Department of Labor awards $45.1M contract to EXCEED, LLC for Job Corps Center Operations, with 8 bidders

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $45,111,569 ($45.1M)

Contractor: Exceed, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Labor

Start Date: 2021-11-01

End Date: 2026-11-30

Contract Duration: 1,855 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 8

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PINELLAS COUNTY JOB CORPS CENTER OPERATIONS WITH OUTREACH AND ADMISSIONS AND CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT PETERSBURG, PINELLAS County, FLORIDA, 33712

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Labor obligated $45.1 million to EXCEED, LLC for work described as: PINELLAS COUNTY JOB CORPS CENTER OPERATIONS WITH OUTREACH AND ADMISSIONS AND CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract value of $45.1M over 5 years suggests a significant investment in workforce development. 2. Full and open competition indicates a potentially competitive bidding process, aiming for fair pricing. 3. The presence of 8 bidders points to a healthy level of market interest and potential for price discovery. 4. The contract's focus on Job Corps operations highlights a commitment to vocational training and career services for youth. 5. The definitive contract type with firm fixed pricing offers cost predictability for the government. 6. The geographic focus on Florida (st: FL) suggests a targeted approach to serving a specific regional population.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $45.1 million over approximately five years averages to about $9 million annually. This figure appears reasonable for operating a Job Corps center, which typically involves extensive training facilities, staff, and support services. Benchmarking against similar Job Corps center operations contracts would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm fixed price structure helps control costs, but the overall value is contingent on the quality and effectiveness of the services delivered.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' which implies that while the competition was broad, certain specific sources were initially excluded before the final award. With 8 bidders participating, the competition level appears robust. This suggests that multiple entities were interested and capable of performing the required services, which generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive process with multiple bidders helps ensure that taxpayer funds are used efficiently by driving down prices and encouraging high-quality service delivery. The government likely secured a more competitive price due to the number of interested parties.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are individuals seeking vocational training and career development through the Job Corps program in Florida. The contract will fund the operation of a Job Corps center, including outreach, admissions, and career transition services. The geographic impact is concentrated in Florida, serving the state's youth population eligible for Job Corps services. Workforce implications include the creation and maintenance of jobs for instructors, administrators, and support staff at the Job Corps center.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for service quality variations among the 8 bidders, requiring strong performance monitoring.
Ensuring equitable access to services for all eligible individuals within the target demographic.
The 'after exclusion of sources' clause warrants understanding the rationale behind initial exclusions to ensure fairness.

Positive Signals

Full and open competition signals a commitment to leveraging market forces for efficiency.
The firm fixed price contract provides budget certainty for the Department of Labor.
The contract duration of nearly five years allows for program stability and long-term impact.

Sector Analysis

The Job Corps program falls within the broader education and workforce development sector, specifically focusing on vocational training. This contract supports the government's role in providing essential skills and employment opportunities to disadvantaged youth. The market for such services involves educational institutions, non-profit organizations, and private companies specializing in workforce training. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other Job Corps center contracts and similar federal workforce development initiatives.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (sb: false) was not a specific set-aside criterion for this contract. While EXCEED, LLC may engage small businesses as subcontractors, there is no explicit requirement or indication of a dedicated small business set-aside. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on EXCEED, LLC's subcontracting practices and whether smaller firms are leveraged for specific services.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Labor's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management (OASAM). Accountability measures are typically embedded within the contract's performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Job Corps Program
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Programs
Federal Job Training Programs
Vocational Education Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for performance variability given the scale of operations.
Need for robust monitoring of service delivery to ensure quality.
Ensuring equitable access and outcomes for diverse student populations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Labor awarded $45.1 million to EXCEED, LLC. PINELLAS COUNTY JOB CORPS CENTER OPERATIONS WITH OUTREACH AND ADMISSIONS AND CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is EXCEED, LLC.

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 $45.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-11-01. End: 2026-11-30.

What is the track record of EXCEED, LLC in managing federal contracts, particularly those related to education or workforce development?

Information regarding EXCEED, LLC's specific track record with federal contracts, especially in the education and workforce development sectors, is not detailed in the provided data. A thorough assessment would require reviewing their past performance on similar contracts, including client feedback, any past performance issues, and their history of meeting contractual obligations. Examining their financial stability and capacity to manage a contract of this magnitude ($45.1 million) is also crucial. Without this specific performance history, it is difficult to definitively assess their reliability and capability for this Job Corps center operation.

How does the annual cost per participant for this Job Corps center compare to national averages or similar centers in Florida?

The provided data does not include participant numbers or specific cost breakdowns per participant. To perform this comparison, one would need to know the projected number of students served annually by the Pinellas County Job Corps Center under this contract. Once that figure is obtained, the annual contract value ($45.1M / ~5 years) could be divided by the number of participants to derive a per-participant cost. This calculated figure would then need to be benchmarked against publicly available data for other Job Corps centers, both within Florida and nationally, to assess if it is competitive and represents good value for money.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) outlined in the contract to ensure service quality?

The provided data summary does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or service level agreements (SLAs) that EXCEED, LLC must meet. Typically, such contracts would include metrics related to student enrollment, completion rates, job placement success, employer satisfaction, and adherence to training standards. A detailed review of the full contract document would be necessary to identify these specific performance metrics and understand the mechanisms for monitoring and enforcing them. The effectiveness of the contract hinges on robust KPIs and SLAs that align with the goals of the Job Corps program.

What is the historical spending trend for Job Corps center operations in Florida or similar services provided by the Department of Labor?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending trends. To analyze this, one would need to access historical contract data for Job Corps center operations in Florida and potentially nationwide, as well as other similar workforce development services managed by the Department of Labor. This would involve looking at contract values, durations, and number of awards over several fiscal years to identify patterns, increases or decreases in spending, and the prevalence of different contract types or competition levels.

What specific services are included under 'outreach and admissions' and 'career transition services' within this contract?

The contract specifies 'outreach and admissions' and 'career transition services' as key components. Outreach and admissions likely involve recruiting eligible youth, screening applicants, and enrolling them into the Job Corps program. Career transition services typically encompass job placement assistance, career counseling, alumni support, and follow-up services after students complete their training. The exact scope and deliverables for these services would be detailed in the contract's statement of work, outlining the specific activities, targets, and reporting requirements for EXCEED, LLC.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Technical and Trade Schools › Other Technical and Trade Schools

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 1605JE-21-R-00002

Offers Received: 8

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 8400 CORPORATE DR STE 250, LANDOVER, MD, 20785

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, HUBZone Firm, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Other Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $55,436,670

Exercised Options: $55,436,670

Current Obligation: $45,111,569

Actual Outlays: $40,839,257

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline