US Marshals Service awards $3.7M contract for prisoner transportation to United Security Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,668,946 ($3.7M)

Contractor: United Security Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2025-05-16

End Date: 2026-10-31

Contract Duration: 533 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE PRISONER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IAW THE BPA PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT TO INCLUDE QUALIFIED CONTRACT DETENTION OFFICERS (CDOS) IN SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE (USMS) FOR REGIONS 1 AND 2.

Place of Performance

Location: RED BANK, MONMOUTH County, NEW JERSEY, 07701

State: New Jersey Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $3.7 million to UNITED SECURITY INC for work described as: CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE PRISONER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IAW THE BPA PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT TO INCLUDE QUALIFIED CONTRACT DETENTION OFFICERS (CDOS) IN SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE (USMS) FOR REGIONS 1 AND 2. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to United Security Inc. for prisoner transportation services. 2. Services are for US Marshals Service Regions 1 and 2. 3. Contract type is Time and Materials, with a ceiling of $3.7M. 4. The sector is Security Guards and Patrol Services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract is a Time and Materials award, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. The benchmark for similar contracts is not readily available, making a precise pricing assessment difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure may limit price discovery compared to fixed-price contracts.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers are impacted by the cost of prisoner transportation, which is a necessary but potentially expensive service. The efficiency of the service will determine the ultimate taxpayer burden.

Public Impact

Ensures the safe and secure transportation of federal prisoners. Supports the operational needs of the U.S. Marshals Service in key regions. Provides essential services for the justice system.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 68 / 10

Warning Flags

Positive Signals

Sector Analysis

The Security Guards and Patrol Services sector encompasses a wide range of security-related activities. Prisoner transportation is a specialized niche within this sector, requiring trained personnel and adherence to strict protocols.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to United Security Inc., which is not indicated as a small business. There is no specific mention of small business participation or subcontracting goals within the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

The U.S. Marshals Service is responsible for overseeing this contract. The Time and Materials nature of the award necessitates diligent oversight to ensure cost control and adherence to the Performance Work Statement.

Related Government Programs

Risk Flags

Tags

security-guards-and-patrol-services, department-of-justice, nj, bpa-call, 1m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $3.7 million to UNITED SECURITY INC. CONTRACTOR TO PROVIDE PRISONER TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IAW THE BPA PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT TO INCLUDE QUALIFIED CONTRACT DETENTION OFFICERS (CDOS) IN SUPPORT OF THE UNITED STATES MARSHALS SERVICE (USMS) FOR REGIONS 1 AND 2.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UNITED SECURITY INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-05-16. End: 2026-10-31.

What are the specific performance metrics and KPIs for the prisoner transportation services to ensure effectiveness and value for money?

The provided data does not detail specific performance metrics or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the prisoner transportation services. To ensure effectiveness and value for money, the U.S. Marshals Service should establish clear metrics related to on-time performance, security incident rates, prisoner welfare, and adherence to transport protocols. Regular performance reviews against these metrics are crucial for accountability and identifying areas for improvement.

How will the Time and Materials contract be managed to mitigate risks of cost overruns and ensure fair pricing?

Managing a Time and Materials contract requires robust oversight. The U.S. Marshals Service must implement strict controls on labor hours and material costs, conduct regular audits, and ensure that the contractor's billing accurately reflects the work performed and is in line with pre-negotiated rates. Establishing a ceiling and closely monitoring expenditures against it are critical to prevent cost overruns and ensure fair pricing.

What is the historical cost data for similar prisoner transportation services to establish a reliable benchmark for this contract?

Historical cost data for similar prisoner transportation services is not provided in the summary. To establish a reliable benchmark, the U.S. Marshals Service should analyze past contracts for comparable services, considering factors like geographic region, prisoner volume, security levels, and service duration. Benchmarking against industry standards and previous contract performance would provide a clearer picture of cost-effectiveness.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation ServicesInvestigation and Security ServicesSecurity Guards and Patrol Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPINGHOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 40 SHREWSBURY AVE, RED BANK, NJ, 07701

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,668,946

Exercised Options: $3,668,946

Current Obligation: $3,668,946

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15M40025AA3500020

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline

Start Date: 2025-05-16

Current End Date: 2026-10-31

Potential End Date: 2030-05-15 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2026-03-12

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