DOJ's Bureau of Prisons awards $120,774 for Elkton FCI electric service to Ohio Edison Company

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $120,774 ($120.8K)

Contractor: Ohio Edison Company

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2025-10-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $332/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ELECTRIC SERVICE (TRANSPORTATION OF LINES) FOR FCI ELKTON

Place of Performance

Location: AKRON, SUMMIT County, OHIO, 44308

State: Ohio Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $120,773.98 to OHIO EDISON COMPANY for work described as: ELECTRIC SERVICE (TRANSPORTATION OF LINES) FOR FCI ELKTON Key points: 1. Contract awarded to incumbent Ohio Edison Company for essential prison utility. 2. Limited competition due to contract type and incumbent relationship. 3. Risk of price escalation exists given the firm fixed price contract. 4. Sector is essential services for federal facilities.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $120,774 for 364 days of electric service appears reasonable for a federal correctional facility. Benchmarking against similar utility contracts for correctional institutions would provide a clearer picture of value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not available for competition, suggesting a sole-source or limited competition award, likely to the incumbent provider. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs than a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are used for essential utility services. Without competitive bidding, there's a risk of overpayment, though the contract value is relatively small.

Public Impact

Ensures continuous power supply for Federal Correctional Institution Elkton. Supports inmate welfare and facility operations through reliable electricity. Potential for increased costs to taxpayers due to lack of competition.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Firm fixed price risk

Positive Signals

Essential service provision
Incumbent provider

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under essential utilities for federal facilities. Spending on electricity for federal prisons is a recurring operational cost, benchmarked against regional utility rates and facility size.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to involve small businesses, as it was awarded to Ohio Edison Company, a large utility provider. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is managed by the Department of Justice's Bureau of Prisons. The firm fixed price contract type provides some cost certainty, but the lack of competition warrants scrutiny to ensure fair pricing.

Related Government Programs

Other Electric Power Generation
Department of Justice Contracting
Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for overpayment due to lack of competition.
Risk of price increases under firm fixed price contract.
Limited transparency on cost drivers.
No small business participation noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $120,773.98 to OHIO EDISON COMPANY. ELECTRIC SERVICE (TRANSPORTATION OF LINES) FOR FCI ELKTON

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is OHIO EDISON COMPANY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $120,773.98.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the historical pricing trend for this specific electric service contract with Ohio Edison Company?

Historical pricing data for this contract is not provided. Analyzing past awards and price adjustments would reveal if Ohio Edison has consistently charged fair market rates or if prices have escalated significantly over time, impacting overall value for the Bureau of Prisons.

What specific factors prevented this contract from being competitively bid?

The data indicates the contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. This suggests potential reasons such as the need for continuity of service from the incumbent provider, unique technical requirements, or a lack of alternative suppliers in the immediate vicinity of FCI Elkton.

How does the per-unit cost of this contract compare to similar federal prison utility contracts?

A direct per-unit cost comparison is not feasible without more detailed data on electricity consumption (kWh) and specific rate structures. However, the total contract value of $120,774 for a year of service should be evaluated against benchmarks for similar-sized federal facilities in the same geographic region.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Utilities › Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution › Other Electric Power Generation

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › UTILITIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Firstenergy Corp.

Address: 76 S MAIN ST, AKRON, OH, 44308

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $120,774

Exercised Options: $120,774

Current Obligation: $120,774

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47PA0420D0010

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline