Food services and kitchen equipment for Gulfport retirement home awarded to Global Connections to Employment, Inc. for $5.09M

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,088,522 ($5.1M)

Contractor: Global Connections to Employment, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of the Treasury

Start Date: 2025-04-01

End Date: 2027-03-31

Contract Duration: 729 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.0K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS TO PROVIDE MEALS TO RESIDENTS AND PROCUREMENT TO REPLACE NEEDED KITCHEN EQUIPMENT OF THE ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME IN GULFPORT, MS

Place of Performance

Location: GULFPORT, HARRISON County, MISSISSIPPI, 39507

State: Mississippi Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Treasury obligated $5.1 million to GLOBAL CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT, INC. for work described as: FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS TO PROVIDE MEALS TO RESIDENTS AND PROCUREMENT TO REPLACE NEEDED KITCHEN EQUIPMENT OF THE ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME IN GULFPORT, MS Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential food services and equipment replacement for a specific federal facility. 2. The award is a definitive contract with a firm fixed price, indicating predictable costs. 3. The contractor, Global Connections to Employment, Inc., has secured this award without open competition. 4. The contract duration is approximately two years, aligning with operational needs. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 722310 suggests a focus on food service operations. 6. The contract is not set aside for small businesses, nor does it appear to involve subcontracting.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $5.09 million for two years of food services and kitchen equipment replacement for the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS, appears to be within a reasonable range for such specialized operations. However, without specific benchmarks for similar facilities or detailed breakdowns of the equipment costs versus service costs, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The firm fixed-price structure helps control costs, but the lack of competition limits the opportunity for price discovery and potential savings.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. This approach is typically used when only one vendor can provide the required goods or services, or in specific circumstances defined by federal acquisition regulations. The lack of competition means that the government did not solicit bids from other qualified contractors, potentially limiting the opportunity to secure the best possible price or terms.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not benefit from the competitive pricing that could have been achieved through an open bidding process. The absence of competition means there's less pressure on the contractor to offer the lowest possible price.

Public Impact

Residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS, will benefit from consistent food services and updated kitchen equipment. The contract ensures the provision of meals, a critical service for the health and well-being of the facility's residents. The procurement includes replacing needed kitchen equipment, which will improve the operational efficiency and safety of the food service. The primary geographic impact is localized to Gulfport, Mississippi, serving a specific federal facility. The contract supports jobs within the food service industry, likely benefiting the local workforce in the Gulfport area.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing and reduced value for taxpayer funds.
Sole-source awards can limit transparency and accountability in the procurement process.
The specific breakdown of costs between food services and equipment replacement is not detailed, hindering a granular value assessment.

Positive Signals

The firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the duration of the agreement.
The contract addresses essential operational needs for a federal retirement home, ensuring resident welfare.
The contractor, Global Connections to Employment, Inc., is tasked with providing critical services.

Sector Analysis

The food service industry is a significant sector within the broader services market. Federal agencies often contract out food services for institutions like military bases, hospitals, and retirement homes to specialized providers. While the exact market size for federal food service contracts is difficult to isolate, the overall food service industry is vast. This contract fits within the niche of institutional food services, where reliability, quality, and cost-effectiveness are key considerations. Benchmarking this contract's value would ideally involve comparing it to similar contracts for other federal retirement homes or large institutional feeding operations.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. Therefore, this award does not directly contribute to the federal government's small business contracting goals. The absence of small business participation in this specific award means that opportunities for smaller enterprises within the food service sector to engage with this particular federal facility are limited.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the purview of the Armed Forces Retirement Home's management and the contracting agency, the Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract, which obligates the contractor to deliver specified services and equipment. Transparency is somewhat limited due to the sole-source nature of the award, but contract details should be publicly available through federal procurement databases. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Armed Forces Retirement Home Operations
Federal Food Service Contracts
Institutional Kitchen Equipment Procurement
Department of the Treasury Procurement

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing.
Lack of detailed cost breakdown for equipment vs. services.
No small business participation noted.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Treasury awarded $5.1 million to GLOBAL CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT, INC.. FOOD SERVICE OPERATIONS TO PROVIDE MEALS TO RESIDENTS AND PROCUREMENT TO REPLACE NEEDED KITCHEN EQUIPMENT OF THE ARMED FORCES RETIREMENT HOME IN GULFPORT, MS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GLOBAL CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Treasury (Bureau of the Fiscal Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.

What is the track record of Global Connections to Employment, Inc. in providing similar food services to federal facilities?

Information regarding Global Connections to Employment, Inc.'s specific track record in providing food services to federal facilities is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing past performance evaluations, contract history, and any reported issues or successes with similar government contracts. Understanding their experience with institutional food service operations, adherence to dietary regulations, and ability to manage large-scale meal preparation is crucial for evaluating their capability to fulfill this contract effectively. Further research into their past performance metrics and client feedback would provide a clearer picture of their reliability and quality of service.

How does the per-resident meal cost compare to other federal retirement homes or similar institutions?

The provided data does not include a per-resident meal cost breakdown, making direct comparison difficult. To assess this, one would need to know the number of residents served by the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS, and divide the total food service cost by that number. This figure could then be benchmarked against per-resident meal costs at comparable federal facilities, such as other veterans' homes or military dining halls. Without this resident count and a clear separation of food service costs from equipment costs, a precise per-resident cost comparison is not feasible with the current information.

What are the specific types and costs of the kitchen equipment being procured under this contract?

The data indicates that procurement to replace needed kitchen equipment is part of this contract, but it does not specify the types or individual costs of the equipment. A detailed breakdown would be necessary to evaluate the value of the equipment portion of the contract. This would include identifying items such as ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, and other essential kitchen machinery, along with their respective prices. Understanding the age and condition of the current equipment, as well as the expected lifespan and efficiency of the new equipment, would also be important for assessing the necessity and value of this procurement.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis is not provided in the summary data. Federal regulations permit sole-source awards under specific circumstances, such as when only one responsible source is available or capable of meeting the agency's needs, or in cases of urgent and compelling need. Without the official justification document (e.g., a Justification and Approval for Other Than Full and Open Competition), it is impossible to determine the specific reasons why this contract was not competed. This lack of transparency is a key area for further inquiry.

What are the historical spending patterns for food services and equipment at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for food services and equipment at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, MS. To analyze historical trends, one would need access to previous contract awards and expenditures for these services at this specific facility over several fiscal years. This would allow for an assessment of whether the current $5.09 million award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of spending compared to past periods. Understanding historical costs is crucial for identifying potential cost efficiencies or inflationary pressures.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Accommodation and Food Services › Special Food Services › Food Service Contractors

Product/Service Code: OPERATION OF GOVT OWNED FACILITY › OPERATE GOVT OWNED BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 20342325Q00003

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1221 W LAKEVIEW AVE BLDG A, PENSACOLA, FL, 32501

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,887,560

Exercised Options: $8,225,673

Current Obligation: $5,088,522

Actual Outlays: $3,340,405

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline