DOJ's $47.5M District Guard Support Services contract awarded to undisclosed domestic awardees

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $47,520 ($47.5K)

Contractor: Domestic Awardees (undisclosed)

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2024-10-01

End Date: 2025-09-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $131/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS

Sector: Other

Official Description: FY2025 DISTRICT GUARD SUPPORT SERVICES - D07

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20024

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $47,520 to DOMESTIC AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED) for work described as: FY2025 DISTRICT GUARD SUPPORT SERVICES - D07 Key points: 1. Contract aims to secure facilities and personnel through guard services. 2. Competition was conducted under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a focus on smaller procurements. 3. The contract duration is one year, indicating a need for ongoing, short-term support. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 561612 points to a specialized security services market. 5. Awardee information is undisclosed, limiting transparency on contractor selection. 6. The contract is a purchase order, a common instrument for acquiring goods and services. 7. The contract is not set aside for small businesses, suggesting a broader competition scope.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging due to the lack of specific performance metrics and the undisclosed nature of the awardee. The total obligation of $47.52 million for a one-year period for security guard services appears substantial, but without details on the number of guards, hours, or specific security requirements, a direct comparison to similar contracts is difficult. The pricing structure, based on labor hours, allows for flexibility but also necessitates careful monitoring to ensure cost-effectiveness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically involve a limited number of bidders and are used for procurements below a certain threshold. While SAP aims for efficiency, it may not always yield the same level of price competition as full and open competition. The specific number of bidders is not disclosed, but the use of SAP suggests a potentially less robust competitive environment compared to larger, more widely advertised solicitations.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of SAP may result in less aggressive pricing than a fully competed contract, potentially leading to higher costs for taxpayers. However, it also allows for quicker acquisition of necessary services.

Public Impact

The U.S. Marshals Service benefits from enhanced security for federal facilities and personnel. Services include the provision of security guards and patrol services. The contract's geographic impact is focused on the District of Columbia. The contract supports the workforce within the private security sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of transparency regarding awardee selection due to undisclosed domestic awardees.
Potential for less competitive pricing under Simplified Acquisition Procedures.
Absence of specific performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.
Contract duration is short-term, requiring continuous re-competition or extension.

Positive Signals

Contract addresses a clear need for security services for the Department of Justice.
Purchase order mechanism allows for flexibility in service delivery.
Services are geographically focused, potentially allowing for specialized local support.

Sector Analysis

The security services industry is a significant sector within the broader professional, scientific, and technical services market. This contract falls under the Security Guards and Patrol Services sub-sector (NAICS 561612). The market is characterized by a mix of large, established security firms and numerous smaller specialized providers. Federal spending in this area is driven by the need to protect government assets, personnel, and facilities across various agencies. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without more granular data on service levels and geographic scope.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that the competition was open to a broader range of contractors, including larger firms. The absence of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for small businesses to directly participate in this specific contract are limited, though they may be involved as subcontractors to the prime awardee if such arrangements are made.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the U.S. Marshals Service, the contracting agency. As a purchase order, it is subject to standard procurement regulations and agency-specific internal controls. Transparency is limited by the undisclosed awardee and the use of SAP. While there is no explicit mention of an Inspector General's jurisdiction for this specific award, the Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General generally oversees federal spending within the department to ensure accountability and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

Lack of Awardee Transparency
Potential for Limited Competition
Undisclosed Performance Metrics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $47,520 to DOMESTIC AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED). FY2025 DISTRICT GUARD SUPPORT SERVICES - D07

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DOMESTIC AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED).

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (U.S. Marshals Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $47,520.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-10-01. End: 2025-09-30.

What is the specific nature of the security services required under this contract?

The contract is for 'Security Guards and Patrol Services' under NAICS code 561612. This typically includes services such as monitoring premises, preventing unauthorized access, deterring crime, and responding to security incidents. The specific requirements would detail the number of guards, their posts, hours of operation, required training and certifications, and any specialized equipment or protocols. Given the awardee is undisclosed and the contract is under SAP, detailed public information on the precise scope of services is limited. However, the context of the U.S. Marshals Service suggests a need for robust security measures to protect federal courthouses, detention facilities, or other sensitive locations within the District of Columbia.

How does the $47.52 million obligation compare to historical spending for similar security services by the U.S. Marshals Service?

Direct comparison of the $47.52 million obligation for FY2025 to historical spending is challenging without knowing the exact scope and duration of previous contracts. The U.S. Marshals Service, responsible for protecting federal courts and personnel, consistently requires significant security support. Historical data from contract databases would be needed to identify trends in spending for guard services in the District of Columbia or similar high-security environments. Factors such as inflation, changes in security threat levels, and shifts in operational needs can influence year-over-year spending. The current contract's one-year duration suggests it may be part of a recurring need rather than a large, multi-year capital investment.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding a contract of this size to an undisclosed domestic awardee under SAP?

The primary risk associated with an undisclosed awardee is a lack of transparency, making it difficult to assess the contractor's qualifications, past performance, and potential conflicts of interest. Awarding under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) can also pose risks if not managed properly. While SAP is designed for efficiency in smaller procurements, it may offer less robust competition and scrutiny than full and open competition, potentially leading to suboptimal pricing or service quality. Risks include the possibility of awarding to a less capable vendor, higher costs due to limited price discovery, and reduced accountability if performance issues arise and the awardee's identity is obscured.

What does the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation imply for the effectiveness of competition and taxpayer value?

Competing under SAP implies that the procurement process was streamlined and likely involved fewer bidders than a full and open competition. This is typically used for acquisitions below certain dollar thresholds (e.g., $250,000, though this can vary based on agency and circumstances). While SAP can lead to faster contract awards, it may limit the pool of potential offerors and reduce the intensity of price competition. For a contract valued at $47.52 million, competing under SAP is unusual and suggests either a series of smaller awards aggregated under one contract vehicle or a specific justification for using SAP. This could potentially result in less favorable pricing for taxpayers compared to a widely advertised, highly competitive bid process.

Are there any specific performance standards or metrics mentioned for the security guard services?

The provided data does not include specific performance standards or metrics for the security guard services. Typically, contracts of this nature would include a Performance Work Statement (PWS) or Statement of Work (SOW) detailing requirements such as guard presence, response times, incident reporting procedures, and training qualifications. The effectiveness of the contract and the value for money would be assessed against these metrics. Without this information, it is difficult to evaluate how well the contractor is meeting the government's needs or to benchmark performance against industry standards. The purchase order format, especially under SAP, might sometimes contain less detailed performance clauses than larger, more complex contracts.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 15M10222QA4700055

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: LABOR HOURS (Z)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1800 F ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20405

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $47,520

Exercised Options: $47,520

Current Obligation: $47,520

Actual Outlays: $51,155

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline