DOJ awards $81K for inmate horticulture classes, highlighting vocational training in Louisiana prisons

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $81,116 ($81.1K)

Contractor: Sowela Technical Community College

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2025-11-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 333 days

Daily Burn Rate: $244/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: PROVIDE HORTICULTURE CLASSES FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER FY26 FOR THE INMATE POPULATION.

Place of Performance

Location: LAKE CHARLES, CALCASIEU County, LOUISIANA, 70615

State: Louisiana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $81,116.28 to SOWELA TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE for work described as: PROVIDE HORTICULTURE CLASSES FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER FY26 FOR THE INMATE POPULATION. Key points: 1. Value for money appears reasonable given the specialized nature of vocational training for correctional facilities. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a competed award, suggesting potential for price discovery. 3. Risk indicators are low, with a fixed-price contract and clear service delivery period. 4. Performance context is focused on inmate rehabilitation and skill development. 5. Sector positioning is within correctional services and vocational education.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $81,116 for a full fiscal year of horticulture classes seems appropriate for specialized inmate programming. Benchmarking against similar vocational training contracts within correctional systems is difficult without more specific data, but the cost per inmate is likely to be competitive given the unique environment. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the Bureau of Prisons.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), suggesting a competitive process among eligible vendors. While the specific number of bidders is not provided, the use of SAP typically involves soliciting offers from multiple sources. This approach generally leads to better price discovery and value for the government compared to sole-source awards.

Taxpayer Impact: A competed award under SAP helps ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently by fostering competition and potentially driving down costs.

Public Impact

Inmates at the Federal Prison System facility in Louisiana will benefit from vocational training opportunities. Horticulture classes will be delivered throughout FY26, providing a structured learning environment. The geographic impact is localized to the correctional facility in Louisiana. Workforce implications include the potential for inmates to gain employable skills upon release.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for limited scalability of the program to other facilities without additional funding.
Dependence on the specific expertise of SOWELA TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE for curriculum delivery.

Positive Signals

Directly addresses inmate rehabilitation and skill development, aligning with correctional facility goals.
Provides tangible vocational skills in horticulture, a sector with potential employment opportunities.
Firm-fixed-price contract offers budget predictability for the Bureau of Prisons.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the education and training sector, specifically vocational services for correctional institutions. The market for such services is specialized, often involving community colleges or dedicated training providers. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without broader data on inmate education programs, but the $81K award is modest for a year-long program serving a prison population.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business participation or set-asides was not specified for this contract. As it was competed under SAP, there may have been opportunities for small businesses, but without explicit details, their direct impact or subcontracting roles remain unclear. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were actively solicited or awarded portions of this contract.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically reside with the Federal Prison System (Bureau of Prisons) within the Department of Justice. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract, requiring the contractor to deliver specified services. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases, though specific performance monitoring details are not publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Federal inmate education programs
Vocational training grants
Correctional facility services

Risk Flags

Limited data on contractor's specific experience in correctional environments.
Lack of detailed curriculum and outcome metrics for performance evaluation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $81,116.28 to SOWELA TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE. PROVIDE HORTICULTURE CLASSES FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER FY26 FOR THE INMATE POPULATION.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SOWELA TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

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 $81,116.28.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-11-01. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the specific curriculum and expected learning outcomes for the horticulture classes?

The provided data does not detail the specific curriculum or expected learning outcomes for the horticulture classes. Typically, such programs aim to equip inmates with practical skills in plant cultivation, maintenance, and potentially related areas like landscaping or small-scale farming. Learning outcomes would likely focus on demonstrating proficiency in these areas, understanding plant biology, and adhering to safety protocols. A more detailed statement of work or curriculum outline would be necessary to fully assess the educational value and specific skill acquisition.

How does the cost of these classes compare to similar vocational training programs offered to the general public?

Direct cost comparison to public vocational programs is challenging without knowing the exact scope and duration of the classes, as well as the number of inmates served. However, correctional education programs often incur additional logistical and security costs. The $81,116 award for a full fiscal year suggests a per-inmate cost that may be higher than standard community college courses due to these overheads. The firm-fixed-price nature, however, caps the government's expenditure. Further analysis would require data on class size, hours, and specific curriculum content.

What is SOWELA TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE's experience in providing education within correctional facilities?

The data indicates that SOWELA TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE is the awardee, suggesting they possess the capability and potentially prior experience in delivering educational services. Their status as a technical community college implies a background in vocational and technical training. However, specific details regarding their track record with correctional facilities, such as the number of similar contracts held or their performance history in such environments, are not provided in this data extract. Verifying their experience would require reviewing past performance information or their organizational capabilities statements.

What are the long-term goals of offering horticulture classes to inmates?

The long-term goals of offering horticulture classes to inmates typically revolve around rehabilitation, reducing recidivism, and enhancing post-release employability. By acquiring practical skills in horticulture, inmates may find employment opportunities in landscaping, agriculture, or related fields upon their release. This can contribute to their successful reintegration into society and reduce the likelihood of re-offending. The program also serves to provide constructive activity and skill development during incarceration, potentially improving inmate morale and facility operations.

Are there plans to expand this horticulture program to other federal correctional facilities?

The provided data focuses solely on this specific delivery order for FY26 at a facility within the Federal Prison System in Louisiana. There is no information within this dataset to indicate whether there are plans to expand this horticulture program to other federal correctional facilities. Such expansion would likely depend on the program's success, demonstrated effectiveness, available funding, and strategic priorities of the Bureau of Prisons regarding inmate vocational training.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Junior Colleges › Junior Colleges

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 15B51821Q00000026

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Louisiana Community & Technical College System

Address: 3820 SEN J BENNETT JOHNSTON AVE, LAKE CHARLES, LA, 70615

Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Government, Higher Education, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), U.S. Regional/State Government

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $81,116

Exercised Options: $81,116

Current Obligation: $81,116

Actual Outlays: $5,626

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15B51822D00000004

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline