Defense Commissary Agency awards $5.98M contract for Barksdale AFB commissary shelf stocking and custodial operations

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,981,987 ($6.0M)

Contractor: Pride Industries

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2021-08-01

End Date: 2026-07-31

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: BARKSDALE AFB COMMISSARY: SHELF STOCKING OPERATIONS, RECEIVING/STORAGE/HOLDING AREA AND CUSTODIAL OPERATIONS

Place of Performance

Location: BARKSDALE AFB, BOSSIER County, LOUISIANA, 71110

State: Louisiana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $6.0 million to PRIDE INDUSTRIES for work described as: BARKSDALE AFB COMMISSARY: SHELF STOCKING OPERATIONS, RECEIVING/STORAGE/HOLDING AREA AND CUSTODIAL OPERATIONS Key points: 1. Contract awarded to PRIDE INDUSTRIES for shelf stocking, receiving, storage, holding, and custodial services. 2. The contract duration is 5 years, indicating a long-term need for these essential support functions. 3. The firm-fixed-price structure aims to provide cost certainty for the government. 4. The contract was not competed, raising questions about potential value for money. 5. Services are concentrated in Louisiana, impacting the local workforce and economy. 6. The absence of small business set-aside suggests limited opportunities for smaller enterprises in this specific contract.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $6 million over five years for commissary support services appears reasonable given the scope of operations. However, without a competitive bidding process, it is difficult to definitively benchmark the pricing against market rates or identify potential cost savings. The firm-fixed-price contract type offers predictability but may not fully capture efficiencies that could arise from a more dynamic pricing structure.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not open to competition from other potential vendors. This approach is typically used when a specific contractor is deemed uniquely qualified or when circumstances prevent a full and open competition. The lack of competition limits the government's ability to solicit the best possible pricing and service offerings from the market.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not be receiving the most cost-effective solution due to the absence of competitive pressure to drive down prices.

Public Impact

Military personnel and their families at Barksdale Air Force Base benefit from a well-maintained and stocked commissary. The contract ensures the smooth operation of essential retail support services within the commissary. The geographic impact is localized to Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. The contract supports jobs within the service industry, likely benefiting the local workforce in Louisiana.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
Sole-source award limits transparency in pricing and service selection.
Potential for complacency from the contractor due to lack of competitive pressure.

Positive Signals

Long-term contract provides stability for service delivery.
Firm-fixed-price contract offers budget certainty.
Contractor is responsible for a comprehensive set of support services.

Sector Analysis

The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) operates a global chain of commissaries providing groceries to military personnel and their families. This contract falls within the broader support services sector, specifically focusing on retail operations and facility maintenance. Comparable spending benchmarks for similar commissary support services are not readily available, but the contract value appears consistent with the scale of operations for a single base facility.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to include any specific small business set-aside provisions, nor is there information indicating subcontracting requirements for small businesses. Consequently, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular award is likely minimal, with opportunities primarily flowing to the prime contractor, PRIDE INDUSTRIES.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the Defense Commissary Agency's contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award, but contract performance data should be available internally.

Related Government Programs

Defense Commissary Agency Operations
Base Support Services
Retail Operations Support
Facility Maintenance Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for higher costs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $6.0 million to PRIDE INDUSTRIES. BARKSDALE AFB COMMISSARY: SHELF STOCKING OPERATIONS, RECEIVING/STORAGE/HOLDING AREA AND CUSTODIAL OPERATIONS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PRIDE INDUSTRIES.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Commissary Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-08-01. End: 2026-07-31.

What is the track record of PRIDE INDUSTRIES in providing similar support services to government entities?

PRIDE INDUSTRIES has a history of providing facilities management and support services across various government sectors. While specific details on their performance with the Defense Commissary Agency for shelf stocking and custodial operations are not provided in this data, their broader experience suggests a capacity to handle such requirements. A deeper dive into past performance evaluations, contract awards, and any reported issues or successes with similar government contracts would offer a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability and effectiveness in this domain. Analyzing their performance on other long-term service contracts could provide insights into their ability to maintain service quality and manage operational costs over extended periods.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar commissary support services at other military bases?

Direct comparison of pricing for this contract to similar services at other military bases is challenging due to the sole-source nature of this award and the lack of publicly available detailed cost breakdowns. Typically, competitive bidding allows for price discovery and benchmarking. Without this, it's difficult to ascertain if the approximately $5.98 million over five years represents a value-for-money proposition. To conduct a thorough comparison, one would need access to data from other commissaries, ideally under competitively awarded contracts, for services like shelf stocking, receiving, storage, and custodial operations, considering factors like base size, operational tempo, and local labor costs.

What are the primary risks associated with a sole-source award for essential commissary operations?

The primary risks associated with a sole-source award for essential commissary operations include potential overpayment due to the absence of competitive pricing, reduced incentive for the contractor to innovate or improve efficiency, and a lack of transparency in the procurement process. Taxpayers may bear a higher cost than necessary. Furthermore, if the sole-source contractor experiences performance issues or financial instability, the government has limited immediate alternatives for service continuity without a lengthy and potentially disruptive re-procurement process. This can also lead to a potential over-reliance on a single vendor, diminishing bargaining power.

How effective are firm-fixed-price contracts in ensuring quality service delivery for support functions like shelf stocking and custodial work?

Firm-fixed-price (FFP) contracts are generally effective in providing cost certainty for the government, as the contractor assumes the risk of cost overruns. For services like shelf stocking and custodial work, FFP contracts can ensure that the government pays a predetermined price for the defined scope of work. This structure incentivizes the contractor to manage their costs efficiently to maximize profit. However, the effectiveness in ensuring quality hinges on the clarity and comprehensiveness of the contract's performance standards and the government's ability to monitor and enforce them. Without robust performance metrics and oversight, an FFP contract might lead to cost savings for the contractor at the expense of service quality.

What is the historical spending pattern for commissary support services at Barksdale AFB or similar facilities?

Historical spending data for commissary support services specifically at Barksdale AFB is not provided in the current dataset. To analyze historical spending patterns, one would need access to previous contract awards for these services at this specific base or comparable facilities. This would involve examining contract durations, values, and whether they were competitively or sole-source awarded. Understanding past spending trends, including any escalations in costs or changes in service providers, is crucial for assessing the current contract's value and identifying potential long-term cost efficiencies or inefficiencies in commissary support operations.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Other Support Services › All Other Support Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 10030 FOOTHILLS BLVD, ROSEVILLE, CA, 95747

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: $7,459,404

Exercised Options: $7,459,404

Current Obligation: $5,981,987

Actual Outlays: $2,474,390

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline