DHS awards $18.9M for guard, food, and transportation services to Florence Service Processing Center

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,913,800 ($18.9M)

Contractor: Akima Global Services, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2025-09-30

End Date: 2026-03-31

Contract Duration: 182 days

Daily Burn Rate: $103.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES GUARD, FOOD, AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO FLORENCE SERVICE PROCESSING CENTER. THIS TASK ORDER FUNDS OPTION YEAR 5.

Place of Performance

Location: FLORENCE, PINAL County, ARIZONA, 85132

State: Arizona Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $18.9 million to AKIMA GLOBAL SERVICES, LLC for work described as: THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES GUARD, FOOD, AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO FLORENCE SERVICE PROCESSING CENTER. THIS TASK ORDER FUNDS OPTION YEAR 5. Key points: 1. Contract provides essential services for migrant processing, indicating a sustained need for operational support. 2. The firm-fixed-price structure aims to control costs, but requires careful monitoring of service delivery. 3. Option year funding suggests contractor performance has met expectations in previous periods. 4. The contract's duration of 182 days for this option year indicates a short-term need for these specific services. 5. Geographic concentration in Arizona highlights the operational focus on border regions. 6. The services procured are critical for maintaining order and providing basic necessities within detention facilities.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $18.9 million for 182 days of service appears reasonable given the scope of guard, food, and transportation services for a processing center. Benchmarking against similar contracts for migrant detention facilities would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the firm-fixed-price contract type suggests a degree of cost certainty for the government, assuming services are delivered as specified.

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 this procurement method generally fosters competitive pricing and encourages a wider range of solutions. The government's ability to select from multiple qualified vendors suggests a healthy market for these services.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it typically leads to more competitive pricing and a greater likelihood of securing the best value for the government's investment.

Public Impact

Migrants processed at the Florence Service Processing Center benefit from essential services including security, sustenance, and transportation. The contract ensures the continuity of operations at a key immigration processing facility. Services are delivered within Arizona, directly impacting the management of border-related activities. The contract supports jobs within the security, food service, and transportation sectors, likely benefiting the local workforce in Arizona.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if service requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical services necessitates robust performance monitoring.
Ensuring consistent quality of food and transportation services over the contract period.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost predictability.
Continuation of services via an option year indicates satisfactory past performance.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader government services sector, specifically supporting immigration and border management operations. The market for security, food, and transportation services for government facilities, particularly those related to immigration, is competitive. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other contracts for similar services at detention or processing centers across different agencies.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). While this contract was awarded to Akima Global Services, LLC, there is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses are involved in the supply chain or as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract is likely managed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel responsible for the Florence Service Processing Center. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance standards outlined in the contract and the firm-fixed-price structure. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though specific performance metrics may not be publicly disclosed.

Related Government Programs

Immigration and Customs Enforcement Operations
Border Security Services
Detention Facility Management
Federal Contract Services

Risk Flags

Potential for service quality degradation under firm-fixed-price if contractor faces cost overruns.
Dependence on contractor performance for critical operational functions.
Need for vigilant oversight to ensure compliance with service level agreements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $18.9 million to AKIMA GLOBAL SERVICES, LLC. THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES GUARD, FOOD, AND TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO FLORENCE SERVICE PROCESSING CENTER. THIS TASK ORDER FUNDS OPTION YEAR 5.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AKIMA GLOBAL SERVICES, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $18.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-30. End: 2026-03-31.

What is the historical spending trend for guard, food, and transportation services at the Florence Service Processing Center?

Historical spending data for this specific contract indicates that this task order funds Option Year 5, suggesting a multi-year engagement with Akima Global Services, LLC or its predecessors. The total value for this option year is $18,913,800. To understand the trend, one would need to examine the values of Option Years 1 through 4, as well as any preceding contracts for these services at the Florence Service Processing Center. This would reveal whether spending has increased, decreased, or remained relatively stable over time, potentially correlating with changes in operational capacity, service requirements, or inflation.

How does the per-unit cost of services compare to similar contracts for migrant processing facilities?

A precise per-unit cost comparison is challenging without detailed service breakdowns (e.g., cost per meal, cost per guard hour, cost per transported individual) and specific contract details from comparable facilities. However, the total value of $18.9 million for approximately six months of service for a processing center suggests a significant operational scale. Benchmarking would require identifying contracts with similar scopes of work, geographic locations, and service levels. Factors like labor costs, local market conditions, and the specific security requirements of the facility heavily influence per-unit costs, making direct comparisons complex without granular data.

What is the track record of Akima Global Services, LLC in providing similar services to government agencies?

Akima Global Services, LLC is a known government contractor with a portfolio that includes logistics, security, and facility support services. Their track record would typically be assessed through past performance evaluations included in contract award documents and potentially through government performance rating systems (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS). For this specific contract, the fact that it is Option Year 5 suggests a history of satisfactory performance. A deeper dive would involve reviewing their performance on other ICE or DHS contracts, looking for any significant performance issues, contract disputes, or commendations.

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 such a contract would likely include: timeliness and quality of food services (e.g., nutritional standards, delivery schedules), effectiveness and responsiveness of security personnel (e.g., incident response times, adherence to post orders), reliability and safety of transportation services (e.g., on-time performance, vehicle maintenance, incident-free operations), and overall compliance with contract terms and conditions. The government's contracting officer and COR would monitor these KPIs to ensure satisfactory performance.

What is the potential risk associated with the firm-fixed-price contract type in this context?

The primary risk with a firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract is that the contractor may face financial strain if costs exceed their estimates, potentially leading to reduced service quality or attempts to cut corners to maintain profitability. Conversely, the government benefits from cost certainty. In the context of essential services like guard, food, and transportation for a processing center, any degradation in service quality due to contractor cost pressures could have significant implications for operational efficiency, safety, and the well-being of individuals being processed. Robust government oversight is crucial to mitigate these risks.

How does this contract align with the Department of Homeland Security's broader mission objectives?

This contract directly supports the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) mission to manage and secure the nation's borders and enforce immigration laws. By providing essential services at a processing center, it enables the efficient and orderly processing of individuals encountered at the border. The contract ensures that security is maintained, basic needs are met, and necessary transportation is available, all of which are critical components of border management and immigration enforcement operations.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Investigation and Security Services › Security Guards and Patrol Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Nana Regional Corporation, Inc.

Address: 2553 DULLES VIEW DR STE 700, HERNDON, VA, 20171

Business Categories: Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $18,913,800

Exercised Options: $18,913,800

Current Obligation: $18,913,800

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70CDCR20D00000004

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline