include regular performance reviews, site inspections, and potentially the involvement of an Inspector General's office if any irregularities or concerns arise during the contract's lifecycle. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements.

Related Government Programs

General Services Administration (GSA) Federal Buildings Fund
Department of Defense Facilities Maintenance Contracts
Other agency-specific facilities operations and maintenance contracts

Risk Flags

Contract Duration
Performance Monitoring
Cost Control under Fixed Price

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Archives and Records Administration awarded $77.9 million to LB & B ASSOCIATES INC. CONSOLIDATED FACILITIES MAINTENANCE (CFM) SERVICES FOR ARCHIVES I AND ARCHIVES II

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LB & B ASSOCIATES INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: National Archives and Records Administration (National Archives and Records Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $77.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-09-01. End: 2016-02-29.

What is the historical spending trend for facilities maintenance at the National Archives?

Analyzing historical spending on facilities maintenance at the National Archives requires access to detailed budget and contract data over multiple fiscal years. While this specific contract awarded in 2010 for $77.9 million covers a period up to February 2016, it represents a significant investment. To understand trends, one would need to compare this award amount against previous and subsequent contracts for similar services, accounting for inflation, facility expansions or renovations, and changes in service requirements. Without broader historical data, it's difficult to ascertain if spending has increased, decreased, or remained stable over time. However, the consistent need for such services suggests a sustained level of expenditure in this category.

How does the per-square-foot maintenance cost of this contract compare to similar federal facilities?

Determining the per-square-foot maintenance cost requires knowing the total square footage of Archives I and II, which is not provided in the data. Assuming these are large facilities, a typical benchmark for federal building maintenance can range widely, from $5 to $20+ per square foot annually, depending on building age, complexity, and specific service requirements (e.g., climate control for archives). If we were to estimate the total square footage based on the contract value and typical industry rates, it might suggest a certain level of cost efficiency or potential for savings. However, without the actual square footage, a direct per-square-foot comparison is not feasible.

What specific performance metrics were used to evaluate LB & B Associates Inc. under this contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific performance metrics used to evaluate LB & B Associates Inc. Typically, facilities maintenance contracts include Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to response times for service requests, preventative maintenance completion rates, building system uptime (HVAC, electrical, plumbing), energy efficiency targets, safety incident rates, and customer satisfaction surveys. The contracting agency, National Archives and Records Administration, would have established these metrics in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS). Successful completion and adherence to these KPIs would be crucial for contract renewal or future awards.

What is LB & B Associates Inc.'s track record with federal facilities maintenance contracts?

LB & B Associates Inc. has a track record of securing federal contracts, including this significant award from the National Archives and Records Administration. To fully assess their track record, one would need to examine their contract history across various federal agencies, focusing on the types and values of facilities maintenance and related services they have provided. Key aspects to review would include past performance evaluations, any contract disputes or terminations, and their experience with similar-sized or complex facilities. This contract itself, valued at approximately $77.9 million, indicates a capacity to manage large-scale government service agreements.

Were there any significant risks identified during the bidding process for this contract?

The provided data does not explicitly list risks identified during the bidding process. However, for a contract of this magnitude and nature (critical facilities maintenance), potential risks typically considered by bidders and the agency include the contractor's financial stability, technical capability to meet specialized requirements (like environmental controls for archives), past performance issues, potential for cost overruns under a fixed-price contract, and the ability to manage a large workforce. The fact that it was awarded under full and open competition with five bidders suggests that these risks were assessed and deemed manageable by the participants and the agency.

What is the estimated annual cost of this contract, and how does it compare to the agency's overall facilities budget?

The total value of this contract is $77,901,935.87, spanning from September 1, 2010, to February 29, 2016. This period is approximately 5.5 years (or 66 months). To estimate the annual cost, we can divide the total value by the duration in years: $77,901,935.87 / 5.5 years ≈ $14.16 million per year. Comparing this to the National Archives and Records Administration's (NARA) overall facilities budget would require accessing NARA's annual financial reports or budget documents for the relevant fiscal years (2010-2016). This contract likely represents a substantial portion of NARA's operational budget dedicated to maintaining its primary facilities.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Facilities Support Services › Facilities Support Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: NAMA-10-Q-0003

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 9891 BROKENLAND PKWY STE 400, COLUMBIA, MD, 21046

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $78,455,001

Exercised Options: $78,455,001

Current Obligation: $77,901,936

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS06F0025R

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline