NASA's $26.7M facilities support contract with West Virginia University Research Corp. awarded without competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $26,685,416 ($26.7M)
Contractor: West Virginia University Research Corporation
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2013-09-30
End Date: 2019-09-30
Contract Duration: 2,191 days
Daily Burn Rate: $12.2K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND COST EFFICIENT SUPPORT NECESSARY TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE NASA IV&V FACILITIES. SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE: ADMINISTRATION/PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, FACILITIES MAINTENANCE, GROUNDSKEEPING AND JANITORIAL SERVICES. ADDITIONAL SERVICES MAY BE REQUIRED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR WORK RELATING TO THE OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OR UPGRADE OF THE COVERED FACILITIES BUT NOT SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED IN THE STATEMENT OF WORK.
Place of Performance
Location: FAIRMONT, MARION County, WEST VIRGINIA, 26554
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $26.7 million to WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND COST EFFICIENT SUPPORT NECESSARY TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE NASA IV&V FACILITIES. SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE: ADMINISTRATION/PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, FACILITIES MAINTENANCE, GROUNDSK… Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a cost-plus-fixed-fee basis, indicating potential for cost overruns. 2. Services encompass a broad range of facilities operations, maintenance, and IT support. 3. The contract's duration of nearly six years suggests a long-term reliance on the contractor. 4. Lack of competition raises concerns about price discovery and potential for inflated costs. 5. The contract's value is significant within the facilities support services sector. 6. Performance context is critical given the essential nature of facility operations for NASA's IV&V program.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's cost-plus-fixed-fee structure, combined with a lack of competition, makes a definitive value assessment challenging. Without benchmark data or competitive bids, it's difficult to ascertain if the $26.7 million represents a fair market price for the extensive facilities support services provided. The broad scope, including IT and maintenance, could lead to cost efficiencies if managed well, but the absence of competitive pressure is a significant risk indicator for value for money.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. This approach bypasses the standard procurement process designed to foster competition and achieve the best possible pricing and value for the government. The justification for a sole-source award would typically involve unique capabilities or circumstances, which are not detailed here.
Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards limit taxpayer benefit by preventing the government from leveraging competitive market forces to secure lower prices and potentially more innovative solutions.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are NASA's IV&V facilities in West Virginia, ensuring their operational readiness. Services delivered include essential administrative, IT, facilities maintenance, and janitorial support. Geographic impact is concentrated in West Virginia, supporting local operations and potentially local employment. Workforce implications include the potential for direct employment by the contractor at the NASA IV&V facilities.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type can incentivize spending rather than cost savings.
- Broad scope of services could lead to inefficiencies if not tightly managed.
- Long contract duration without re-competition limits opportunities for market-driven improvements.
Positive Signals
- Contractor is a university research corporation, potentially bringing academic rigor to operations.
- Services are critical for NASA's IV&V mission, ensuring operational continuity.
- The contract aims for cost-efficient support, as stated in the SOW.
Sector Analysis
The Facilities Support Services sector is a significant part of government contracting, encompassing a wide array of services essential for maintaining government infrastructure. This contract falls within the broader professional, scientific, and technical services category. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more specific service breakdowns and competitive data, but the scale of this contract suggests a substantial operational requirement for NASA's IV&V program.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside component, as indicated by 'sb': false. There is no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this contract may be limited, potentially missing out on the economic benefits that subcontracting can provide to the small business ecosystem.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight mechanisms for this contract would typically involve NASA's contracting officers and program managers responsible for monitoring performance and ensuring compliance with the contract terms. The Inspector General's office may also conduct audits or investigations into the contract's execution and financial management. Transparency is dependent on NASA's reporting practices and public disclosure policies regarding sole-source awards.
Related Government Programs
- NASA IV&V Facilities Operations
- Government Facilities Maintenance Contracts
- IT Support Services for Government
- Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Contracts
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- Cost-plus contract type
- Lack of competition
- Broad scope of services
Tags
facilities-support-services, nasa, west-virginia, definitive-contract, large-contract, sole-source, cost-plus, it-services, facilities-maintenance, research-corporation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $26.7 million to WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION. IGF::OT::IGF THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE EFFECTIVE AND COST EFFICIENT SUPPORT NECESSARY TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN THE NASA IV&V FACILITIES. SUPPORT SERVICES INCLUDE: ADMINISTRATION/PROJECT MANAGEMENT, INSTITUTIONAL SERVICES, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, FACILITIES MAINTENANCE, GROUNDSKEEPING AND JANITORIAL SERVICES. ADDITIONAL SERVICES MAY BE REQUIRED AT THE DISCRETION OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR WORK RELATING TO THE OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OR UPGRADE OF THE COVERED FACILITIES BUT NOT SPECIFICALL
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY RESEARCH CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $26.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2013-09-30. End: 2019-09-30.
What is the track record of West Virginia University Research Corporation in performing similar large-scale facilities support contracts for federal agencies?
Information regarding West Virginia University Research Corporation's specific track record in performing large-scale facilities support contracts for federal agencies is not readily available within the provided data. As a university research corporation, its primary focus may differ from traditional facilities management companies. A deeper dive into its past performance, client satisfaction, and history with government contracts, particularly those involving comprehensive facilities operations, IT, and maintenance, would be necessary to assess its capabilities and reliability for this specific NASA contract. Without this context, it's difficult to gauge their experience level against industry benchmarks.
How does the cost structure of this contract compare to industry benchmarks for similar facilities support services?
The provided data indicates this contract is 'COST NO FEE' (PT: COST NO FEE), which is unusual and likely a typo or misinterpretation of 'COST PLUS FIXED FEE' (CPFF) given the context of a large contract value. Assuming it's a CPFF or similar cost-reimbursement structure, direct comparison to industry benchmarks is challenging without detailed cost breakdowns. CPFF contracts inherently allow for the recovery of allowable costs plus a fixed fee, which can vary significantly based on the scope and complexity of services. Without competitive bids or detailed cost data, it's difficult to determine if the $26.7 million spent represents a fair market value or if it's higher than what could have been achieved through a competitive process.
What are the primary risks associated with a sole-source award for essential facilities support services?
The primary risks associated with a sole-source award for essential facilities support services include a lack of price competition, which can lead to inflated costs for taxpayers. Without competing bids, the government may not achieve the best possible value or innovative solutions. There's also a risk of contractor complacency, as the absence of competitive pressure might reduce the incentive for the contractor to improve efficiency or reduce costs over the contract's duration. Furthermore, sole-source awards can raise concerns about fairness and transparency in the procurement process, potentially limiting opportunities for other qualified vendors.
How effective has West Virginia University Research Corporation been in meeting the performance requirements of this contract?
The provided data does not contain specific performance metrics or evaluations for this contract. To assess effectiveness, one would need to review performance reports, quality assurance surveillance plans (QASPs), contractor performance assessment reporting system (CPARS) data, and any documented instances of contractor deficiencies or successes. Given the contract's duration (2013-2019), historical performance data should be available through NASA's internal systems or potentially through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests. Without this information, any assessment of effectiveness remains speculative.
What has been the historical spending pattern for facilities support services at NASA's IV&V facilities prior to and during this contract?
The provided data only details this specific contract ($26.7M from 2013-2019). To understand historical spending patterns, one would need to analyze previous contracts for facilities support at NASA's IV&V facilities, potentially including contracts awarded before 2013 and any subsequent contracts. This would involve searching federal procurement databases (like FPDS-NG or USASpending.gov) for relevant contract actions, noting the award types (competitive vs. sole-source), contract values, durations, and the contractors involved. Analyzing these patterns would reveal trends in spending, reliance on specific contractors, and the prevalence of competitive versus non-competitive awards for these essential services.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Facilities Support Services › Facilities Support Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: West Virginia University (UEI: 929332658)
Address: 886 CHESTNUT RIDGE RD RM 202, MORGANTOWN, WV, 26506
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $40,000,000
Exercised Options: $40,000,000
Current Obligation: $26,685,416
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2013-09-30
Current End Date: 2019-09-30
Potential End Date: 2019-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2020-09-15
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