DOJ awards $3.45M for electricity at FCI Yazoo City, MS, for one year

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,452,350 ($3.5M)

Contractor: Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2024-10-01

End Date: 2025-09-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.5K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Energy

Official Description: ELECTRICITY SERVICE FOR FCI YAZOO CITY, MS COMPLEX PERIOD OF PERFROMANCE: OCTOBER 1, 2024 OCTOBER 31, 2024 CONTRACT# 15B31519D00000048 ESTABLISHED BOP CONTRACT

Place of Performance

Location: YAZOO CITY, YAZOO County, MISSISSIPPI, 39194

State: Mississippi Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $3.5 million to YAZOO VALLEY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION for work described as: ELECTRICITY SERVICE FOR FCI YAZOO CITY, MS COMPLEX PERIOD OF PERFROMANCE: OCTOBER 1, 2024 OCTOBER 31, 2024 CONTRACT# 15B31519D00000048 ESTABLISHED BOP CONTRACT Key points: 1. The contract is a delivery order under an established Basic Ordering Agreement (BOA). 2. Competition was not available for this specific contract. 3. The sector is utilities, specifically electric power distribution. 4. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, providing cost certainty.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $3.45M for 12 months of electricity service appears to be within a reasonable range for a federal correctional facility of this size. Benchmarking against similar facilities would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

This contract was not available for competition, likely due to being a delivery order under an existing BOA. The lack of open competition limits price discovery and potentially higher costs.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers are funding this essential service for a federal prison. Without competitive bidding, there's a risk of overpayment, though the firm fixed price offers some cost control.

Public Impact

Ensures continuous power supply to a federal correctional facility, crucial for operations and safety. Supports the Federal Prison System's infrastructure needs. The award impacts the local utility provider in Yazoo City, MS.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for uncompetitive pricing

Positive Signals

Essential service provision
Firm Fixed Price contract type

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Utilities sector, specifically electric power distribution. Federal agencies often rely on established utility providers, and pricing can be influenced by local market conditions and regulatory frameworks.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific contract award. The provider, Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association, is a cooperative.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is a delivery order under an existing BOA, suggesting some level of prior oversight. However, the limited competition warrants scrutiny to ensure fair pricing.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

Limited competition
Potential for uncompetitive pricing
Lack of detailed cost breakdown

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $3.5 million to YAZOO VALLEY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION. ELECTRICITY SERVICE FOR FCI YAZOO CITY, MS COMPLEX PERIOD OF PERFROMANCE: OCTOBER 1, 2024 OCTOBER 31, 2024 CONTRACT# 15B31519D00000048 ESTABLISHED BOP CONTRACT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is YAZOO VALLEY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION.

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 $3.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-10-01. End: 2025-09-30.

What is the historical pricing for electricity at FCI Yazoo City under previous contracts or similar facilities?

Historical pricing data is crucial for validating the fairness of the $3.45M award. Comparing this contract's per-kilowatt-hour rate to previous years or to similar federal facilities in comparable regions would reveal potential cost savings or overruns. Without this context, assessing value for money is challenging.

What specific circumstances prevented this contract from being competed openly?

Understanding why this contract was not open to competition is key to assessing risk. If it's a standard delivery order under a pre-negotiated BOA, the risk might be lower. However, if there were opportunities for competition that were missed, it raises concerns about potential price inflation and inefficient use of taxpayer funds.

How does the energy consumption and cost compare to industry benchmarks for similar correctional facilities?

Benchmarking energy consumption and cost against similar facilities provides an objective measure of efficiency and value. If FCI Yazoo City's electricity costs are significantly higher than average, it could indicate inefficiencies in usage, outdated infrastructure, or uncompetitive pricing, necessitating further investigation.

Industry Classification

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

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

Address: 2255 GORDON AVE, YAZOO CITY, MS, 39194

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,452,350

Exercised Options: $3,452,350

Current Obligation: $3,452,350

Actual Outlays: $3,452,350

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15B31519D00000048

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline