DOJ's $6M FY25 Prison System Telecom Contract Awarded to Windstream Communications
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $6,000 ($6.0K)
Contractor: Windstream Communications Kerrville, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Justice
Start Date: 2025-10-01
End Date: 2026-09-30
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $16/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: TO PROVIDE TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR FY-2025 - OCTOBER 1, 2025 THOUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.
Place of Performance
Location: LITTLE ROCK, PULASKI County, ARKANSAS, 72212
State: Arkansas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Justice obligated $6,000 to WINDSTREAM COMMUNICATIONS KERRVILLE, LLC for work described as: TO PROVIDE TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR FY-2025 - OCTOBER 1, 2025 THOUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026. Key points: 1. The contract is for wired telecommunications services for the Federal Prison System. 2. Awarded to Windstream Communications Kerrville, LLC, for a 364-day period. 3. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, with a total value of $6,000,000. 4. This procurement was not available for competition.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $6,000,000 for 364 days of wired telecommunications service is a significant expenditure. Without competitive bidding, it is difficult to assess if this price is optimal compared to market rates for similar services.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was not available for competition, indicating a limited competition approach. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there is no market pressure to offer the best price.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in the government paying a premium for telecommunications services, impacting taxpayer funds.
Public Impact
Ensures essential communication services for federal correctional facilities. Supports the operational needs of the Bureau of Prisons. Potential for higher costs due to lack of competitive bidding.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpayment
Positive Signals
- Ensures essential service delivery
- Firm Fixed Price contract limits cost uncertainty
Sector Analysis
The telecommunications sector is highly competitive, with numerous providers offering a range of services. Government contracts in this area often benefit from competitive bidding to secure favorable pricing and innovative solutions.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this procurement, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The award is a purchase order, which is a common method for acquiring goods and services. Oversight would focus on contract performance, service delivery, and adherence to the firm fixed price.
Related Government Programs
- Wired Telecommunications Carriers
- Department of Justice Contracting
- Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for non-optimal pricing
- Limited transparency in price discovery
Tags
wired-telecommunications-carriers, department-of-justice, ar, purchase-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Justice awarded $6,000 to WINDSTREAM COMMUNICATIONS KERRVILLE, LLC. TO PROVIDE TELEPHONE SERVICE FOR FY-2025 - OCTOBER 1, 2025 THOUGH SEPTEMBER 30, 2026.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WINDSTREAM COMMUNICATIONS KERRVILLE, LLC.
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 $6,000.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.
What is the justification for not making this telecommunications contract available for competition?
The justification for not making this telecommunications contract available for competition is not provided in the data. Typically, such decisions are based on specific circumstances like sole-source provider requirements, urgent needs, or existing infrastructure dependencies. A thorough review of the contract's justification documentation would be necessary to understand the rationale.
What are the potential risks associated with awarding a large telecommunications contract without competition?
The primary risk of awarding a large telecommunications contract without competition is the potential for overpayment. Without competitive bids, the government may not secure the most cost-effective rates or the best available technology. This can lead to inefficient use of taxpayer funds and a lack of incentive for the awarded vendor to innovate or offer superior service.
How can the effectiveness of this contract be measured given the lack of competitive benchmarks?
Effectiveness can be measured through performance metrics outlined in the purchase order, such as service uptime, call quality, and response times to outages. Customer satisfaction surveys within the Bureau of Prisons and comparisons to industry standards for similar services (even if not directly competitive bids for this specific contract) can also provide insights into its effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) › Wired Telecommunications Carriers
Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › UTILITIES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Windstream Communications Kerrville LLC
Address: 4005 N RODNEY PARHAM RD STE 202, LITTLE ROCK, AR, 72212
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $6,000
Exercised Options: $6,000
Current Obligation: $6,000
Actual Outlays: $2,146
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-10-01
Current End Date: 2026-09-30
Potential End Date: 2026-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-09
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