Department of Energy Awarded a Contract to CITY OF OAK RIDGE for $5,000,000.00

Summary of Award

The JSON response from the USAspending.gov data provides an insightful look into a definitive contract awarded to the City of Oak Ridge by the Department of Energy. Here’s a comprehensive summary of the award.

## Award Overview

The contract, identified by the unique award ID "CONT_AWD_89233122CNA000249_8900_-NONE-_-NONE-", was signed on February 17, 2022. Classified as a definitive contract (type "D"), it concerns utility services at 103 Palladium Way, Oak Ridge, TN. The contract's category is "contract," and it carries a total obligation amount of $800,000 with a base and all options value of $5,000,000. As of the last update, $554,489.41 had been outlaid, reflecting the amount spent so far. The period of performance spans from January 26, 2022, to January 25, 2032, suggesting a multi-year engagement. ## Funding and Awarding Agency Both the funding and awarding responsibilities for this contract rest with the Department of Energy (DOE), specifically within the NNSA Non-MO Contracting Operations Division. The DOE's administrative involvement is central, showcasing its role in overseeing nuclear and energy-related activities across the U.S. ## Recipient Details The contract recipient, the City of Oak Ridge, serves as the local government entity responsible for providing the required utility services. Located in Tennessee, Oak Ridge is a city renowned for its pivotal role during the Manhattan Project, now a center for advancements and projects in energy and technology. The city's business category is characterized as U.S. Local Government and is not designated a small business. ## Transactions Analysis A sequence of transactions accompanies this contract, reflecting modifications and financial adjustments: 1. **Modification P00007 (April 10, 2025):** This transaction, marked as a definitive contract action with a '0' transaction amount, likely represents an administrative update rather than a financial transfer. 2. **Modification P00006 (February 19, 2025):** This transaction resulted in a $200,000 outlay. These funds, under def code "Q", indicate further financial distribution under the award’s obligations for utility purposes. 3. **Modification P00005 (February 3, 2025):** This modification reflects a $61,476.38 transaction, subsequently voided by the same amount in another transaction on the same day (Modification P00004), implying a reversal or correction of financial postings. 4. **Modification P00003 (March 7, 2024):** Similar to a previous transaction, this one also contributes $200,000 toward the contract’s obligations, reaffirming the ongoing funding requirements. 5. **Modification P00002 (March 13, 2023):** Another $200,000 transaction contributes to fulfilling the overall contractual obligations, moving funds to ensure service continuity. ## Contractual Dynamics This award underscores the operational and financial dynamics embedded within government contracts, particularly for services deemed essential. This contract, in line with FAR 6.302-1(B)(3) exceptions, acknowledges utilities' unique necessity and non-competitive stature, evidenced by "Only One Source" solicitation and "Not Available for Competition" extent descriptor. The contract price is firm-fixed, demonstrating a stable financial framework without flexible pricing strategies. This implies the DOE has accounted for expected costs upfront, mitigating potential financial discrepancies over the contract's duration. ## Product and Service Details The services provided pertain to the "S119" product or service code, indicating "Utilities - Other." Under NAICS code 926130, the operations involve the regulation and administration of communications, electric, gas, and other utility operations. This classification reflects a broad scope of facilities and services management pertinent to maintaining and administering essential utilities within Oak Ridge. ## Strategic Implications Understanding this contract's financial and operational scope showcases the government’s approach to securing critical infrastructure services through local government partnerships. The firm-fixed-price contract offers predictable fiscal management, essential for long-term planning and allocation of DOE’s resources. Engaging a local government entity reinforces community-oriented governance and leveraging local strengths in public administration, enhancing service delivery and regional economic activity. The multi-year scope underscores both governmental assurance in service reliability and strategic planning within the DOE, ensuring the city’s capability to sustain and manage utility services efficiently. This alignment reflects a broader framework of utility administration and regulation tailored towards national security and energy efficiency imperatives intrinsic to the DOE’s mission. In sum, this contract’s orchestration demonstrates federal-local collaboration to support critical infrastructure, a model potentially replicable for other regions aiming to streamline utility service administration under government oversight.