Department of Veterans Affairs Awarded a Contract to BARQUE CONSULTING, LLC for $215,540.00

Summary of Award

The contract in focus, as retrieved from usaspending.gov, represents a purchase order awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The contract, identified by the unique award ID "CONT_AWD_36C24124P0232_3600_-NONE-_-NONE-" and PIID "36C24124P0232," involves services related to boiler testing at the Manchester Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). This contract highlights significant points in government procurement, particularly in the area of maintenance and repair services, emphasizing a strategic focus on ensuring operational efficiency and safety within federal facilities.

**Contract Overview and Financial Details:**

The total obligation under this contract is $151,794.08, with an exercised option cap of $215,540. The description of the contract suggests a firm fixed price agreement, wherein the transaction is not subject to price fluctuations after signing, ensuring budgetary discipline. The contract encompasses services for the maintenance, repair, and rebuilding of plumbing, heating, and waste disposal equipment, an essential requirement for the Manchester VAMC to function efficiently. The start date for the period of performance is listed as February 1, 2024, extending for an entire calendar year until January 31, 2025, with the expectation—which has already been logged—that contract activities could be modified or updated until no later than April 10, 2025. **Awarding and Funding Agencies:** Both the awarding and funding agencies for this contract are branches of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Specifically, the Network Contract Office 01, coded as 36C241, is responsible for structuring and managing these acquisitions crucial to Veterans Affairs operations in the New England area. The repetitive references to the Department emphasize a centralized procurement strategy characteristic of federal maintenance contracts, making use of the extensive internal coordination across various departments and offices to maximize efficiency. **Contract Recipient Details:** The recipient of this contract is Barque Consulting, LLC, a corporation situated in Fort Pierce, Florida. The company is recognized by the Unique Entity Identifier (UEI) SB35VDAG7NA6. Barque Consulting, LLC, appears to be a multi-faceted company with expertise in building and equipment contracting, as suggested by its NAICS code 238220, which classifies it under Plumbing, Heating, and Air-Conditioning Contractors. This classification indicates their ability to offer specialized technical services crucial for the upkeep and improvement of vital infrastructure—skills imperative for the successful execution of the contract. Barque Consulting is defined by a range of strategic business categories, including a self-certified small disadvantaged business, denoting ownership by one or more individuals who are socially and economically disadvantaged, which allows it to be strategically positioned in government contracting. Additional categorizations include “Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business” and “Veteran Owned Business,” aligning with the VA’s procurement goals to support veteran entrepreneurs. **Transactional and Competitive Details:** Despite its size, the contract is a simplification in competitive processes, following procedures categorized under "Simplified Acquisition," which streamlines the governmental procurement process. The solicitation identifier, "36C24124Q0117," indicates that the government received one offer for this contract, showing limited competition amongst potential contractors—likely a result of the specialized nature of the services. Importantly, the contract is documented as fully open to competition without set-aside requirements, denoted by "COMPETED UNDER SAP" and "NO SET ASIDE USED." Of note is the absence of various other competitive factors often present in government contracts, such as subcontracting plans and multi-year contract frameworks, signifying either a specific decision to abstain from such complexities or a design inherently simple enough as not to require extended planning or outsource. **Place of Performance and NAICS Description:** The place of performance is designated as Manchester, New Hampshire, specifically within Hillsborough County. The NAICS code attached to the recipient, 238220, pinpoints the market segment and industry under which Barque Consulting operates, reaffirming the specialization in services pivotal to the contract’s fulfillment. **Conclusion:** This contract exemplifies federal investment in critical infrastructure maintenance, directly impacting VA medical facilities. By engaging Barque Consulting, LLC, the Department of Veterans Affairs underscores its commitment to leveraging service-disabled veteran-owned small businesses within government procurement processes. The streamlined acquisition strategy not only ensures project completion within budget but also supports the overarching VA goal of enhancing service delivery for veterans. As such, the boiler testing at Manchester VAMC is more than a mere maintenance task; it is a foundational element of a broader strategy to sustain quality healthcare services for veterans nationwide.