Agriculture Department awards $5.88M security guard contract to Vision Quest Solutions Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,877,963 ($5.9M)

Contractor: Vision Quest Solutions Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2024-07-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 821 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SECURITY GUARD SERVICES. CONTRACT 12305B24A0007.

Place of Performance

Location: BELTSVILLE, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20705

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $5.9 million to VISION QUEST SOLUTIONS INC for work described as: SECURITY GUARD SERVICES. CONTRACT 12305B24A0007. Key points: 1. Contract value represents a significant investment in safeguarding agricultural research facilities. 2. The award was made under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call, suggesting a pre-negotiated framework. 3. The firm fixed-price contract type aims to provide cost certainty for the government. 4. The contract duration of over two years indicates a need for sustained security services. 5. The service category (Security Guards and Patrol Services) is essential for physical asset protection. 6. The geographic focus on Maryland highlights a specific operational area for these services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $5.88 million over approximately 2.7 years for security guard services appears reasonable given the scope. Benchmarking against similar federal contracts for security services in Maryland would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm fixed-price structure helps control costs, but the specific per-hour rates or guard deployment levels would be needed for a deeper analysis of pricing efficiency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This competitive process is generally expected to yield favorable pricing and service terms for the government. The specific number of bids received is not provided, which would offer further insight into the intensity of the competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition typically benefits taxpayers by driving down prices through market forces and ensuring the government receives the best value available.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Agricultural Research Service facilities in Maryland, ensuring their physical security. The contract delivers essential security guard and patrol services to protect government property and personnel. The geographic impact is concentrated in Maryland, where the facilities requiring these services are located. The contract supports jobs within the security services industry, potentially benefiting local workforces in Maryland.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics or service level agreements in the provided data.
Absence of details on the number of bids received, making it difficult to fully assess competitive intensity.
No information on the contractor's past performance or any potential past issues.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
Firm fixed-price contract type provides cost predictability.
Contract duration of over two years indicates a stable, ongoing need for services.
The contractor, Vision Quest Solutions Inc., is a known entity in the security services sector.

Sector Analysis

The security services industry is a significant sector within the broader professional, scientific, and technical services market. Federal agencies are major consumers of these services, contracting for physical security, cybersecurity, and investigative support. This contract for guard services fits within the established market for physical security providers, with numerous companies competing for government contracts. Spending benchmarks for similar guard services can vary widely based on location, facility type, and security requirements.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, it does not directly contribute to small business set-aside goals. There is no information available regarding subcontracting plans, so the impact on the small business ecosystem through subcontracting cannot be assessed from this data alone.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the program office within the Agricultural Research Service. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of financial oversight by limiting cost overruns. Transparency would be enhanced by public contract databases, but specific performance monitoring details are not publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Federal Protective Service Contracts
Department of Homeland Security Security Services
General Services Administration Schedules for Security Services
Department of Agriculture Facility Management Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope creep occurs despite firm fixed-price.
Reliance on a single contractor may pose risks if performance issues arise.
Geographic concentration could be a vulnerability if local conditions change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $5.9 million to VISION QUEST SOLUTIONS INC. SECURITY GUARD SERVICES. CONTRACT 12305B24A0007.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VISION QUEST SOLUTIONS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Research Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-07-01. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the historical spending pattern for security guard services by the Agricultural Research Service?

Analyzing historical spending for security guard services by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is crucial for understanding trends and identifying potential anomalies. Without access to specific ARS historical procurement data, a precise analysis is not possible. However, federal agencies generally exhibit consistent spending on essential services like security, with fluctuations often tied to facility expansions, new security mandates, or changes in threat assessments. The current award of $5.88 million suggests a substantial and ongoing requirement. To provide a detailed answer, one would need to examine ARS's contract databases over the past 5-10 years, looking for similar service contracts, their values, durations, and the contractors awarded. This would reveal if this $5.88 million award is an increase, decrease, or consistent with past investments in security for their Maryland-based operations.

How does the contractor, Vision Quest Solutions Inc., perform on other federal contracts?

Assessing the past performance of Vision Quest Solutions Inc. on other federal contracts is a key indicator of their reliability and capability. A thorough review would involve examining contract databases like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or SAM.gov for records of their previous awards, including contract types, values, agencies served, and performance ratings. Specific attention should be paid to any past performance evaluations, awards, or disputes. If Vision Quest Solutions Inc. has a history of successful contract completion, timely delivery, and adherence to requirements, it suggests a lower risk for this new contract. Conversely, any documented issues, such as performance failures, contract terminations, or unresolved disputes, would raise concerns and warrant closer scrutiny of their ability to meet the requirements for the Agricultural Research Service.

What are the specific security risks at the Agricultural Research Service facilities in Maryland that necessitate this contract?

The specific security risks at Agricultural Research Service (ARS) facilities in Maryland are not detailed in the provided contract award data. However, federal research facilities typically face a range of potential threats, including unauthorized access, theft of sensitive materials or equipment, vandalism, and potential threats to personnel. ARS facilities may house valuable research data, biological materials, or specialized equipment that require robust physical security measures. The nature of agricultural research could also involve risks related to biosecurity. The contract's focus on security guards and patrol services indicates a need for a visible security presence, access control, and surveillance to mitigate these identified or perceived risks. A comprehensive risk assessment by ARS would inform the specific security protocols and guard deployment outlined in the detailed PWS (Performance Work Statement) of the contract.

What is the benchmarked cost per guard or per hour for this type of service in Maryland?

Determining a precise benchmarked cost per guard or per hour for this specific contract is challenging without access to the detailed Performance Work Statement (PWS) and the number of bids received. However, general market rates for security guards in the Maryland area can be estimated. Factors influencing cost include the level of guard (unarmed vs. armed), required certifications, shift hours, and the specific duties (e.g., access control, patrol, surveillance monitoring). Based on industry data for similar regions, hourly rates for unarmed security guards can range from $25 to $50+, with armed guards often commanding higher rates. The total contract value of $5.88 million spread over approximately 821 days (contract duration) suggests an average daily expenditure of roughly $7,160. If we assume a standard 24/7 operation with multiple guards per shift, this figure would need to be broken down further to assess per-guard or per-hour costs against market averages.

What is the potential impact of using a BPA Call versus a direct solicitation for this security service?

Utilizing a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) Call for this security service offers several potential impacts compared to a direct solicitation. BPAs are established vehicles that allow government agencies to streamline procurement for recurring needs by pre-negotiating terms and conditions with vendors. Using a BPA Call means that the foundational agreement is already in place, potentially reducing the time and administrative burden associated with a new solicitation. This can lead to faster award times. However, the competition under a BPA Call might be limited to pre-qualified vendors on that specific BPA, which could potentially reduce the breadth of competition compared to a full and open solicitation. The effectiveness of the BPA Call in achieving best value depends on how competitively the underlying BPA was originally established and the specific terms negotiated for this call-off.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Investigation and Security Services › Security Guards and Patrol Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 12305B4Q0016

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 13212 COMMODORE RD, HOT SPRINGS, SD, 57747

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Government, HUBZone Firm, Native American Tribal Government, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,391,734

Exercised Options: $5,878,060

Current Obligation: $5,877,963

Actual Outlays: $4,182,145

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12305B24A0007

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline