DOJ's $2.4M Solid Waste Disposal Contract Awarded to Cumberland County Improvement Authority

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $24,000 ($24.0K)

Contractor: Cumberland County Improvement Authority

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2025-10-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $66/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: DELIVERY DATE: 10/01/2025 FCI FAIRTON: SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FEES

Place of Performance

Location: MILLVILLE, CUMBERLAND County, NEW JERSEY, 08332

State: New Jersey Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $24,000 to CUMBERLAND COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY for work described as: DELIVERY DATE: 10/01/2025 FCI FAIRTON: SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FEES Key points: 1. Contract value appears reasonable for solid waste disposal services over a 3-year period. 2. The contract was not competed, raising questions about potential price discovery and value for money. 3. Lack of competition is a key risk indicator for this award. 4. Performance context is limited due to the nature of the service, but timely disposal is critical. 5. This contract falls within the 'Other' sector, supporting essential operational needs for federal facilities. 6. The award to a county authority suggests a focus on local service providers.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.4 million over approximately three years for solid waste disposal services seems within a reasonable range for a federal facility. However, without a competitive bidding process, it is difficult to benchmark against market rates or similar contracts to definitively assess value for money. The fixed-price nature of the purchase order provides cost certainty for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed. This approach limits the opportunity for multiple vendors to bid, potentially leading to higher prices than if a competitive process had been undertaken. The rationale for the sole-source award is not provided in the data, which is a significant gap.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition means taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible price for these essential waste disposal services. Without bids from other qualified vendors, there is less pressure on the selected contractor to offer competitive rates.

Public Impact

The Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons benefits from reliable solid waste disposal services. Essential services for maintaining the operational integrity and environmental compliance of federal facilities are delivered. The geographic impact is localized to Cumberland County, New Jersey, where the facility is likely located. Workforce implications are minimal, likely involving existing personnel for waste management coordination.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to inflated costs for taxpayers.
Sole-source awards can indicate potential issues with market research or vendor identification.
Absence of competitive pressure could reduce incentives for service optimization.

Positive Signals

Award to a county improvement authority may indicate a commitment to local economic engagement.
Fixed-price contract provides budget predictability.
The contract duration aligns with typical service needs for such operations.

Sector Analysis

Solid waste disposal is a critical operational service for government facilities, falling under the broader 'Other' services sector. This sector encompasses a wide range of support functions necessary for agency operations. While not a high-technology or defense-specific contract, it represents essential infrastructure support. Benchmarking for such services is often localized and dependent on facility size and waste volume.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false) and there is no information regarding subcontracting plans (sb: false). Therefore, this award does not appear to directly benefit the small business ecosystem through set-asides or mandated subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of Justice's Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons. As a purchase order, it is subject to standard procurement regulations and internal agency oversight. Transparency is limited by the sole-source nature of the award and the lack of detailed justification provided in the available data.

Related Government Programs

Federal Prison System Operations
Bureau of Prisons Facilities Management
Department of Justice Procurement
Solid Waste Management Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Lack of Competition
Potential for Unreasonable Price
Limited Performance Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $24,000 to CUMBERLAND COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY. DELIVERY DATE: 10/01/2025 FCI FAIRTON: SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FEES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CUMBERLAND COUNTY IMPROVEMENT AUTHORITY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $24,000.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the historical spending pattern for solid waste disposal services at this specific federal facility or within the Bureau of Prisons?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for solid waste disposal at this specific facility or within the Bureau of Prisons. To assess historical trends, one would need access to past contract awards, spending data, and potentially solicitations for similar services over several fiscal years. Analyzing this would help determine if the current $2.4 million award over three years represents an increase, decrease, or stable expenditure compared to previous periods. It would also reveal if the services have consistently been procured through sole-source awards or if competitive bidding has been used in the past, providing context for the current procurement strategy and its potential impact on cost efficiency.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis instead of through full and open competition?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED' (ct: NOT COMPETED), signifying a sole-source or limited competition award. The specific justification for this approach is not detailed in the data. Typically, sole-source awards are justified under specific circumstances outlined in federal acquisition regulations, such as when only one responsible source can provide the required services, or in cases of urgent and compelling need. Without this justification, it is impossible to assess whether the government received fair and reasonable pricing or if taxpayer funds were used efficiently. A thorough review would require accessing the justification document (e.g., a Justification and Approval - J&A) filed with the contracting activity.

How does the estimated cost of $2.4 million for 364 days (approximately one year) compare to market rates for similar solid waste disposal services in Cumberland County, NJ?

The contract value is $2.4 million over a period of 364 days (delivery date 10/01/2025, end date 09/30/2026, duration 364 days). This equates to approximately $2.4 million per year. To compare this to market rates, one would need to research commercial solid waste disposal contracts in Cumberland County, New Jersey, for facilities of similar size and waste output. Factors such as landfill fees, transportation costs, recycling services, and contract scope (e.g., frequency of pickup, types of waste handled) would need to be considered. Without specific market data for the region, it's challenging to definitively state if $2.4 million is competitive. However, for a federal facility, especially a correctional institution, waste volumes can be substantial, potentially justifying a higher cost than a small commercial entity.

What are the specific services included under 'Solid Waste Landfill' (nd: Solid Waste Landfill) and are there any performance metrics or service level agreements tied to this contract?

The data specifies the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code as 562212, which corresponds to 'Solid Waste Landfill.' This typically includes the disposal of non-hazardous solid waste materials at a designated landfill site. However, the specific details of the services rendered under this particular contract are not elaborated upon in the provided data. Key aspects such as the types of waste accepted, frequency of disposal, any requirements for recycling or waste diversion, and environmental compliance standards are not specified. Furthermore, there is no information regarding performance metrics, key performance indicators (KPIs), or service level agreements (SLAs) that the contractor, Cumberland County Improvement Authority, must meet. The absence of this detail makes it difficult to assess the quality of service delivery and contractor performance.

What is the track record of the Cumberland County Improvement Authority as a government contractor, particularly with the Department of Justice or Bureau of Prisons?

The provided data does not contain information on the track record of the Cumberland County Improvement Authority (CCIA) as a government contractor. To assess their performance history, one would need to consult federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) for previous contract awards to CCIA, their performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any history of disputes or contract terminations. Understanding their past performance, especially with the Department of Justice or Bureau of Prisons, is crucial for evaluating the risk associated with this award and ensuring the government is partnering with a reliable entity. Without this information, the assessment relies solely on the current contract details.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Waste Treatment and Disposal › Solid Waste Landfill

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 745 LEBANON RD, MILLVILLE, NJ, 08332

Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. Local Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $48,000

Exercised Options: $48,000

Current Obligation: $24,000

Actual Outlays: $9,419

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline