USDA Forest Service awards $5.1M Job Corps contract to Jackson Pierce Public Affairs Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,144,594 ($5.1M)

Contractor: Jackson Pierce Public Affairs Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2023-03-01

End Date: 2027-02-28

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 8

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) FOREST SERVICE JOB CORPS OUTREACH AND ADMISSIONS AND CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES (OA/CTS) FOR THE ATLANTA REGION SUPPORTING JOB CORPS CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CENTERS LOCATED IN THE STATES OF LYNDON B JOHNSON, OCONA

Place of Performance

Location: DECATUR, DEKALB County, GEORGIA, 30030

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $5.1 million to JACKSON PIERCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS INC for work described as: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) FOREST SERVICE JOB CORPS OUTREACH AND ADMISSIONS AND CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES (OA/CTS) FOR THE ATLANTA REGION SUPPORTING JOB CORPS CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CENTERS LOCATED IN THE STATES OF LYNDON B JOHNSON, OCONA Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Jackson Pierce Public Affairs Inc. for Job Corps outreach and admissions. 2. The contract supports Civilian Conservation Centers in Georgia. 3. This is a firm fixed-price contract with a duration of 1460 days. 4. The Forest Service is the awarding agency, with the contract falling under Educational Support Services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $5.1M over four years appears reasonable for specialized outreach and transition services. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for educational support services would provide a clearer picture of value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' indicating a competitive process but with specific exclusions. This method aims for fair pricing while potentially limiting the pool of bidders.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential Job Corps program support, aiming to connect individuals with conservation career opportunities.

Public Impact

Supports the Job Corps program, which provides vocational training and education to young people. Aims to improve outreach and admissions for Civilian Conservation Centers. Facilitates career transition services for participants. The contract is managed by the USDA Forest Service, highlighting its role in conservation workforce development.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for limited competition due to source exclusions.
Contract duration is long (4 years), requiring ongoing performance monitoring.

Positive Signals

Supports a valuable federal program (Job Corps).
Firm fixed-price contract can provide cost certainty.
Full and open competition was utilized.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Educational Support Services sector, specifically supporting federal workforce development programs like Job Corps. Spending in this area is crucial for training and placing individuals in vital service roles, particularly in conservation.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this award (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if opportunities were missed for small businesses in this service area.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is a definitive contract awarded by the Forest Service, implying a structured procurement process. Oversight will be critical to ensure the contractor meets performance expectations and delivers value for the taxpayer.

Related Government Programs

Educational Support Services
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Forest Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition due to source exclusions.
Long contract duration requires sustained oversight.
Lack of explicit small business set-aside.
Performance metrics and value assessment require further detail.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $5.1 million to JACKSON PIERCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS INC. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE (USDA) FOREST SERVICE JOB CORPS OUTREACH AND ADMISSIONS AND CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES (OA/CTS) FOR THE ATLANTA REGION SUPPORTING JOB CORPS CIVILIAN CONSERVATION CENTERS LOCATED IN THE STATES OF LYNDON B JOHNSON, OCONA

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JACKSON PIERCE PUBLIC AFFAIRS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Forest Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $5.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-03-01. End: 2027-02-28.

What is the specific nature of the 'exclusion of sources' in the full and open competition, and how did it impact the bidding landscape?

The 'exclusion of sources' clause suggests that while the competition was broadly open, certain entities or types of entities were specifically prevented from bidding. This could be due to pre-existing relationships, specific capabilities required, or other procurement-related reasons. Understanding these exclusions is key to assessing whether the most competitive pricing and innovative solutions were truly considered, or if the pool of potential bidders was unnecessarily narrowed.

How does the per-unit cost of outreach and admissions services compare to similar programs or previous contracts?

Without specific per-unit cost data or benchmarks for similar outreach and admissions services within federal programs, it's difficult to definitively assess cost-effectiveness. A detailed analysis would involve comparing the contractor's proposed costs against historical data for the Job Corps program, or against contracts for similar educational support services awarded by other agencies to ensure fair pricing and value for taxpayer dollars.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will success in career transition services be measured?

The effectiveness of this contract hinges on measurable outcomes in outreach, admissions, and career transitions. Key performance indicators should include metrics such as the number of individuals successfully enrolled, completion rates of training programs, and, most importantly, the rate at which participants secure meaningful employment or further education post-transition. Robust tracking and reporting of these KPIs are essential for accountability and demonstrating the program's impact.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Educational Support Services › Educational Support Services

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 1282A723R0002

Offers Received: 8

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1 W COURT SQ STE 757, DECATUR, GA, 30030

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,741,532

Exercised Options: $5,144,594

Current Obligation: $5,144,594

Actual Outlays: $3,437,761

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline