NASA awards $3M mail services contract to Anthony Wayne Rehabilitation Center for handicapped & blind
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,028,288 ($3.0M)
Contractor: Anthony Wayne Rehabilitation Center for Handicapped & Blind Inc
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2023-10-01
End Date: 2026-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,095 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.8K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER MAIL SERVICES CONTRACT III
Place of Performance
Location: ORLANDO, BREVARD County, FLORIDA, 32899
State: Florida Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $3.0 million to ANTHONY WAYNE REHABILITATION CENTER FOR HANDICAPPED & BLIND INC for work described as: KENNEDY SPACE CENTER MAIL SERVICES CONTRACT III Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a non-profit organization focused on employment for individuals with disabilities. 2. The contract is for mail services, a critical but often overlooked operational function. 3. The duration of the contract is three years, indicating a stable, long-term need. 4. The award method suggests a specific purpose or existing relationship, warranting further review. 5. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the government. 6. The contract value is relatively modest, suggesting a focused scope of services.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this mail services contract is challenging without specific service level agreements or comparable contract data. The fixed-price nature provides cost certainty. However, the absence of a competitive bidding process means there's no direct market comparison to assess if the price represents the best value achievable. The contract's value of approximately $1 million per year for mail services appears reasonable for a federal facility of NASA's scale, but a detailed cost breakdown would be needed for a more definitive assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded using a sole-source justification, indicating that only one responsible source was determined to be capable of meeting the agency's needs. This approach bypasses the standard competitive bidding process. While it can be efficient for specific needs, it limits price discovery and may not yield the most cost-effective outcome for taxpayers compared to a full and open competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards mean taxpayers do not benefit from the price reductions typically achieved through competitive bidding, potentially leading to higher costs than if multiple vendors had vied for the contract.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are individuals with disabilities employed by the Anthony Wayne Rehabilitation Center, providing them with meaningful work opportunities. The contract ensures the reliable delivery and processing of mail for the Kennedy Space Center. The geographic impact is localized to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The contract supports a workforce dedicated to serving individuals with disabilities, aligning with social and economic inclusion goals.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition limits potential cost savings for taxpayers.
- Sole-source justification requires careful scrutiny to ensure no viable alternatives were overlooked.
- Performance metrics and quality assurance details are not readily available for public assessment.
Positive Signals
- Supports a non-profit organization providing employment for individuals with disabilities.
- Fixed-price contract offers cost predictability.
- Long-term contract provides stability for the service provider and ensures continuity of essential services.
Sector Analysis
The mail services sector, while not a high-tech industry, is essential for the functioning of government agencies. Federal mail services often involve significant volumes and require reliable logistics. Contracts in this space can range from simple postal services to complex mailroom management. This particular contract falls into the administrative support services category, with a specific focus on postal operations. Benchmarking is difficult without more granular data on service scope, but annual spending on such services across the federal government is substantial.
Small Business Impact
This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside. The contractor, Anthony Wayne Rehabilitation Center for Handicapped & Blind Inc., is a non-profit organization. While not a small business in the traditional sense, its mission aligns with social good objectives. There is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within this award.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) contracting officer and program management. As a fixed-price contract, the primary oversight focuses on ensuring the contractor meets the defined service requirements. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature and the lack of publicly available detailed performance reports. The Inspector General's office at NASA would have jurisdiction if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.
Related Government Programs
- Federal Mail Services
- Administrative Support Contracts
- NASA Procurement
- Contracts with Non-Profit Organizations
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award may limit cost savings.
- Lack of competitive bidding reduces price discovery.
- Performance metrics not publicly detailed.
Tags
nasa, kennedy-space-center, mail-services, definitive-contract, firm-fixed-price, sole-source, non-profit-contractor, administrative-support, florida, postal-service
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $3.0 million to ANTHONY WAYNE REHABILITATION CENTER FOR HANDICAPPED & BLIND INC. KENNEDY SPACE CENTER MAIL SERVICES CONTRACT III
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ANTHONY WAYNE REHABILITATION CENTER FOR HANDICAPPED & BLIND INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $3.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.
What specific mail services are included in this contract?
The provided data does not detail the specific services covered under the KENNEDY SPACE CENTER MAIL SERVICES CONTRACT III. Typically, such contracts encompass mail collection, sorting, distribution, postage, and potentially courier services within the facility or to external destinations. Given the scale of NASA's Kennedy Space Center, these services likely involve significant volumes of both incoming and outgoing mail, including official correspondence, operational documents, and potentially packages. A comprehensive understanding would require reviewing the contract's Statement of Work (SOW).
Why was this contract awarded as sole-source?
The contract was awarded as sole-source because the procuring agency, NASA, determined that Anthony Wayne Rehabilitation Center for Handicapped & Blind Inc. was the only responsible source capable of meeting the agency's needs. This justification often arises when a specific organization possesses unique capabilities, a pre-existing relationship, or a mission-oriented purpose that cannot be replicated by other potential bidders. For non-profit organizations like Anthony Wayne, sole-source awards can be utilized to support their social missions, such as providing employment for individuals with disabilities, provided they meet the government's requirements and are deemed the best source.
How does the contractor's mission align with federal procurement goals?
Anthony Wayne Rehabilitation Center for Handicapped & Blind Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing employment and rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities. Federal procurement regulations often encourage agencies to contract with such organizations through various mechanisms, including sole-source awards or specific set-asides, to support social and economic inclusion goals. By awarding this contract, NASA supports the contractor's mission to create job opportunities and foster independence for its clients, aligning with broader federal objectives of supporting vulnerable populations and promoting diversity in the workforce.
What is the historical spending on mail services at Kennedy Space Center?
Historical spending data specifically for 'KENNEDY SPACE CENTER MAIL SERVICES CONTRACT III' is not provided in the current dataset. However, the award of this contract for approximately $3.03 million over three years (roughly $1.01 million annually) suggests a consistent need for these services. To understand historical patterns, one would need to examine previous mail service contracts at KSC, looking at their values, durations, and award methods. This would reveal trends in spending, potential increases or decreases, and shifts in contracting strategies over time.
What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for mail services?
The primary risk associated with a sole-source award for mail services is the potential for a lack of cost efficiency. Without competition, the government may not achieve the lowest possible price for the services rendered. There's also a risk that the chosen contractor, while capable, might not offer the most innovative or efficient solutions available in the market. Furthermore, if the sole-source justification is not robust, it could indicate a missed opportunity to engage a broader range of vendors, potentially including small businesses or those offering specialized services. Ensuring strong contract oversight becomes crucial to mitigate these risks.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Postal Service › Postal Service
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 80KSC023R0005
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 8515 BLUFFTON RD, FORT WAYNE, IN, 46809
Business Categories: AbilityOne Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $4,209,678
Exercised Options: $3,093,902
Current Obligation: $3,028,288
Actual Outlays: $2,738,574
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-10-01
Current End Date: 2026-09-30
Potential End Date: 2028-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-27
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