Department of State awards $26.9M contract for security guard services to BRINK'S, INCORPORATED

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $26,885,319 ($26.9M)

Contractor: Brink's, Incorporated

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2006-07-01

End Date: 2010-06-30

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $18.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS

Sector: Other

Official Description: LOCAL GUARD SERVICES

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $26.9 million to BRINK'S, INCORPORATED for work described as: LOCAL GUARD SERVICES Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the duration and scope of services. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive pricing environment. 3. Contract duration of 4 years indicates a stable, long-term need. 4. Service type (security guards) is a recurring and essential government function. 5. Contracting agency is the Department of State, indicating a focus on diplomatic security. 6. The contractor, BRINK'S, INCORPORATED, is a known entity in the security sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $26.9 million over four years averages to approximately $6.7 million annually. This figure seems within a reasonable range for comprehensive security guard services for a federal agency like the Department of State, considering the need for 24/7 coverage and potentially specialized security personnel. Benchmarking against similar contracts for large federal facilities or diplomatic missions would provide a more precise assessment, but the overall scale appears commensurate with the service requirements.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. With 7 bidders participating, this suggests a healthy level of competition for the security guard services. A competitive environment generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government, as contractors vie to win the award.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition process ensures that taxpayer dollars are likely being used efficiently by driving down costs through market forces. The presence of multiple bidders means the government secured services at a price determined by a competitive marketplace, rather than a negotiated sole-source arrangement.

Public Impact

Benefits the Department of State by ensuring the security of its facilities and personnel. Delivers essential security guard and patrol services. Geographic impact is likely concentrated around Department of State facilities, potentially domestic and international. Workforce implications include employment opportunities for security guards employed by BRINK'S, INCORPORATED.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for over-reliance on a single large contractor for critical security functions.
Need for robust performance monitoring to ensure service quality meets federal standards.

Positive Signals

Award to an established company with a track record in security services.
Competitive bidding process likely secured favorable pricing.
Long-term contract provides stability for service delivery.

Sector Analysis

The security guard and patrol services industry is a significant sector within the broader private security market. Federal agencies are major consumers of these services, requiring them for facility protection, event security, and personnel safety. This contract fits within the government's ongoing need for physical security solutions. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other large federal contracts for similar security services across agencies like GSA, DOD, or DHS.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded under full and open competition and does not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions. While the prime contractor is BRINK'S, INCORPORATED, a large business, there is no information provided on subcontracting plans. It is possible that smaller businesses could be involved as subcontractors, but this contract does not appear to be directly structured to benefit the small business ecosystem through a set-aside.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the purview of the Department of State's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures would be defined in the contract's performance work statement (PWS), with potential for performance evaluations and penalties for non-compliance. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, though specific performance details may not always be publicly disclosed.

Related Government Programs

Federal Protective Service Contracts
Department of State Security Operations
Physical Security Services
Guard Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Contract duration may lead to vendor lock-in if not managed carefully.
Time and Materials contract type requires diligent oversight to control costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $26.9 million to BRINK'S, INCORPORATED. LOCAL GUARD SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BRINK'S, INCORPORATED.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $26.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-07-01. End: 2010-06-30.

What is the track record of BRINK'S, INCORPORATED with the Department of State and other federal agencies?

BRINK'S, INCORPORATED has a history of providing security services to various government entities. While specific details of their past performance with the Department of State are not provided in this data, their selection for this contract suggests they met the agency's requirements. A deeper dive into federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) would reveal the extent and nature of their prior federal contracts, including any performance reviews, past disputes, or awards. This information is crucial for assessing their reliability and capability to fulfill the current contract's obligations effectively and consistently.

How does the awarded price compare to market rates for similar security guard services?

The total contract value of $26.9 million over four years equates to an average annual expenditure of approximately $6.7 million. To benchmark this against market rates, one would need to compare it with contracts for similar services (e.g., unarmed security guards, patrol services) awarded by other federal agencies or state/local governments for facilities of comparable size and security requirements. Factors such as geographic location, the number of personnel required, hours of operation, and specific security clearances or training needed significantly influence pricing. Without access to detailed pricing breakdowns and comparable contract data, a precise market rate comparison is difficult, but the figure appears within a plausible range for large-scale government security contracts.

What are the primary risks associated with this type of security guard contract?

Key risks include potential lapses in security coverage due to contractor staffing issues (e.g., high turnover, insufficient personnel), failure to meet performance standards outlined in the Performance Work Statement (PWS), and security breaches resulting from inadequate guard performance or training. There's also a risk of cost overruns if the Time and Materials (T&M) pricing structure is not tightly managed, although this contract type is often used when the scope of work is not precisely defined upfront. Furthermore, reliance on a single contractor for critical security functions can pose a risk if the contractor experiences financial instability or operational failures. Effective oversight and clear performance metrics are essential to mitigate these risks.

How effective is the 'full and open competition' strategy in ensuring value for this specific contract?

The 'full and open competition' strategy is generally considered highly effective in ensuring value for money, especially for standardized services like security guards. By allowing all eligible sources to bid, it fosters a competitive environment that drives down prices and encourages innovation. The fact that seven bidders participated indicates robust market interest and a strong likelihood that the government secured competitive pricing. This approach minimizes the risk of paying inflated prices that might occur with sole-source or limited competition contracts. The effectiveness is further amplified when coupled with a well-defined PWS and rigorous performance monitoring to ensure the lowest price doesn't compromise essential service quality.

What is the historical spending trend for security guard services by the Department of State?

The provided data only reflects a single contract award from 2006 to 2010. To understand historical spending trends for security guard services by the Department of State, a comprehensive analysis of federal procurement data over a longer period (e.g., 5-10 years) would be necessary. This would involve aggregating spending across all contracts for 'Security Guards and Patrol Services' (NAICS code 561612) awarded by the Department of State. Examining this trend would reveal whether spending has increased, decreased, or remained stable, and identify any shifts in contracting strategies, such as changes in competition levels or the types of contracts utilized (e.g., fixed-price vs. T&M).

Are there any specific performance metrics or KPIs tied to this contract that indicate success?

The provided data does not detail specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or metrics tied to this contract. However, typical performance metrics for security guard contracts often include response times to incidents, guard presence and punctuality, adherence to post orders, incident reporting accuracy, and customer satisfaction surveys. The contract type (Time and Materials) suggests that detailed task orders and deliverables would be managed, with performance evaluated against those specific requirements. The success of the contract hinges on the Department of State's ability to effectively monitor these unstated KPIs and enforce contractual obligations.

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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Dunbar Armored Inc. (UEI: 006989081)

Address: 1801 BAYBERRY CT, RICHMOND, VA, 04

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $44,945,938

Exercised Options: $30,267,364

Current Obligation: $26,885,319

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Timeline