DOJ's $21K dental assistant contract awarded to Absolute Staffers LLC for FY26

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $61,440 ($61.4K)

Contractor: Absolute Staffers LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2025-10-01

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $169/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TCX/ FY26 / B1 / ABSOLUTE STAFFERS DENTAL ASSISTANT ABSOLUTE STAFFERS LLC EIN: YU9KUC12PK46 INCREASE LINE ITEM ONE- + 656 HRS X $32 PER HR $20,992

Place of Performance

Location: ELLICOTT CITY, HOWARD County, MARYLAND, 21042

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $61,440 to ABSOLUTE STAFFERS LLC for work described as: TCX/ FY26 / B1 / ABSOLUTE STAFFERS DENTAL ASSISTANT ABSOLUTE STAFFERS LLC EIN: YU9KUC12PK46 INCREASE LINE ITEM ONE- + 656 HRS X $32 PER HR $20,992 Key points: 1. Contract value appears low, potentially indicating a limited scope or short duration. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process was utilized. 3. Fixed-price contract type may offer cost certainty for the government. 4. Performance period aligns with the upcoming fiscal year, ensuring timely service. 5. The contract falls under temporary help services, indicating a need for flexible staffing. 6. Geographic location in Maryland is specified for service delivery.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $20,992 for approximately 656 hours of dental assistant services translates to an hourly rate of $32. This rate is within a reasonable range for temporary administrative support staff, though specific benchmarks for dental assistants in government settings are not readily available. The fixed-price nature of the contract provides cost predictability. However, without more detailed scope of work or comparison to similar government contracts for specialized roles like dental assistants, a definitive value-for-money assessment is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: $32 per hour

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but this method generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service offerings for the government. The agency's choice of full and open competition suggests confidence in the market's ability to provide qualified candidates.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it maximizes the pool of potential offerors, increasing the likelihood of receiving competitive pricing and innovative solutions.

Public Impact

Federal inmates in Bureau of Prisons facilities will benefit from dental care services. Temporary dental assistant services will be delivered to support healthcare operations. Services are to be performed in Maryland. The contract supports healthcare workforce needs within the Federal Prison System.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited data on contractor past performance in similar government contracts.
Scope of work and specific service requirements are not detailed, raising potential for scope creep or unmet needs.
Hourly rate, while seemingly reasonable, needs further benchmarking against specialized dental assistant roles.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a fair process.
Fixed-price contract type offers cost control.
Contract duration aligns with the fiscal year, ensuring continuity of services.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services sector, specifically under temporary help services. The market for temporary staffing, including specialized healthcare roles, is robust. Government agencies often utilize such contracts to fill immediate staffing gaps or manage fluctuating workload demands. Benchmarking this specific contract is difficult without more granular data on specialized healthcare staffing within the federal government, but the overall temporary staffing market is competitive.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that the primary award went to a larger entity or that small business participation was not a specific focus for this particular procurement. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were precluded from bidding or if they participated in the full and open competition.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely reside with the Bureau of Prisons' contracting officers and program managers. The fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability for the contractor to deliver services within the agreed-upon cost. Transparency is facilitated by the contract award being publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Department of Justice Healthcare Contracts
Bureau of Prisons Staffing Services
Federal Temporary Staffing Services
Medical and Dental Support Services

Risk Flags

Potential for insufficient scope definition
Risk of contractor performance issues on fixed-price contract
Dependence on temporary staffing may impact service consistency

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $61,440 to ABSOLUTE STAFFERS LLC. TCX/ FY26 / B1 / ABSOLUTE STAFFERS DENTAL ASSISTANT ABSOLUTE STAFFERS LLC EIN: YU9KUC12PK46 INCREASE LINE ITEM ONE- + 656 HRS X $32 PER HR $20,992

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ABSOLUTE STAFFERS 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 $61,440.

What is the period of performance?

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

What is the track record of Absolute Staffers LLC with federal government contracts, particularly in healthcare staffing?

Information regarding Absolute Staffers LLC's specific track record with federal government contracts, especially within healthcare staffing, is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive review would require accessing federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS to analyze past performance ratings, previous contract awards, and any reported issues. Without this data, it's difficult to assess their experience and reliability for this specific dental assistant role. The current contract is a BPA Call, suggesting it might be a task order under a larger agreement, which could indicate prior vetting or a framework for ongoing services.

How does the $32 per hour rate compare to market rates for dental assistants in Maryland?

The $32 per hour rate for dental assistants is a key component of this contract's value assessment. To benchmark this, one would typically consult salary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) for dental assistants in the relevant geographic area (Maryland). For instance, BLS data often shows median hourly wages for dental assistants. Additionally, comparing this rate to other government contracts for similar temporary staffing services, or even commercial staffing agency rates in Maryland, would provide further context. If $32 is significantly above or below the median market rate, it could indicate either an exceptional deal for the government or potential issues with pricing or service quality.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, given its limited value and scope?

Given the contract's relatively low value ($20,992) and fixed-price structure, primary risks include potential scope limitations and contractor performance issues. If the scope of work is not clearly defined, there's a risk of the contractor not meeting all necessary service requirements or the government needing to issue additional contracts. For the contractor, a fixed-price contract carries the risk of underestimating labor hours or encountering unforeseen costs, potentially leading to reduced profitability or a desire to cut corners on service quality. The reliance on temporary staff also introduces risks related to consistency of service and potential delays in filling positions.

What does the 'BPA CALL' award type signify for this contract?

The 'BPA CALL' designation indicates that this contract is a task order issued under a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA). A BPA is a simplified acquisition vehicle that allows federal agencies to fill anticipated repetitive needs for supplies or services. When an agency establishes a BPA with one or more vendors, they can then issue 'calls' or orders against that agreement. This method streamlines the procurement process for recurring needs. For this specific contract, it means that Absolute Staffers LLC likely has an existing BPA with the Department of Justice or a related entity, and this is a specific order placed against that agreement for dental assistant services.

How does the 'Temporary Help Services' NAICS code (561320) influence the interpretation of this contract?

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 561320, 'Temporary Help Services,' is crucial for understanding the nature of this contract. It signifies that the primary purpose is to provide workers to supplement the agency's workforce on a temporary or short-term basis. This typically involves Absolute Staffers LLC employing the dental assistants and assigning them to work at the Department of Justice facilities. This classification implies that the government is not directly hiring these individuals but is contracting for the service of providing qualified temporary personnel, shifting the burden of payroll, benefits, and some HR functions to the contractor.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Employment Services › Temporary Help Services

Product/Service Code: MEDICAL SERVICES › OTHER MEDICAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 12345 WAKE FOREST ROAD, SUITE 2B, CLARKSVILLE, MD, 21029

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Economically Disadvantaged Women Owned Small Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $61,440

Exercised Options: $61,440

Current Obligation: $61,440

Actual Outlays: $18,696

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 15B61521A00000036

IDV Type: BPA

Timeline