Labor Department awards $22.8M for National Agriculture Worker Survey administration and data products

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,838,804 ($22.8M)

Contractor: JBS International, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Labor

Start Date: 2019-05-10

End Date: 2024-09-27

Contract Duration: 1,967 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THIS FIRM FIXED PRICE TASK ORDER IS FOR SERVICES TO ADMINISTER THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WORKER SURVEY SURVEY OF HIRED CROP AND NURSERY WORKERS, AND PROVIDE DATA RESEARCH PRODUCTS TO ETA AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.

Place of Performance

Location: ROCKVILLE, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20852

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Labor obligated $22.8 million to JBS INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: THIS FIRM FIXED PRICE TASK ORDER IS FOR SERVICES TO ADMINISTER THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WORKER SURVEY SURVEY OF HIRED CROP AND NURSERY WORKERS, AND PROVIDE DATA RESEARCH PRODUCTS TO ETA AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES. Key points: 1. The contract focuses on administering a crucial survey to understand the agricultural workforce. 2. Data research products will support ETA and other federal agencies, indicating broad utility. 3. The firm fixed-price contract type suggests a defined scope and cost control. 4. A long duration (1967 days) indicates a sustained need for these services. 5. The contract is managed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541611 points to management consulting services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's value of $22.8 million over nearly five years for administering a national survey and producing data products appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar large-scale data collection and analysis contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the firm fixed-price nature suggests that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which can be a positive indicator for value if the scope is well-defined. The cost per day is approximately $11,557, which needs to be assessed against the complexity and deliverables of the survey administration and data research.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the competitive nature of the award process generally supports price discovery and potentially better value for the government. Full and open competition is the preferred method for federal procurements, aiming to ensure the government receives the best possible offers.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition maximizes the potential for cost savings for taxpayers by encouraging a wide range of vendors to offer their best pricing and services.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are federal agencies, particularly the Employment and Training Administration (ETA), which will receive valuable data for policy and program development. The contract delivers essential services for administering the National Agriculture Worker Survey, collecting data on hired crop and nursery workers. The data research products generated will inform understanding of the agricultural labor market, impacting workforce development and policy. The survey's focus on hired crop and nursery workers has implications for understanding the conditions and needs of this specific segment of the workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if survey methodology or data product requirements are not tightly managed over the long contract duration.
Reliance on a single contractor for a significant period could lead to complacency or reduced innovation if not actively managed.
Ensuring data quality and integrity throughout the survey administration and research process is critical.

Positive Signals

The firm fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process that likely identified a capable contractor.
The long duration indicates a sustained and recognized need for the services provided, suggesting program importance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically management consulting and administrative support. The market for survey administration and data research services is competitive, with numerous firms capable of undertaking such work. The Department of Labor's spending in this area supports its mission to understand and improve labor conditions and workforce development. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve other large-scale federal surveys or data collection initiatives across various agencies.

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 larger entity. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this data. The absence of a small business set-aside means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this contract would depend on the prime contractor's subcontracting strategy.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Labor's contracting officers and program managers within the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability by placing cost risk on the contractor. Transparency would be enhanced through regular reporting requirements and the public availability of the data products generated by the survey, subject to privacy considerations. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) Surveys
Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Surveys
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Data Reporting
H-2A Visa Program Administration
Agricultural Labor Market Information

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of performance degradation or vendor complacency.
Lack of specific bidder count limits assessment of competitive pressure on pricing.
No explicit mention of small business subcontracting goals requires further inquiry.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Labor awarded $22.8 million to JBS INTERNATIONAL, INC.. THIS FIRM FIXED PRICE TASK ORDER IS FOR SERVICES TO ADMINISTER THE NATIONAL AGRICULTURE WORKER SURVEY SURVEY OF HIRED CROP AND NURSERY WORKERS, AND PROVIDE DATA RESEARCH PRODUCTS TO ETA AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES.

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 $22.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-05-10. End: 2024-09-27.

What is the track record of JBS International, Inc. in administering large-scale federal surveys and producing data research products?

JBS International, Inc. has a history of performing government contracts, including those involving data collection, analysis, and program support. While specific details on their experience with the National Agriculture Worker Survey are not provided in this data snippet, their award under full and open competition suggests they met the qualifications outlined in the solicitation. A deeper dive into their past performance on similar contracts, particularly those requiring rigorous survey methodologies and the generation of actionable data insights for federal agencies, would be necessary for a comprehensive assessment. Reviewing their contract history with agencies like the Department of Labor, USDA, or HHS could reveal their capabilities in managing complex data-intensive projects and their success in meeting performance metrics and client expectations.

How does the cost of administering the National Agriculture Worker Survey compare to similar federal surveys?

Direct comparison of the $22.8 million cost for this contract to other federal surveys is challenging without detailed scope and deliverable information for those comparable surveys. The National Agriculture Worker Survey (NAWS) is a specific, ongoing effort to gather data on hired crop and nursery workers, a distinct population. Factors influencing cost include the survey's sample size, geographic reach, data collection methods (e.g., in-person interviews, phone, online), complexity of the questionnaire, and the scope of data products produced. For instance, a survey with a broader demographic scope or more complex analytical requirements might naturally incur higher costs. The firm fixed-price nature here suggests a defined budget, but the value proposition hinges on the quality and utility of the data collected relative to the investment.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this contract?

While specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided data, typical performance indicators for a contract of this nature would likely include metrics related to survey response rates, data accuracy and completeness, timeliness of data product delivery, adherence to budget, and overall client satisfaction. For the National Agriculture Worker Survey, achieving a statistically significant sample size with adequate representation across different agricultural sectors and geographic regions would be crucial. The quality and usability of the data research products for informing policy and program decisions by ETA and other agencies would also be a primary measure of success. Adherence to data privacy and security protocols would be non-negotiable performance standards.

What is the historical spending pattern for the National Agriculture Worker Survey or similar data collection efforts by the Department of Labor?

The provided data indicates a single delivery order valued at $22.8 million with a duration of 1967 days (approximately 5.4 years), starting in May 2019 and ending in September 2024. This suggests a significant, long-term investment in the National Agriculture Worker Survey. To understand historical spending patterns, one would need to examine previous contracts awarded for the administration of the NAWS or comparable agricultural labor surveys by the Department of Labor or other relevant agencies. Analyzing annual obligations, contract durations, and award values over several fiscal years would reveal trends in funding levels, potential fluctuations based on policy priorities or budget cycles, and the consistency of contractor support for this data collection initiative.

What are the potential risks associated with relying on JBS International, Inc. for this critical data collection and analysis?

Potential risks associated with relying on JBS International, Inc. for this contract include contractor performance issues, such as delays in data collection or reporting, or a decline in data quality over the contract's long duration. There's also a risk of vendor lock-in if the contractor develops unique proprietary systems or deep institutional knowledge that makes transitioning to another vendor difficult or costly. Furthermore, if the contract scope is not meticulously managed, there could be risks of scope creep, leading to cost increases or delays. Ensuring robust oversight and clear communication channels is vital to mitigate these risks and maintain the integrity and utility of the National Agriculture Worker Survey data.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 1630DC-19-Q-00012

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: $35,712,360

Exercised Options: $28,049,630

Current Obligation: $22,838,804

Actual Outlays: $14,098,369

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAA18D00AE

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline