Interior Department's $13.1M security contract awarded to Coastal International Security, Inc. for DC facilities

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,174,100 ($13.2M)

Contractor: Coastal International Security, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2009-01-01

End Date: 2012-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,368 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.6K/day

Competition Type: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE AWARD FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SECURITY GUARD AND MONITORING SERVICES FOR THE MAIN AND SOUTH INTERIOR BUILDINGS.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20240

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $13.2 million to COASTAL INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, INC for work described as: SECURITY GUARD AND MONITORING SERVICES FOR THE MAIN AND SOUTH INTERIOR BUILDINGS. Key points: 1. The contract's value of over $13 million for security services indicates a significant investment in facility protection. 2. Competition dynamics for this contract are crucial to understanding pricing and service quality. 3. The duration of the contract (over 3 years) suggests a need for sustained security presence. 4. Performance context is key to evaluating the effectiveness of the security services provided. 5. This contract falls within the broader sector of security and protective services for federal facilities.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking this contract's value requires comparison to similar security service contracts for federal buildings of comparable size and location. The fixed-price award fee structure suggests a baseline payment with potential incentives for performance. Without detailed performance metrics or comparison data, assessing the true value-for-money is challenging. The total award amount of $13.17 million over approximately three years averages to roughly $4.39 million annually, which needs to be evaluated against the scope of services and the specific security needs of the main and south interior buildings.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: unknown

This contract was awarded as a competitive delivery order, indicating that multiple vendors likely had the opportunity to bid. The presence of two bidders suggests a moderate level of competition. While not a full and open competition, a competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and service offerings compared to sole-source awards. The specific details of the bidding process, including the number of proposals received and the evaluation criteria, would provide further insight into the effectiveness of the competition.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process, even with a limited number of bidders, is generally favorable for taxpayers as it encourages vendors to offer competitive pricing and services to secure the contract.

Public Impact

Federal employees and visitors to the Department of the Interior's main and south buildings in Washington D.C. benefit from enhanced security. The contract ensures the provision of security guard and monitoring services, contributing to the safety and integrity of federal property. The geographic impact is localized to Washington D.C., specifically the Interior Department's facilities. The contract supports jobs within the private security sector, contributing to the local workforce in the D.C. area.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for service quality to degrade over the contract's duration if not actively managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical security functions could pose risks if the contractor faces operational issues.
The fixed-price award fee structure might not fully incentivize cost efficiencies if not structured with clear performance metrics.

Positive Signals

Awarded through a competitive process, suggesting potential for good value.
The contract duration implies a stable and predictable security service provision.
The fixed-price award fee structure can reward high performance, aligning contractor incentives with government objectives.

Sector Analysis

The security services sector for federal agencies is a significant market. This contract for security guards and monitoring services falls under the broader category of commercial and protective services. Federal spending in this area is driven by the need to protect government assets, personnel, and sensitive information across numerous facilities nationwide. Benchmarks for similar contracts often consider factors like the number of personnel required, hours of service, and the specific security technologies employed.

Small Business Impact

The provided 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 stemming from a small business set-aside. The primary contractor, Coastal International Security, Inc., would be responsible for fulfilling the contract requirements. Analysis of their subcontracting practices, if any, would require further investigation beyond the scope of this data.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the relevant program officials within the Department of the Interior. Accountability measures are usually embedded within the contract's performance standards and the award fee structure. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Federal Protective Service Contracts
Department of Homeland Security Security Services
General Services Administration Security Contracts
Department of Justice Security Services

Risk Flags

Contract duration may exceed typical needs for some security services.
Limited number of bidders in a competitive award.
Potential for performance variability in long-term service contracts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $13.2 million to COASTAL INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, INC. SECURITY GUARD AND MONITORING SERVICES FOR THE MAIN AND SOUTH INTERIOR BUILDINGS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is COASTAL INTERNATIONAL SECURITY, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $13.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-01-01. End: 2012-09-30.

What is the track record of Coastal International Security, Inc. in performing similar federal contracts?

Assessing the track record of Coastal International Security, Inc. requires a review of their past performance on federal contracts, particularly those involving security guard and monitoring services. This would involve examining past performance evaluations, any contract disputes or terminations, and their history of meeting delivery schedules and quality standards. Information from sources like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) would be essential. A history of successful contract completion and positive performance reviews would indicate a lower risk associated with this contractor. Conversely, a pattern of issues could raise concerns about their ability to meet the requirements of this new contract effectively and efficiently.

How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar security service contracts for federal buildings?

The annual cost of this contract, approximately $4.39 million ($13.17 million / 3 years), needs to be benchmarked against similar federal security contracts. Key comparison factors include the size and type of facility, the geographic location (which impacts labor costs), the level of security required (e.g., armed vs. unarmed guards, surveillance technology), and the specific services provided (e.g., access control, patrols, alarm monitoring). Without access to a database of comparable contract costs, a precise comparison is difficult. However, if this annual cost is significantly higher or lower than the average for similar services in the Washington D.C. area, it could indicate either exceptional value or potential overpricing/underbidding.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract and how are they being mitigated?

Primary risks associated with this contract include potential lapses in security coverage due to contractor performance issues, unexpected cost increases if the fixed-price structure is not well-defined, and the potential for service quality to decline over time. Mitigation strategies would typically involve robust contract oversight by the Department of the Interior, clear performance metrics tied to the award fee, regular performance reviews, and contingency planning for service disruptions. The competitive nature of the award also serves as a risk mitigation factor, as a history of good performance is often a prerequisite for winning such contracts. Furthermore, the contract likely includes clauses for remedies in case of non-performance.

How effective has Coastal International Security, Inc. been in delivering security services under this specific contract?

Evaluating the effectiveness of Coastal International Security, Inc. under this specific contract requires access to performance data and feedback from the Department of the Interior. Key performance indicators (KPIs) would likely include response times to incidents, adherence to post orders, guard attentiveness, incident reporting accuracy, and overall client satisfaction. The award fee component of the contract suggests that performance is formally assessed and potentially rewarded. Without access to these internal assessments or CPARS reports for this contract, a definitive judgment on effectiveness cannot be made. However, the renewal or continuation of services often implies a satisfactory level of performance.

What has been the historical spending trend for security services at the Department of the Interior's main and south buildings?

To understand the historical spending trend for security services at these specific buildings, one would need to examine the Department of the Interior's procurement history over several years. This would involve looking at previous contracts for security services at the main and south interior buildings, noting their award amounts, durations, and contractors. Comparing the $13.17 million awarded for this contract (2009-2012) to previous spending levels would reveal whether spending has increased, decreased, or remained relatively stable. Factors influencing these trends could include changes in security requirements, inflation, or shifts in contracting strategies.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Investigation and Security Services › Security Guards and Patrol Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETITIVE DELIVERY ORDER

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE AWARD FEE (M)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Akal Security, Inc.

Address: 6101 FALLARD DR, UPPER MARLBORO, MD, 20772

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,969,412

Exercised Options: $13,192,409

Current Obligation: $13,174,100

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS07F0352K

IDV Type: FSS

Timeline