DHS awards $58.9K for 11-day hotel lodging for training students, highlighting short-term accommodation needs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $58,872 ($58.9K)

Contractor: Hall Brian

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2026-04-13

End Date: 2026-04-24

Contract Duration: 11 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.4K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 150

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ACQUIRING HOTEL ROOMS FOR STUDENTS WHEN ON CENTER DORMS ARE AT CAPACITY. THIS ORDER IS TO SECURE LODGING FOR A CLASS ARRIVING IN APRIL 2026.

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT SIMONS ISLAND, GLYNN County, GEORGIA, 31522

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $58,872 to HALL BRIAN for work described as: ACQUIRING HOTEL ROOMS FOR STUDENTS WHEN ON CENTER DORMS ARE AT CAPACITY. THIS ORDER IS TO SECURE LODGING FOR A CLASS ARRIVING IN APRIL 2026. Key points: 1. The contract addresses a specific, short-term need for student lodging, indicating potential capacity issues at permanent facilities. 2. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for this short-duration requirement. 3. Competition under SAP suggests a streamlined process for a relatively small dollar value. 4. The award to a single contractor, Hall Brian, warrants a review of the competition dynamics. 5. The service is geographically focused on Georgia, supporting the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. 6. The need for external lodging suggests a potential recurring requirement or a need for facility expansion planning.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The awarded amount of $58,872 for 11 days of lodging for an unspecified number of students appears reasonable for hotel accommodations in Georgia, especially considering the peak season or specific location demands. Benchmarking against per-diem rates for federal employees in the area would provide a more precise value assessment. The price is fixed, which limits upside risk for the government.

Cost Per Unit: The provided data does not allow for a precise per-unit cost calculation as the number of students is not specified. However, the total cost divided by the duration suggests an average daily rate that can be compared to local hotel pricing.

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically involves a less formal solicitation process. While this can expedite procurement for smaller dollar amounts, it may limit the pool of potential bidders compared to full and open competition. The specific details of how many offers were solicited or received are not provided, making it difficult to fully assess the level of competition.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, competition under SAP can lead to faster delivery of needed services but may not always secure the absolute lowest price achievable through broader competition.

Public Impact

Students attending training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia will benefit from secured lodging. The contract ensures that training can proceed as scheduled by providing necessary accommodation. The service directly supports the operational needs of the Department of Homeland Security's training programs. The workforce implications are indirect, supporting the training of federal law enforcement personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition under SAP may not have yielded the best possible price.
Lack of detail on the number of students makes it hard to assess per-student value.
The need for external lodging could indicate underutilization or capacity constraints of existing facilities.

Positive Signals

Addresses a critical, short-term need for student accommodation.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Procurement was completed efficiently under SAP for a relatively small value.

Sector Analysis

The hospitality sector, specifically hotels and motels, provides essential support services for various organizations, including government agencies. This contract falls within the broader professional, scientific, and technical services category, specifically related to lodging. Government spending in this area often supports temporary housing needs for training, conferences, or personnel relocation. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing per diem rates and bulk hotel booking agreements across different federal agencies and geographic locations.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract was specifically set aside for small businesses, nor is there information on subcontracting plans. Given the nature of the service (hotel lodging) and the relatively small dollar value, it is plausible that small businesses could have bid or been awarded this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was encouraged or achieved.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the contracting officer and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center's administrative and financial oversight bodies within the Department of Homeland Security. As a purchase order under SAP, the level of formal oversight might be less intensive than for larger, more complex contracts, but accountability for delivery and payment remains. Transparency is limited by the nature of SAP procurements, with less public detail available.

Related Government Programs

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Operations
Department of Homeland Security Student Support Services
Temporary Lodging Contracts
Government Travel and Accommodation

Risk Flags

Limited Competition
Potential Capacity Constraints
Lack of Detailed Student Count

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $58,872 to HALL BRIAN. ACQUIRING HOTEL ROOMS FOR STUDENTS WHEN ON CENTER DORMS ARE AT CAPACITY. THIS ORDER IS TO SECURE LODGING FOR A CLASS ARRIVING IN APRIL 2026.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HALL BRIAN.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $58,872.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-13. End: 2026-04-24.

What is the typical cost per student per night for this type of lodging, and how does it compare to federal per diem rates in the specified Georgia location?

The provided data does not specify the number of students, making a precise per-student cost calculation impossible. However, the total award of $58,872 over 11 days averages to approximately $5,352 per day. If we assume a cohort of, for example, 100 students, the cost per student per night would be around $53.52. This figure needs to be compared against the federal per diem rate for lodging in the relevant Georgia locality for the specified dates (April 2026). Per diem rates vary significantly by location and time of year, but this estimated nightly rate appears to be within a reasonable range for many areas, especially if the accommodation is not in a high-cost urban center. A detailed comparison would require knowing the exact location and the official per diem rate set by GSA for that period.

What specific factors led to the decision to use external hotel lodging instead of on-campus dormitories?

The data indicates that this order is to secure lodging 'when on center dorms are at capacity.' This suggests that the primary driver for seeking external hotel accommodation is a temporary surge in student enrollment or a specific class size that exceeds the available on-campus dormitory capacity. This could be due to scheduled maintenance, unexpected repairs, or a planned increase in training throughput that temporarily outstrips the dormitory infrastructure. The need for external lodging highlights a potential challenge in matching facility capacity with training demands, possibly requiring better long-term capacity planning or more flexible dormitory management.

How many bids were solicited or received for this contract, and what was the basis for selecting Hall Brian?

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which generally involves a less formal solicitation process than full and open competition. While the data states it was 'competed,' it does not specify the number of solicitations sent out or the number of bids received. The selection of Hall Brian would typically be based on the offer that represents the best value to the government, considering factors such as price, technical qualifications (if applicable for lodging), and past performance. Without more detailed procurement records, the specific rationale for choosing Hall Brian over other potential bidders cannot be determined, but it implies their offer met the government's requirements and was deemed advantageous.

What is the historical spending pattern for similar lodging needs at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for lodging at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. To assess this, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like USASpending.gov or FPDS) for previous contracts awarded to FLETC or DHS for hotel accommodations, potentially filtering by the same North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code (721110 - Hotels and Motels) or by keywords related to student lodging. Analyzing past awards would reveal the frequency, duration, cost, and contractors used for similar needs, helping to understand if this $58.9K award is typical, an outlier, or indicative of a growing trend in reliance on external lodging.

Are there any performance risks associated with using a single contractor, Hall Brian, for this critical student accommodation?

The primary performance risk associated with using a single contractor, Hall Brian, for this critical student accommodation is the potential for service disruption if the contractor fails to meet the agreed-upon terms. This could include issues with room availability, quality of service, or adherence to the schedule. Given the short duration (11 days) and the specific nature of the requirement, the risk might be considered moderate, assuming Hall Brian has a good track record. However, the government should have contingency plans in place, such as identifying alternative lodging providers, in case of unforeseen issues with the primary contractor. The limited competition aspect also means less leverage if performance issues arise.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Accommodation and Food Services › Traveler Accommodation › Hotels (except Casino Hotels) and Motels

Product/Service Code: TRANSPORT, TRAVEL, RELOCATION › TRAVEL, LODGING, RECRUITMENT SVCS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 70LGLY25QGLB00090

Offers Received: 150

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 101 N ACACIA AVE, SOLANA BEACH, CA, 92075

Business Categories: Category Business, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $58,872

Exercised Options: $58,872

Current Obligation: $58,872

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline