NOAA awards $1.67M for lawn care services in Kentucky, with 10 bids received

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,716 ($16.7K)

Contractor: Gross, Thelma

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2024-06-17

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,017 days

Daily Burn Rate: $16/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 10

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: LAWN CARE SERVICES FOR NWS LOCATED IN JACKSON, KY

Place of Performance

Location: JACKSON, BREATHITT County, KENTUCKY, 41339

State: Kentucky Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $16,716 to GROSS, THELMA for work described as: LAWN CARE SERVICES FOR NWS LOCATED IN JACKSON, KY Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the firm-fixed-price structure and duration. 2. Strong competition was present, suggesting fair market pricing was likely achieved. 3. The contract duration of nearly three years indicates a need for consistent service. 4. Performance context is specific to maintaining grounds at a National Weather Service facility. 5. This contract falls within the broader category of facilities maintenance and support services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's firm-fixed-price nature provides cost certainty for the government. With 10 bids received, the pricing is likely competitive and reflects market rates for landscaping services in the region. The total award amount of $1.67 million over approximately 34 months suggests a monthly expenditure of around $49,000, which seems aligned with the scope of maintaining grounds for a federal facility.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating it was likely advertised broadly to eligible vendors. The receipt of 10 bids suggests robust competition for this requirement. A higher number of bids generally leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The strong competition indicates that taxpayers are likely benefiting from a fair market price for these essential grounds maintenance services.

Public Impact

The National Weather Service facility in Jackson, KY, will benefit from well-maintained grounds, contributing to a professional and safe environment. Services include landscaping and lawn care, ensuring the aesthetic appeal and operational readiness of the facility. The geographic impact is localized to Jackson, Kentucky, supporting local employment through the contracted service provider. Workforce implications include the potential for local jobs in landscaping and grounds maintenance.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for service quality variations given the long contract duration.
Reliance on a single contractor for an extended period could limit flexibility.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
Competitive bidding process suggests a focus on value.
Longer contract duration ensures continuity of essential services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the facilities support services sector, specifically landscaping and grounds maintenance. The market for these services is generally fragmented, with many small to medium-sized businesses capable of performing the work. Federal spending in this area is consistent across various agencies requiring physical site upkeep. Benchmarks for similar landscaping contracts vary widely based on location, scope, and duration, but the competitive nature of this award suggests a reasonable market price was achieved.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate if this contract was specifically set aside for small businesses, nor does it detail subcontracting plans. However, the presence of 10 bidders suggests that small businesses likely had the opportunity to compete. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation and its impact on the local small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is a purchase order, which is a standard procurement instrument. Oversight would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the NOAA facility management at the Jackson, KY location. Transparency is generally maintained through federal procurement databases where contract awards are reported. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules for facilities maintenance
Other agency-specific grounds maintenance contracts
Department of Agriculture - Forest Service landscaping contracts

Risk Flags

Contract duration exceeds 2 years
Potential for service quality degradation over time
Limited flexibility due to single-source provider for extended period

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $16,716 to GROSS, THELMA. LAWN CARE SERVICES FOR NWS LOCATED IN JACKSON, KY

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GROSS, THELMA.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $16,716.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-06-17. End: 2027-03-31.

What is the contractor's track record with federal agencies?

The provided data identifies 'GROSS, THELMA' as the contractor. However, without a unique identifier like a DUNS number or Cage Code, it is challenging to definitively assess their past performance history across federal contracts. A deeper dive into federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) using the contractor's name and potential associated identifiers would be necessary to review their performance ratings on previous awards, any past disputes, or contract terminations. This information is crucial for understanding their reliability and capability in fulfilling the current lawn care services requirement.

How does the per-unit cost compare to similar landscaping contracts?

Calculating a precise per-unit cost is difficult without more granular data on the specific services included (e.g., acres mowed, frequency of service, specific landscaping tasks). The total award is $1.67 million over 1017 days (approx. 34 months), averaging roughly $49,100 per month. Benchmarking this against similar contracts requires comparing the scope of work, geographic location (cost of labor and materials vary significantly by region), and the specific services rendered. For instance, a contract for basic mowing in a rural area would be less expensive than one including extensive horticultural services in a high-cost urban environment. Without more detailed service breakdowns, a direct per-unit comparison is speculative.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract?

Key risks include potential variations in service quality over the contract's nearly three-year duration, especially if contractor staffing or management changes. There's also a risk of unforeseen environmental factors (e.g., extreme weather) impacting the scope or cost, although the firm-fixed-price nature aims to mitigate this. Dependence on a single provider for an extended period could lead to complacency or difficulty in addressing emergent issues promptly. Furthermore, ensuring consistent adherence to specific environmental or safety regulations related to grounds maintenance at a NWS facility presents an ongoing oversight challenge.

How effective is the firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type for this service?

The Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contract type is generally effective for services like lawn care where the scope of work is well-defined and predictable. It provides the government with cost certainty, as the contractor assumes the risk of cost overruns. For the government, this means the $1.67 million award represents the maximum expenditure. This structure incentivizes the contractor to perform efficiently to maximize their profit margin. Given the repetitive nature of lawn care, an FFP contract is suitable for ensuring consistent service delivery within a set budget over the contract's term.

What is the historical spending trend for lawn care at this NWS facility?

The provided data does not include historical spending information for lawn care services at the NWS facility in Jackson, KY. To assess historical spending patterns, one would need to access previous contract awards for this specific location or for similar services procured by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) or the Department of Commerce. Analyzing past expenditures would help determine if the current $1.67 million award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of spending compared to previous periods, and whether the scope of services has changed.

What does the number of bidders imply about the market for these services?

Receiving 10 bids for this lawn care contract suggests a healthy and competitive market for landscaping services in the Jackson, Kentucky region, or at least among contractors capable of serving federal facilities. A higher number of bidders typically indicates that the requirement is attractive to multiple vendors and that there are sufficient qualified companies available. This level of competition generally leads to more favorable pricing for the government, as contractors vie to win the award by offering competitive rates and demonstrating their capabilities effectively.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Services to Buildings and Dwellings › Landscaping Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 1333MH24Q0025

Offers Received: 10

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6200 HIGHWAY 1812 N, JACKSON, KY, 41339

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $29,007

Exercised Options: $16,716

Current Obligation: $16,716

Actual Outlays: $10,571

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline