DOJ awards $18.7K task order for electric power generation services in Pennsylvania

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,700 ($18.7K)

Contractor: PPL Electric Utilities Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2025-10-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $51/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FCI LEWISBURG - TASK ORDER FY26 PPL OLD UNICOR BLDG #2 CONTRACT#47PA0418D0036 FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING OCT 1, 2025 CURRENT CR PERIOD COVERS THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, 2025, TO JANUARY 30, 2026. ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS PRESENT UNDER PARENT CONTRACT

Place of Performance

Location: ALLENTOWN, LEHIGH County, PENNSYLVANIA, 18104

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $18,700 to PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION for work described as: FCI LEWISBURG - TASK ORDER FY26 PPL OLD UNICOR BLDG #2 CONTRACT#47PA0418D0036 FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING OCT 1, 2025 CURRENT CR PERIOD COVERS THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, 2025, TO JANUARY 30, 2026. ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS PRESENT UNDER PARENT CONTRACT Key points: 1. The contract is a firm-fixed-price delivery order for electric power generation. 2. The contract period is 364 days, starting October 1, 2025. 3. The contract was awarded by the Department of Justice's Federal Prison System. 4. The contractor is PPL Electric Utilities Corporation. 5. The contract is for services in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. 6. This is a task order under a parent contract. 7. The contract is not available for competition.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The provided data does not include enough detail to benchmark this contract against similar awards or assess its value for money. The total award amount is relatively small ($18,700), making a detailed per-unit cost analysis difficult without further information on the specific services rendered. The pricing structure is firm-fixed-price, which typically offers cost certainty but may not be the most cost-effective for variable services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' indicating a sole-source or limited competition procurement. Without details on why competition was not feasible, it's difficult to assess the impact on price discovery. Sole-source awards can sometimes lead to higher prices if the contractor faces no market pressure.

Taxpayer Impact: For taxpayers, sole-source awards necessitate careful justification to ensure fair pricing and prevent potential overspending. Transparency regarding the reasons for limited competition is crucial.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Federal Prison System, ensuring continuous electric power supply. Services delivered include electric power generation, crucial for facility operations. The geographic impact is localized to Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. There are no immediate workforce implications directly tied to this specific task order.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competitive bidding may result in suboptimal pricing.
Limited transparency on the justification for sole-source award.
Small contract value may indicate a niche service or a component of a larger effort.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Award to an established utility provider suggests reliability.
Task order structure allows for specific, defined needs to be met.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the 'Other Electric Power Generation' sector, which is a critical utility service for government facilities. While the specific dollar amount is small, reliable power is essential for the continuous operation of federal institutions like prisons. The market for utility services is often characterized by regulated pricing and limited competition, especially for localized delivery.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract involved small business set-asides or subcontracting opportunities. The award is to PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, a large utility provider, suggesting that small businesses are unlikely to be directly involved in fulfilling this specific task order.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this task order would likely fall under the existing contract management framework of the Federal Prison System and the Department of Justice. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance requirements outlined in the parent contract and this specific delivery order. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award.

Related Government Programs

Federal Prison System Operations
Utility Services Contracts
Department of Justice Procurement

Risk Flags

Sole-source award requires justification.
Lack of detailed service description.
Limited public information on contract specifics.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $18,700 to PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION. FCI LEWISBURG - TASK ORDER FY26 PPL OLD UNICOR BLDG #2 CONTRACT#47PA0418D0036 FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING OCT 1, 2025 CURRENT CR PERIOD COVERS THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, 2025, TO JANUARY 30, 2026. ALL TERMS AND CONDITIONS PRESENT UNDER PARENT CONTRACT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION.

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 $18,700.

What is the period of performance?

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

What is the historical spending pattern for electric power generation services at FCI Lewisburg?

To assess historical spending patterns for electric power generation at FCI Lewisburg, one would need to examine past contracts and task orders issued to PPL Electric Utilities Corporation or other providers for similar services at this facility. This would involve searching federal procurement databases for awards related to FCI Lewisburg and electric power generation over several fiscal years. Analyzing these historical data points would reveal trends in contract values, durations, and the number of competitive versus sole-source awards. Understanding these patterns can help determine if the current $18,700 task order is consistent with past expenditures, unusually high or low, or if there has been a shift towards or away from competitive bidding for these essential services.

What specific services are included under 'Other Electric Power Generation' for this task order?

The designation 'Other Electric Power Generation' is broad and requires further clarification for this specific task order. Typically, for a federal facility like a prison, this could encompass a range of services beyond standard grid electricity. It might include backup power generation, on-site power production using renewable or non-renewable sources, or maintenance of existing power generation equipment. Given the contractor is PPL Electric Utilities Corporation, it is plausible this task order relates to the provision of electricity from the grid, potentially with specific service level agreements or demand management components. However, without a more detailed statement of work or contract line item details, the exact nature of the 'generation' service remains ambiguous, impacting a full value assessment.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis ('NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION') is critical for understanding the procurement's integrity and potential value for taxpayers. Common reasons for sole-source awards include the existence of a unique capability or proprietary technology held by only one source, urgent and compelling needs where competition is impractical, or when the contract is a logical follow-on to a previous procurement where the original contractor is the only viable option. For utility services in a specific geographic area, it's possible that PPL Electric Utilities Corporation is the sole provider of grid-connected power or has unique infrastructure access required by the facility. A thorough review of the Justification and Approval (J&A) document, if available, would provide the specific rationale and evidence supporting the non-competitive award.

How does the $18,700 contract value compare to the overall budget for FCI Lewisburg's utilities?

The $18,700 contract value represents a very small portion of the overall budget typically allocated for utilities at a federal correctional institution like FCI Lewisburg. Utility costs, including electricity, water, and heating, are substantial operational expenses for such facilities. This specific task order, covering a 364-day period starting October 1, 2025, likely represents a specific component of the facility's power needs or a specialized service rather than the entirety of its electricity procurement. To provide a meaningful comparison, one would need to access FCI Lewisburg's annual budget reports or previous utility spending data to determine the total expenditure on electricity and other utilities. This context is essential to gauge the significance of this particular award.

What are the performance standards and metrics associated with this delivery order?

Performance standards and metrics for this delivery order are not explicitly detailed in the provided data. However, as a task order under a parent contract for electric power generation, it is expected to adhere to the terms and conditions of that overarching agreement. For utility services, key performance indicators (KPIs) typically include reliability of service (e.g., uptime percentage, frequency of outages), power quality (e.g., voltage stability, frequency consistency), and adherence to delivery schedules if applicable. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests that the contractor is obligated to provide the specified service at the agreed-upon price, with penalties or remedies potentially in place for non-performance as defined in the contract. The Federal Prison System would be responsible for monitoring and enforcing these standards.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Utilities › Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution › Other Electric Power Generation

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › UTILITIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: PPL Corporation

Address: 2 N 9TH ST, ALLENTOWN, PA, 18101

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $18,700

Exercised Options: $18,700

Current Obligation: $18,700

Actual Outlays: $4,682

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47PA0418D0036

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline