JBS International awarded $5.1M contract for National Agricultural Workers Survey by Department of Labor

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,142,777 ($5.1M)

Contractor: JBS International, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Labor

Start Date: 2024-09-28

End Date: 2026-03-29

Contract Duration: 547 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION (ETA)'S NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS SURVEY (NAWS)

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20210

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Labor obligated $5.1 million to JBS INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION (ETA)'S NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS SURVEY (NAWS) Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust market for these services. 2. The contract duration of 547 days indicates a medium-term engagement for data collection and analysis. 3. The firm-fixed-price structure shifts performance risk to the contractor, JBS International. 4. This award represents a single delivery order, potentially part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle. 5. The administrative management and general management consulting services category is broad, encompassing various potential activities. 6. The contract's focus on the National Agricultural Workers Survey highlights its role in understanding a specific, vital workforce.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $5.14 million over approximately 1.5 years for a national survey is within a reasonable range for such data collection and analysis efforts. Benchmarking against similar large-scale federal surveys would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests that the government has negotiated a set price, which can be advantageous if the contractor manages costs effectively. However, without detailed cost breakdowns or comparisons to similar contracts, a definitive assessment of exceptional value is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified vendors had the opportunity to bid. This process typically fosters a competitive environment, encouraging bidders to offer their best pricing and technical solutions to secure the award. The fact that it was competed openly suggests that the government sought the most advantageous offer from a wide range of potential contractors. The number of bidders is not specified, but the competition type itself is a positive indicator for price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by promoting a more competitive bidding process, which can lead to lower prices and better quality services. This approach ensures that taxpayer funds are used efficiently by leveraging the broadest possible market.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration (ETA), which will receive critical data for policy development and workforce analysis. The services delivered will involve the collection, analysis, and reporting of data related to agricultural workers, crucial for understanding labor conditions and trends in this sector. The geographic impact is national, as the survey aims to capture data from agricultural workers across the United States. Workforce implications include the potential for employment opportunities for survey researchers, data collectors, and analysts involved in the project.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if survey objectives are not clearly defined and managed.
Reliance on contractor's ability to accurately capture data from a potentially transient and hard-to-reach population.
Ensuring data quality and integrity throughout the survey lifecycle.

Positive Signals

Award to an established contractor, JBS International, Inc., suggests a level of confidence in their capabilities.
Firm-fixed-price contract aligns incentives for efficient project completion.
The contract supports a vital government function in understanding agricultural labor.

Sector Analysis

The administrative management and general management consulting services sector is a significant part of the federal procurement landscape, encompassing a wide array of support functions for government agencies. This contract falls within the broader professional services category, which is characterized by expertise-driven offerings. Federal spending in this area often supports program management, policy analysis, and operational efficiency. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found by analyzing other large-scale data collection and survey contracts awarded by agencies like the Bureau of Labor Statistics or other research-focused entities.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, JBS International, Inc., is likely a large business. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses within this award. The absence of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific contract are limited unless they are subcontracted by the prime contractor.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will primarily reside with the Department of Labor, specifically the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM). As a firm-fixed-price contract, oversight will focus on ensuring the contractor meets the defined scope, deliverables, and timelines. Transparency is facilitated through federal procurement databases where contract awards are published. The Inspector General for the Department of Labor may have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.

Related Government Programs

National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS)
Bureau of Labor Statistics Surveys
Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration Programs
Federal Data Collection Contracts
Administrative Management Consulting Services

Risk Flags

Potential for data quality issues if contractor under-resources survey execution.
Risk of scope creep if survey requirements are not tightly managed.
Dependence on contractor's ability to access and survey a potentially hard-to-reach population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Labor awarded $5.1 million to JBS INTERNATIONAL, INC.. EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION (ETA)'S NATIONAL AGRICULTURAL WORKERS SURVEY (NAWS)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JBS INTERNATIONAL, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Labor (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-09-28. End: 2026-03-29.

What is the historical spending pattern of the Department of Labor on the National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS)?

Analyzing historical spending on the NAWS is crucial for understanding the long-term investment in this data collection effort and for benchmarking current contract values. While the provided data focuses on a single award to JBS International, Inc. for $5.14 million, a comprehensive review would involve examining previous NAWS contracts, their values, durations, and awarded contractors over several fiscal years. This would reveal trends in funding levels, identify any significant increases or decreases in spending, and highlight the stability or volatility of the program's budget. Understanding this history allows for a more informed assessment of whether the current award represents a continuation of established spending patterns, a significant deviation, or an adjustment due to inflation or expanded scope. Without access to historical NAWS contract data, it is difficult to provide specific figures, but such analysis is a standard component of federal spending analysis.

How does the awarded price compare to similar federal contracts for national surveys or data collection efforts?

Benchmarking the $5.14 million contract value against similar federal contracts is essential for assessing value for money. This comparison should ideally include contracts for national surveys, large-scale data collection, and workforce analysis awarded by various federal agencies, such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Census Bureau, or other departments with research arms. Factors to consider in the comparison include the survey's scope (e.g., sample size, geographic coverage, complexity of data collected), duration, and the specific services required (e.g., survey design, data collection methodology, analysis, reporting). A firm-fixed-price contract, like this one, should also be compared to other fixed-price contracts to ensure a fair comparison. If similar contracts were awarded at significantly lower prices for comparable work, it might indicate that the current award is not optimal. Conversely, if the price is in line with or lower than benchmarks, it suggests reasonable value.

What is JBS International, Inc.'s track record with federal contracts, particularly in data collection and survey management?

Evaluating JBS International, Inc.'s past performance is critical for assessing the risk associated with this contract. A review of their federal contracting history, accessible through databases like SAM.gov or FPDS, would reveal their experience with similar projects. Key aspects to examine include the number and value of previous contracts, the agencies they have served, and the types of services rendered. Specifically, their experience with large-scale data collection, survey methodologies, managing field operations, and ensuring data quality for government clients would be highly relevant. Performance ratings from past contracts, if available, provide direct feedback on their reliability, timeliness, and quality of work. A strong track record with relevant projects suggests a lower risk of performance issues, while a history of problems or limited relevant experience might raise concerns.

What are the potential risks associated with the firm-fixed-price contract type for this specific survey?

While firm-fixed-price (FFP) contracts are generally favored for shifting risk to the contractor and ensuring cost certainty for the government, they carry specific risks, especially for complex data collection like the NAWS. A primary risk is that the contractor, JBS International, Inc., might cut corners on quality or scope to maximize profit if they underestimated costs or encounter unforeseen challenges. This could impact data accuracy, completeness, or timeliness. Conversely, if the contractor accurately priced the contract and performs efficiently, it represents good value. However, if the scope of work significantly changes or expands beyond what was reasonably foreseeable during bidding, the contractor may seek change orders, potentially increasing costs. The government's ability to clearly define and manage the scope is crucial to mitigating these risks under an FFP arrangement.

How does the National Agricultural Workers Survey contribute to the Department of Labor's overall mission and policy objectives?

The National Agricultural Workers Survey (NAWS) is a cornerstone data collection program for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA) within the Department of Labor (DOL). Its primary contribution is providing essential, timely, and reliable data on the characteristics, employment conditions, and demographic profiles of agricultural workers in the United States. This information is vital for informing policy decisions related to labor standards, worker protections, immigration policy, and workforce development programs. By understanding the conditions and needs of this specific, often vulnerable, workforce, the DOL can better design and implement initiatives aimed at ensuring fair treatment, improving working environments, and addressing labor shortages or surpluses in the agricultural sector. The data also supports research and analysis that can highlight emerging trends and challenges within agricultural employment.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services

Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 1605C2-24-Q-00077

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 11200 ROCKVILLE PIKE STE 320, ROCKVILLE, MD, 20852

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $5,506,518

Exercised Options: $5,506,518

Current Obligation: $5,142,777

Actual Outlays: $4,927,059

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA18D00AE

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline