Thomas Edison Park Maintenance Contract Awarded for $75.6K, Lacks Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $75,561 ($75.6K)
Contractor: Committee of Managers of Llewellyn Park
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2024-09-12
End Date: 2027-02-28
Contract Duration: 899 days
Daily Burn Rate: $84/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: 140P4524P0045: ANNUAL SECURITY AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE - THOMAS EDISON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, WEST ORANGE, NJ
Place of Performance
Location: WEST ORANGE, ESSEX County, NEW JERSEY, 07052
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $75,560.76 to COMMITTEE OF MANAGERS OF LLEWELLYN PARK for work described as: 140P4524P0045: ANNUAL SECURITY AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE - THOMAS EDISON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, WEST ORANGE, NJ Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Committee of Managers of Llewellyn Park for security and general maintenance. 2. The contract value is $75,560.76 over 899 days. 3. This award was not competed, raising concerns about price discovery. 4. The sector is Other Activities Related to Real Estate, with a NAICS code of 531390.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $75,560.76 for approximately 3 years of maintenance at a historical park appears low. However, without specific benchmarks for similar historical park maintenance contracts, a definitive pricing assessment is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source or limited competition award. This lack of competition limits the government's ability to ensure the best possible price and value.
Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is potentially negative due to the lack of competitive bidding, which may lead to a higher price than could be achieved through a competitive process.
Public Impact
Preservation of a significant historical site is supported by this contract. Local entity awarded contract, potentially keeping funds within the community. Lack of competition may mean taxpayers are not receiving the best value for services.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpayment due to sole-source award
Positive Signals
- Supports maintenance of a national historical park
- Contract awarded to a local entity
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under 'Other Activities Related to Real Estate,' a broad category. Benchmarking spending in this specific niche, especially for historical properties, is challenging without more granular data.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this procurement, either as the prime contractor or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to confirm.
Oversight & Accountability
The award process, being not competed, warrants oversight to ensure the justification for sole-source was sound and that the price is fair and reasonable.
Related Government Programs
- Other Activities Related to Real Estate
- Department of the Interior Contracting
- National Park Service Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for non-competitive pricing
- Limited transparency in award process
Tags
other-activities-related-to-real-estate, department-of-the-interior, nj, purchase-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $75,560.76 to COMMITTEE OF MANAGERS OF LLEWELLYN PARK. 140P4524P0045: ANNUAL SECURITY AND GENERAL MAINTENANCE - THOMAS EDISON NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK, WEST ORANGE, NJ
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is COMMITTEE OF MANAGERS OF LLEWELLYN PARK.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (National Park Service).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $75,560.76.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-09-12. End: 2027-02-28.
What is the justification for not competing this contract, and was a sole-source justification properly documented?
The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED.' A thorough review of the contract file would be necessary to determine the specific justification for this approach. Typically, sole-source awards require detailed documentation proving that only one responsible source can provide the required services or that competition is not feasible or not in the government's best interest.
How does the awarded price compare to market rates for similar security and maintenance services in the West Orange, NJ area?
Without access to detailed market research or a benchmark analysis conducted by the agency, it is difficult to definitively assess the price. The contract value of $75,560.76 over nearly three years suggests a modest annual cost. However, the lack of competition prevents a direct comparison with bids from other providers.
What is the potential risk to the National Park Service if this contractor fails to perform adequately?
The primary risk is the disruption of essential security and general maintenance services at the Thomas Edison National Historical Park. Given the sole-source nature of the award, finding an alternative provider quickly in case of contractor failure could be challenging and potentially more costly, impacting the preservation and accessibility of the historic site.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Real Estate and Rental and Leasing › Activities Related to Real Estate › Other Activities Related to Real Estate
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 140P4524Q0051
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1 PARK WAY, WEST ORANGE, NJ, 07052
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $75,561
Exercised Options: $75,561
Current Obligation: $75,561
Actual Outlays: $45,822
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-09-12
Current End Date: 2027-02-28
Potential End Date: 2028-02-29 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-06
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