Department of Labor awards $22.1M bridge contract to Education & Training Resources LLC for Job Corps Center services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,087,710 ($22.1M)

Contractor: Education & Training Resources LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Labor

Start Date: 2014-11-24

End Date: 2016-11-30

Contract Duration: 737 days

Daily Burn Rate: $30.0K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF ONEONTA JOB CORPS CENTER BRIDGE CONTRACT

Place of Performance

Location: BOWLING GREEN, WARREN County, KENTUCKY, 42103

State: Kentucky Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Labor obligated $22.1 million to EDUCATION & TRAINING RESOURCES LLC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF ONEONTA JOB CORPS CENTER BRIDGE CONTRACT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single vendor, raising questions about competition. 2. The $22.1M value for a 2-year period suggests a significant investment in training services. 3. Lack of competition and fixed-price structure may limit price discovery and potentially increase costs. 4. The sector involves vocational training, crucial for workforce development.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $22.1M over two years averages $11.05M annually. Without comparable contracts or detailed service breakdowns, it's difficult to assess if this pricing is competitive. The lack of competition makes benchmarking challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This method bypasses competitive bidding, potentially leading to higher prices and reduced innovation as there is no market pressure to offer the best value.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition means taxpayers may not be receiving the most cost-effective solution for these essential job training services.

Public Impact

Job Corps centers provide vital vocational training to disadvantaged youth. The continuity of services is critical for students enrolled in training programs. This contract's structure could impact the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the Oneonta Job Corps Center.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for overpayment due to sole-source award
Limited transparency in pricing

Positive Signals

Ensures continuity of essential training services
Fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government

Sector Analysis

The Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration oversees programs like Job Corps, which fall under the 'Other Technical and Trade Schools' NAICS code. Spending in this sector focuses on workforce development and vocational training.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to 'Education & Training Resources LLC'. Information regarding this entity's size or small business status is not provided, but the contract was not competed, suggesting it may not have been open to small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The lack of competition raises concerns about oversight. Robust oversight would typically involve ensuring fair pricing and performance, which is harder to verify in a sole-source scenario. Further review of the justification for sole-sourcing is warranted.

Related Government Programs

Other Technical and Trade Schools
Department of Labor Contracting
Employment and Training Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing pressure.
Potential for inflated costs due to lack of competition.
Limited transparency on vendor's qualifications and pricing justification.
Need for robust oversight to ensure value for taxpayer money.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Labor awarded $22.1 million to EDUCATION & TRAINING RESOURCES LLC. IGF::OT::IGF ONEONTA JOB CORPS CENTER BRIDGE CONTRACT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is EDUCATION & TRAINING RESOURCES LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $22.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2014-11-24. End: 2016-11-30.

What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis instead of through full and open competition?

The justification for a sole-source award typically involves circumstances where only one responsible source can provide the required services, or in emergency situations. Without specific documentation, it's unclear if such criteria were met. This lack of competition prevents a thorough assessment of whether alternative, potentially more cost-effective, solutions were overlooked.

How does the per-unit cost of services under this contract compare to similar Job Corps centers or training programs?

Benchmarking the per-unit cost is challenging due to the sole-source nature of this contract and the absence of detailed service breakdowns. A comprehensive cost analysis would require comparing the specific services provided and their associated costs against publicly available data for similar government-funded training programs or private sector alternatives.

What measures are in place to ensure the effectiveness and quality of training services provided by Education & Training Resources LLC under this contract?

Given the sole-source award, oversight mechanisms are crucial for ensuring service quality. The Department of Labor should have performance metrics and regular reviews in place to monitor the effectiveness of the training programs. Transparency regarding these oversight activities and performance outcomes is essential for accountability.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Technical and Trade Schools › Other Technical and Trade Schools

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2422 AIRWAY CT, BOWLING GREEN, KY, 42103

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $22,087,710

Exercised Options: $22,087,710

Current Obligation: $22,087,710

Actual Outlays: $74,558

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline