DHS ICE Awards $12.3M Contract for El Centro Detention Services to Akal Security, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,267,556 ($12.3M)

Contractor: Akal Security, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2004-12-20

End Date: 2005-12-31

Contract Duration: 376 days

Daily Burn Rate: $32.6K/day

Number of Offers Received: 13

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: DETENTION SERVICES FOR EL CENTRO SERVICE PROCESSING CENTER

Place of Performance

Location: EL CENTRO, IMPERIAL County, CALIFORNIA, 92243

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $12.3 million to AKAL SECURITY, INC. for work described as: DETENTION SERVICES FOR EL CENTRO SERVICE PROCESSING CENTER Key points: 1. Contract awarded for detention services at El Centro Service Processing Center. 2. Akal Security, Inc. is the sole contractor for this specific service. 3. The contract duration is 376 days, indicating a short-term need. 4. The total award amount is approximately $12.3 million.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's pricing is difficult to assess without comparable benchmarks for detention services in the specified region. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty but may not reflect optimal value if market rates are lower.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This appears to be a sole-source award, potentially limiting price discovery and competition. Without a competitive bidding process, it's harder to ensure the government is receiving the best possible price for these essential services.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for detention services. The lack of competition raises concerns about whether the allocated $12.3 million represents the most cost-effective solution.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operation of detention facilities for processing individuals. Impacts individuals in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Supports the broader immigration enforcement and processing infrastructure of DHS.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and price negotiation.
Lack of clear performance metrics or quality indicators.
Short contract duration may indicate ongoing uncertainty or a stop-gap measure.

Positive Signals

Provides essential services for immigration processing.
Firm fixed-price contract offers budget predictability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under government services, specifically related to public safety and immigration enforcement. Benchmarks for detention services can vary significantly based on location, security requirements, and service scope.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific contract award, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine if opportunities were missed.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically be managed by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) through contract officers and CORs. Accountability for service delivery and cost management is crucial, especially given the sole-source nature.

Related Government Programs

Department of Homeland Security Contracting
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Potential lack of competitive pricing
Short contract duration may indicate instability
Limited transparency on performance metrics

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $12.3 million to AKAL SECURITY, INC.. DETENTION SERVICES FOR EL CENTRO SERVICE PROCESSING CENTER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AKAL SECURITY, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-12-20. End: 2005-12-31.

What was the justification for a sole-source award for these detention services?

The justification for a sole-source award is critical for understanding the procurement strategy. Typically, sole-source awards are used when only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services. This could be due to unique capabilities, urgent needs, or specific facility requirements that only Akal Security, Inc. could meet at the time of award.

How does the $12.3 million cost compare to similar detention service contracts in the region?

Without access to a database of comparable contracts for detention services in the El Centro area, a direct cost comparison is challenging. Factors like the number of detainees, level of security, duration of stay, and specific services provided (medical, food, etc.) heavily influence pricing. A thorough benchmark analysis would require detailed data on these variables for other contracts.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract to ensure effective service delivery?

Effective service delivery in detention contracts typically relies on KPIs related to safety, security, detainee welfare, and operational efficiency. This includes metrics on incident rates (fights, injuries), food quality and timeliness, medical care access and response times, cleanliness of facilities, and adherence to processing timelines. The contract documents should specify these KPIs and the methods for monitoring performance.

Contractor Details

Address: 7 INFINITY LOOP, ESPANOLA, NM, 87532

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,267,556

Exercised Options: $12,267,556

Current Obligation: $12,267,556

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: ACL2C0003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline