HUD awarded $15.6M to Golden Feather Realty Services Inc. for unspecified services, with no competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $155,962,760 ($156.0M)
Contractor: Golden Feather Realty Services Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development
Start Date: 2000-02-15
End Date: 2005-01-31
Contract Duration: 1,812 days
Daily Burn Rate: $86.1K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Place of Performance
Location: SHAVANO PARK, BEXAR County, TEXAS, 78231
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Housing and Urban Development obligated $156.0 million to GOLDEN FEATHER REALTY SERVICES INC for work described as: Key points: 1. The contract's value of $15.6 million over its period of performance raises questions about cost-effectiveness given the lack of competitive bidding. 2. The sole-source nature of this award limits price discovery and potentially increases the risk of overpayment. 3. The absence of competition is a significant risk indicator, suggesting potential issues with market research or justification. 4. Performance context is limited as the specific services rendered are not detailed, making it difficult to assess value for money. 5. This contract falls within the administrative and support services sector for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. 6. The long duration of 1812 days (approximately 5 years) for a non-competed award warrants scrutiny.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
Benchmarking the value of this $15.6 million contract is challenging without knowing the specific services provided. However, awarding such a substantial sum without competition suggests a potential lack of cost control. Compared to similar contracts that undergo competitive bidding, this award may represent a higher cost to taxpayers due to the absence of market-driven price negotiation. The firm fixed-price structure offers some cost certainty, but the overall value proposition is weakened by the procurement method.
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. The data indicates that only one vendor, Golden Feather Realty Services Inc., was considered for this award. This procurement approach bypasses the standard competitive process, which typically involves soliciting bids from multiple interested parties. The lack of competition means there was no opportunity for other qualified firms to offer their services, potentially limiting the government's access to the best possible pricing and solutions.
Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards mean taxpayers do not benefit from the price reductions and innovation that typically arise from a competitive bidding process. This can lead to higher costs for government services.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiary appears to be Golden Feather Realty Services Inc., which received a significant contract award. The services delivered are not specified, making it impossible to determine the direct public services or benefits. The contract is geographically located in Texas (ST: TX, SN: TEXAS), suggesting local or regional impact. Workforce implications are unknown without details on the nature of the services and whether they require specialized labor.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition raises concerns about potential price inflation and reduced value for money.
- The specific services are not defined, creating a lack of transparency regarding the contract's purpose and deliverables.
- The long contract duration (1812 days) for a sole-source award could indicate a lack of strategic planning or an over-reliance on a single provider.
Positive Signals
- The contract is firm fixed-price, which provides cost certainty for the government once the price is set.
- The award was made to Golden Feather Realty Services Inc., suggesting they possess capabilities deemed necessary by the agency, albeit without competitive validation.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, likely related to real estate or administrative support. The federal government spends billions annually on such services. Without specific details on the services rendered, it's difficult to benchmark against comparable contracts. However, the $15.6 million award size is substantial, and its non-competed nature is a key characteristic for sector analysis.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (SS: false, SB: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses arising from a small business set-aside. The award to a single entity, Golden Feather Realty Services Inc., does not provide specific opportunities for small business participation through subcontracting unless Golden Feather voluntarily engages them.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight mechanisms for this contract are not detailed in the provided data. As a sole-source award from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, it would typically fall under the agency's internal procurement oversight and potentially the jurisdiction of the HUD Office of Inspector General. Transparency is limited due to the lack of defined services and competitive justification.
Related Government Programs
- HUD Real Estate Services
- HUD Administrative Support Contracts
- Federal Sole-Source Procurements
- Government Realty Services
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of service specificity
- Long contract duration without competition
Tags
hud, department-of-housing-and-urban-development, golden-feather-realty-services-inc, sole-source, not-competed, firm-fixed-price, administrative-services, real-estate-services, texas, large-contract, long-duration
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $156.0 million to GOLDEN FEATHER REALTY SERVICES INC. See the official description on USAspending.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GOLDEN FEATHER REALTY SERVICES INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Housing and Urban Development (Department of Housing and Urban Development).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $156.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2000-02-15. End: 2005-01-31.
What specific services did Golden Feather Realty Services Inc. provide under this $15.6 million contract?
The provided data does not specify the exact services rendered by Golden Feather Realty Services Inc. The contract is categorized broadly, and without further details, it is impossible to ascertain the nature of the work performed. This lack of specificity hinders a thorough analysis of the contract's value, performance, and impact. Typically, contract descriptions would include details on real estate management, property appraisal, leasing services, or other administrative functions relevant to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's mission. The absence of this information is a significant gap in understanding the contract's purpose and effectiveness.
Why was this contract awarded on a sole-source basis instead of being competed?
The data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED,' signifying a sole-source award. Federal procurement regulations allow for sole-source awards under specific circumstances, such as when only one responsible source can satisfy the agency's needs, or in cases of urgent and compelling need. However, the justification for this specific award is not provided. Without this justification, it is difficult to assess whether the sole-source determination was appropriate and in the government's best interest. A competitive process typically ensures better pricing and wider access to qualified vendors, making sole-source awards a deviation that requires strong rationale.
How does the $15.6 million award compare to similar contracts for real estate or administrative services within HUD or other federal agencies?
Direct comparison is difficult without knowing the specific services Golden Feather Realty Services Inc. provided. However, $15.6 million is a substantial amount for a single contract, especially one awarded without competition. Typically, contracts of this magnitude undergo rigorous competitive evaluation to ensure fair pricing and optimal service delivery. If the services were standard, a competitive process might have yielded multiple bids, potentially leading to a lower overall cost or enhanced service features. The lack of competitive benchmarking makes it challenging to definitively state if this award represents good value for money, but the non-competed nature raises a flag for potential cost inefficiencies compared to market-driven pricing.
What is the track record of Golden Feather Realty Services Inc. with federal contracts, particularly with HUD?
The provided data identifies Golden Feather Realty Services Inc. as the contractor but does not offer details on their past performance or track record with federal agencies, including HUD. A comprehensive analysis would require examining historical contract awards, performance reviews, and any past issues or successes. Without this information, it's challenging to assess the contractor's reliability, expertise, and history of delivering value. The fact that they received a significant sole-source award suggests they may have had a prior relationship or specific capabilities deemed essential by HUD, but this is speculative without further data.
What are the potential risks associated with awarding a contract of this size and duration without competition?
The primary risks associated with awarding a $15.6 million contract over 1812 days without competition include: 1) Inflated pricing: Without competitive pressure, the contractor may not offer the most cost-effective solution. 2) Suboptimal performance: The lack of competitive alternatives might reduce the incentive for the contractor to deliver exceptional service. 3) Limited innovation: The government may miss out on innovative approaches or technologies offered by other potential bidders. 4) Agency lock-in: The agency becomes dependent on a single provider, potentially hindering future flexibility. 5) Lack of transparency: The justification for the sole-source award and the specific services provided are unclear, reducing accountability.
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Contractor Details
Address: 13409 NW MILITARY HWY, SAN ANTONIO, TX, 90
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $656,064,337
Exercised Options: $602,500,836
Current Obligation: $155,962,760
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Timeline
Start Date: 2000-02-15
Current End Date: 2005-01-31
Potential End Date: 2005-01-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2012-07-30
Other Department of Housing and Urban Development Contracts
- Single Family Master Subservicer Services in Support of Ginnie Mae's Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS) Programs — $982.0M (Carrington Mortgage Services LLC)
- TAS::86 4585::TAS Award of Portion of Hits Solicitation Under RFP R-Opc-21970 Pursuant to Settlement Agreement. the Contractor Shall Provide Data Center, Help Desk, and Disaster Recovery Services — $620.3M (Peraton Enterprise Solutions LLC)
- TAS::86 4585::TAS Award of Portion of Hits RFP to LMC. the Contractor IS Responsible for Lotus Notes, Desktops, Laptops, Field Office Servers, Lans, Printers, and Kiosks — $498.6M (Lockheed Martin Services, LLC)
- Single Family Master Subservicer Igf::ot::igf — $343.6M (Carrington Mortgage Services LLC)
- Single Family Master Subservicer Igf::ot::igf — $314.2M (Selene Finance LP)
View all Department of Housing and Urban Development contracts →