DOJ awards $22.1M for electricity to PPL Electric Utilities for FCI Lewisburg

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,077 ($22.1K)

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: $61/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FCI LEWISBURG TASK ORDER FY26 PPL OLD UNICOR BLDGCONTRACT #47PA0418D0036 FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING OCT 1, 2025CURRENT CR PERIOD COVERS THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, 2025, TO JANUARY 30, 2026.

Place of Performance

Location: ALLENTOWN, LEHIGH County, PENNSYLVANIA, 18104

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $22,076.67 to PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION for work described as: FCI LEWISBURG TASK ORDER FY26 PPL OLD UNICOR BLDGCONTRACT #47PA0418D0036 FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING OCT 1, 2025CURRENT CR PERIOD COVERS THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, 2025, TO JANUARY 30, 2026. Key points: 1. Spending is for electricity services at FCI Lewisburg. 2. The contract is a firm-fixed-price delivery order. 3. Competition was not available for this award. 4. The sector is Other Electric Power Generation.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract is a firm-fixed-price delivery order for electricity. Pricing is not directly comparable without more detailed usage data, but the fixed price nature provides some cost certainty.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

This contract was not available for competition, suggesting a limited source. The lack of competition may impact price discovery and potentially lead to higher costs than if multiple vendors were bidding.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers are funding essential utility services for a federal correctional institution. The cost is fixed, but the lack of competition warrants scrutiny.

Public Impact

Ensures continuous power supply to a federal correctional facility. Supports the operational needs of the Bureau of Prisons. Impacts residents and staff within FCI Lewisburg.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 61 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition
Potential for higher costs due to lack of competition

Positive Signals

Essential service provision
Fixed price contract

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Other Electric Power Generation sector, providing essential electricity services. Spending benchmarks for utility contracts can vary significantly based on facility size and energy demands.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific contract award, as it was awarded to PPL Electric Utilities Corporation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would involve monitoring service delivery and ensuring compliance with the contract terms. The Bureau of Prisons is responsible for overseeing this contract's execution.

Related Government Programs

Other Electric Power Generation
Department of Justice Contracting
Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons Programs

Risk Flags

Limited competition
Potential for overpayment
Lack of detailed cost breakdown
No small business participation noted

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $22,076.67 to PPL ELECTRIC UTILITIES CORPORATION. FCI LEWISBURG TASK ORDER FY26 PPL OLD UNICOR BLDGCONTRACT #47PA0418D0036 FOR THE PERIOD BEGINNING OCT 1, 2025CURRENT CR PERIOD COVERS THE PERIOD OF OCTOBER 1, 2025, TO JANUARY 30, 2026.

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 $22,076.67.

What is the period of performance?

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

What is the historical electricity usage at FCI Lewisburg to assess if the $22.1M is reasonable?

Assessing the reasonableness of the $22.1M requires historical electricity consumption data for FCI Lewisburg. Without this, it's difficult to benchmark against the awarded amount. Comparing past energy bills and usage patterns would provide a clearer picture of whether this fixed-price contract represents good value or if it might be inflated due to the lack of competitive bidding.

Were there any attempts to explore competitive options or justifications for the sole-source award?

The data states the contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' implying a limited or sole-source situation. Further investigation would be needed to understand the specific reasons for this limitation. Agencies typically must justify why full and open competition is not feasible, which could involve unique capabilities, urgent needs, or existing infrastructure dependencies.

How does the cost per kilowatt-hour compare to similar federal facilities or regional commercial rates?

Benchmarking the cost per kilowatt-hour against similar federal facilities or regional commercial rates is crucial for evaluating value. If this contract's per-unit cost is significantly higher, it could indicate an issue with price discovery due to the limited competition. Accessing aggregated utility data or conducting market research would be necessary for a precise comparison.

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: $22,077

Exercised Options: $22,077

Current Obligation: $22,077

Actual Outlays: $3,915

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47PA0418D0036

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline