Fort Campbell custodial, grounds, and pest control contract awarded to Global Connections to Employment, Inc. for over $20 million

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $20,049,872 ($20.0M)

Contractor: Global Connections to Employment, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2020-04-24

End Date: 2025-11-05

Contract Duration: 2,021 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.9K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FORT CAMPBELL CUSTODIAL, GROUNDS AND PEST CONTROL IN FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY.

Place of Performance

Location: FORT CAMPBELL, CHRISTIAN County, KENTUCKY, 42223

State: Kentucky Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $20.0 million to GLOBAL CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT, INC. for work described as: FORT CAMPBELL CUSTODIAL, GROUNDS AND PEST CONTROL IN FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY. Key points: 1. The contract value of over $20 million over its period of performance suggests a significant need for facilities support services at Fort Campbell. 2. The award to Global Connections to Employment, Inc. indicates a focus on potentially supporting specific workforce initiatives, given the company's mission. 3. The 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' status raises questions about the procurement process and potential missed opportunities for broader market engagement. 4. The firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government, but may limit flexibility if requirements change significantly. 5. The duration of the contract, spanning from April 2020 to November 2025, indicates a long-term need for these essential base support services. 6. The absence of small business set-aside flags suggests this contract was not specifically targeted to small businesses, impacting their participation.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without more detailed service requirements and performance metrics. The total value of over $20 million for facilities support services, including custodial, grounds, and pest control, appears substantial for a single installation. However, without comparable contracts for similar-sized military installations or detailed breakdowns of service costs, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. The firm-fixed-price structure offers predictability, but the absence of competition could mean the government did not secure the most competitive pricing available in the market.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicated by the 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' status. This suggests that the procurement was likely conducted under specific exceptions to full and open competition, such as sole-source awards to entities meeting particular criteria or under urgent circumstances. The lack of competition means that multiple bidders were not evaluated, potentially limiting price discovery and the government's ability to leverage market competition to achieve the best possible value.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition means taxpayers may not have benefited from the cost savings that typically arise from a competitive bidding process. The government may have paid a higher price than if multiple companies had vied for the contract.

Public Impact

Military personnel and their families stationed at Fort Campbell benefit from well-maintained facilities and grounds, contributing to morale and operational readiness. The contract ensures essential services such as cleaning, landscaping, and pest management are consistently provided, maintaining a safe and sanitary environment. The geographic impact is localized to Fort Campbell, Kentucky, directly supporting the operations and living conditions at this major Army installation. The contract may have workforce implications, potentially providing employment opportunities, particularly if the contractor prioritizes hiring locally or individuals with specific needs.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
Firm-fixed-price contracts can be less adaptable to changing needs without costly modifications.
Performance details and quality metrics are not readily available for assessment.
The specific justification for 'not available for competition' needs further review to ensure fairness and efficiency.

Positive Signals

Ensures consistent delivery of essential base support services.
Firm-fixed-price provides budget certainty for the government.
Long-term contract indicates a stable need and potential for reliable service.
Contracting with Global Connections to Employment, Inc. may align with specific socio-economic goals if applicable.

Sector Analysis

Facilities Support Services is a broad category within the services sector, encompassing a wide range of activities necessary for the operation and maintenance of buildings and grounds. This contract falls under the NAICS code 561210, which includes establishments primarily engaged in operating and maintaining buildings and other facilities, on a contract or fee basis. The market for these services is competitive, with many providers ranging from large corporations to smaller, specialized firms. Government contracts for facilities support are common across various agencies, particularly for military bases, federal buildings, and public institutions, representing a significant portion of government spending on operational support.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This means that the procurement was not specifically designed to award a portion of the work to small business concerns. Consequently, small businesses did not have a guaranteed opportunity to compete for this specific contract. While the prime contractor, Global Connections to Employment, Inc., may engage small businesses as subcontractors, the absence of a set-aside suggests a limited direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this particular award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the purview of the contracting agency, the Department of Defense, and potentially the specific service branch or installation command at Fort Campbell. Accountability measures are typically embedded within the contract terms, including performance standards, reporting requirements, and payment schedules tied to satisfactory service delivery. Transparency is often limited for specific contract details, especially regarding the justification for non-competitive awards. Inspector General jurisdiction may be invoked if allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise during the contract's performance.

Related Government Programs

Base Operations Support (BOS)
Facilities Maintenance Contracts
Janitorial Services Contracts
Grounds Maintenance Contracts
Pest Control Services Contracts
Department of Defense Facilities Management

Risk Flags

Non-competitive award requires further scrutiny.
Potential for higher costs due to lack of competition.
Contract duration may expose government to market volatility risks.
Performance metrics and quality assurance details are not publicly available.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $20.0 million to GLOBAL CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT, INC.. FORT CAMPBELL CUSTODIAL, GROUNDS AND PEST CONTROL IN FORT CAMPBELL, KENTUCKY.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GLOBAL CONNECTIONS TO EMPLOYMENT, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of Defense Education Activity).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $20.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-04-24. End: 2025-11-05.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a non-competitive basis?

The provided data states the contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. This typically indicates that the procurement was conducted under specific exceptions to the Federal Acquisition Regulation's (FAR) requirement for full and open competition. Common justifications include: sole-source awards to a specific entity due to unique capabilities or qualifications, urgent and compelling needs where competition is not feasible, or if only one responsible source exists. Without further details from the contract award documentation (e.g., Justification and Approval document), the precise reason remains unknown. This lack of transparency prevents a thorough assessment of whether the non-competitive award was truly necessary and in the government's best interest.

How does the pricing of this contract compare to similar facilities support contracts at other military installations?

Direct comparison of pricing is difficult without access to detailed line-item costs, service levels, and performance metrics specific to this contract and comparable contracts. The total award value of over $20 million for custodial, grounds, and pest control services at Fort Campbell is substantial. However, 'value' is relative to the scope and quality of services delivered. Factors such as the size of the installation, the specific requirements for cleaning frequencies, landscaping intensity, and pest control protocols significantly influence costs. The firm-fixed-price nature provides cost certainty but may not reflect the most economical pricing if competition were leveraged. A comprehensive benchmark would require analyzing similar contracts with identical service scopes and performance standards.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?

The provided data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this contract. Typically, government contracts for facilities support services would outline measurable standards for performance, such as response times for pest control issues, cleanliness ratings for specific areas, or completion deadlines for grounds maintenance tasks. These KPIs and SLAs are crucial for ensuring the contractor meets the government's requirements and for holding them accountable. The absence of this information in the summary data limits the ability to assess the effectiveness and quality of the services being provided under this contract.

What is the track record of Global Connections to Employment, Inc. in performing similar government contracts?

Global Connections to Employment, Inc. (GCE) is known for its mission to employ individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment. Their track record in performing government contracts, particularly in facilities support services, would need to be reviewed through sources like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS). While GCE has a stated social mission, their performance on contracts like this one at Fort Campbell would be evaluated based on their ability to consistently deliver required services to the government's satisfaction, meet performance standards, and manage contract requirements effectively. Information on past performance, including any awards, penalties, or contract terminations, would provide insight into their reliability.

What is the historical spending trend for custodial, grounds, and pest control services at Fort Campbell?

The provided data only includes information for the current contract awarded in April 2020 with an end date of November 2025. To understand historical spending trends for these services at Fort Campbell, one would need to examine contract awards for similar services over previous years. This would involve querying federal procurement databases for contracts awarded to various entities for custodial, grounds maintenance, and pest control at Fort Campbell prior to 2020. Analyzing these past awards would reveal spending patterns, identify incumbent contractors, and potentially highlight changes in contract values or procurement strategies over time.

Does the firm-fixed-price (FFP) structure adequately account for potential fluctuations in material or labor costs over the contract's duration?

A firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract, like the one awarded to Global Connections to Employment, Inc., generally places the risk of cost overruns on the contractor. This means the contractor is obligated to perform the work for the agreed-upon price, regardless of fluctuations in their labor or material costs. While this provides budget certainty for the government, it can be a risk for the contractor if unforeseen economic conditions lead to significant cost increases. For a contract spanning several years (April 2020 - November 2025), there is a possibility of market shifts affecting labor wages or the cost of supplies (e.g., cleaning chemicals, fuel for grounds equipment). The contractor likely factored potential cost escalations into their initial bid, but significant, unanticipated inflation could impact their profitability or potentially lead to requests for contract modifications if allowed by the contract terms.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Facilities Support Services › Facilities Support Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: HE125420R1007

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1221 W LAKEVIEW AVE, PENSACOLA, FL, 32501

Business Categories: AbilityOne Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,049,872

Exercised Options: $20,049,872

Current Obligation: $20,049,872

Actual Outlays: $7,928,228

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline