Agriculture Department awards $115K for housekeeping at Sabana Field Research Station, serving Puerto Rico

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $115,200 ($115.2K)

Contractor: Cristina Gervacio Santana

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2021-08-31

End Date: 2026-09-04

Contract Duration: 1,830 days

Daily Burn Rate: $63/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 15

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES SABANA FIELD RESEARCH STATION

Place of Performance

Location: SAN JUAN, SAN JUAN County, PUERTO RICO, 00926

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $115,200 to CRISTINA GERVACIO SANTANA for work described as: HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES SABANA FIELD RESEARCH STATION Key points: 1. Contract value appears modest, suggesting a focus on essential services rather than large-scale operations. 2. Competition under SAP (Simplified Acquisition Procedures) indicates a streamlined process for smaller procurements. 3. The firm-fixed-price structure shifts cost risk to the contractor, potentially stabilizing expenses. 4. Performance period of 5 years is substantial for a housekeeping contract, allowing for consistent service delivery. 5. The contract is not set aside for small businesses, indicating a potentially broader competitive landscape. 6. Geographic focus on Puerto Rico highlights specific regional needs for the research station.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $115,200 over approximately five years suggests a reasonable annual expenditure for housekeeping services at a research station. Without specific benchmarks for similar remote research facilities, it's difficult to definitively assess value. However, the firm-fixed-price nature of the award implies that the contractor is responsible for managing costs to meet the agreed-upon price, which is generally favorable for the government. The award amount is relatively small, indicating a focused scope of work.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically involves a limited number of bidders, often between 2 and 5, for procurements under the federal micro-purchase threshold. While not full and open competition, SAP aims to ensure fair and reasonable pricing through a competitive process. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the use of SAP suggests a less extensive outreach than full and open competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Competing under SAP for this contract likely resulted in a competitive price, but potentially not the absolute lowest price achievable through a broader competition. Taxpayers benefit from a streamlined process that still incorporates some level of price discovery.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the researchers and staff at the Sabana Field Research Station, ensuring a clean and functional working environment. Essential janitorial and housekeeping services are delivered, maintaining hygiene and operational readiness of the facility. The geographic impact is localized to the area surrounding the Sabana Field Research Station in Puerto Rico. Workforce implications are minimal, likely involving a small number of local service personnel employed by the contractor.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for limited competition due to SAP procedures, possibly leading to higher prices than full and open competition.
Contract duration of 5 years might lock in pricing, potentially missing out on future market rate reductions.
Lack of small business set-aside could mean fewer opportunities for smaller local service providers.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract shifts cost overrun risk to the contractor.
Streamlined SAP process can lead to faster award and service initiation.
Consistent service over a 5-year period ensures facility upkeep and operational continuity.

Sector Analysis

The janitorial services sector is highly competitive and fragmented, with numerous small and medium-sized businesses. Federal contracts for these services are common across various agencies and locations. The market size for federal janitorial services is substantial, but individual contracts like this one are typically small to medium in value, reflecting the localized nature of the service. This contract fits within the broader facilities maintenance and support services category within the federal procurement landscape.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses. While the contractor, CRISTINA GERVACIO SANTANA, may be a small business, the procurement method (SAP) does not guarantee small business participation or subcontracting. This means larger businesses could have competed, and there's no explicit requirement for subcontracting to small businesses, potentially limiting opportunities for the small business ecosystem in this instance.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the U.S. Forest Service, a branch of the Department of Agriculture. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm-fixed-price contract terms, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services. Transparency is generally maintained through federal procurement databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if significant fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Federal Facilities Maintenance Contracts
Janitorial Services Contracts
Department of Agriculture Research Station Support
Puerto Rico Federal Procurement

Risk Flags

Potential for service disruption if contractor faces logistical challenges in remote location.
Risk of suboptimal pricing due to competition limited by SAP procedures.
Contractor performance quality may vary over the 5-year term.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $115,200 to CRISTINA GERVACIO SANTANA. HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES SABANA FIELD RESEARCH STATION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CRISTINA GERVACIO SANTANA.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $115,200.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-08-31. End: 2026-09-04.

What is the track record of CRISTINA GERVACIO SANTANA with federal contracts?

Information regarding the specific track record of CRISTINA GERVACIO SANTANA with federal contracts is not detailed in the provided data. As a sole proprietor or small business, their federal contracting history might be limited or primarily consist of smaller awards. Further investigation using federal procurement databases (e.g., FPDS, SAM.gov) would be necessary to ascertain their past performance, types of contracts awarded, and any performance issues or successes. Without this data, it's challenging to assess their reliability and experience for this specific housekeeping service requirement.

How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar housekeeping services at federal research stations?

The annual cost for this contract averages approximately $23,040 ($115,200 / 5 years). Benchmarking this against similar federal research stations is difficult without more specific data on the size, scope, and location of those facilities. However, for a remote research station, this figure appears reasonable for essential housekeeping. Larger or more complex facilities would naturally incur higher costs. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests the contractor has factored in their operational costs to meet this annual rate. A detailed comparison would require analyzing contracts for facilities of comparable size and remoteness.

What are the primary risks associated with this housekeeping contract?

Key risks include potential service quality issues if the contractor understaffs or uses inadequate cleaning supplies, which could impact the research station's environment. Given the remote location in Puerto Rico, logistical challenges for the contractor (e.g., supply chain disruptions, transportation) could also pose a risk to consistent service delivery. Another risk is the potential for price increases if the contract were to be re-competed in the future, especially if market rates for labor and supplies rise significantly over the 5-year term. Finally, contractor performance issues or financial instability could lead to service interruptions.

How effective is the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) in ensuring value for money for this contract?

SAP is designed to provide fair and reasonable pricing for smaller procurements, balancing efficiency with competition. For a contract of this size ($115,200), SAP likely achieved a competitive price by soliciting quotes from a limited number of vendors. While it may not yield the absolute lowest price possible through full and open competition, it significantly reduces administrative burden and speeds up the acquisition process. The firm-fixed-price structure further protects the government from cost overruns. The effectiveness hinges on the agency's diligence in obtaining adequate quotes and evaluating them properly.

What is the historical spending trend for housekeeping services at the Sabana Field Research Station?

The provided data only details this specific contract award from August 2021 to September 2026. It does not offer historical spending data for housekeeping services at the Sabana Field Research Station prior to this award. To understand historical spending trends, one would need to access procurement records for previous years, identifying any prior contracts for similar services at this location. This would reveal if spending has increased, decreased, or remained relatively stable over time, and whether the number or value of contracts has fluctuated.

What are the implications of the 5-year performance period for the Forest Service?

A 5-year performance period provides the Forest Service with stability and continuity of essential housekeeping services at the Sabana Field Research Station. This long duration allows for a consistent standard of cleanliness and facility maintenance, which is crucial for a research environment. It also reduces the administrative burden associated with frequent re-procurement processes. However, it also means the Forest Service is locked into the current pricing for the duration, potentially missing out on cost savings if market rates decrease significantly. It also requires careful contractor performance monitoring throughout the period.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Services to Buildings and Dwellings › Janitorial Services

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 12445021Q0032

Offers Received: 15

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: CARR 983 BO SABANA SECTOR LAS VIUDAS, LUQUILLO, PR, 00773

Business Categories: Category Business, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $115,200

Exercised Options: $115,200

Current Obligation: $115,200

Actual Outlays: $98,106

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline