DOJ's $1.39M Waste Removal Contract for Brooklyn Facilities Awarded Sole-Source

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $138,730 ($138.7K)

Contractor: Waste Connections of NEW York, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2025-10-01

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 211 days

Daily Burn Rate: $657/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES FOR MDC BROOKYN, BUILDING 4, AND DAYTON MANOR (OCT-APRIL FY26)

Place of Performance

Location: BRONX, BRONX County, NEW YORK, 10451

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $138,730 to WASTE CONNECTIONS OF NEW YORK, INC for work described as: WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES FOR MDC BROOKYN, BUILDING 4, AND DAYTON MANOR (OCT-APRIL FY26) Key points: 1. Contract awarded without competition, raising questions about potential cost savings. 2. Limited competition may lead to higher prices than a fully competed contract. 3. The fixed-price contract type offers some cost certainty but limits flexibility. 4. Contract duration of 211 days is relatively short, suggesting a need for ongoing services. 5. The service falls under solid waste collection, a common municipal and federal function. 6. The contract is a purchase order, typically used for smaller value acquisitions.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $1.39 million for approximately 7 months of waste removal services appears to be within a reasonable range for a federal facility of this size. However, without a competitive bidding process, it is difficult to definitively benchmark the value for money. Similar contracts for waste removal in metropolitan areas can vary significantly based on service scope, frequency, and local market conditions. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost predictability for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. The reasons for this determination are not provided in the data. Sole-source awards can occur for various reasons, including urgency, lack of available sources, or specific technical requirements. The absence of competition means that the government did not solicit bids from multiple vendors, potentially limiting price discovery and the opportunity to secure the most cost-effective solution.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may have paid a premium due to the lack of competitive pressure to drive down costs. Without a bidding process, it's harder to ensure the government received the best possible price for these essential services.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the facilities managed by the Federal Prison System / Bureau of Prisons in Brooklyn, NY, ensuring essential waste management. The service delivered is solid waste collection, crucial for maintaining sanitary conditions and operational efficiency. The geographic impact is localized to Brooklyn, New York, specifically impacting Building 4 and Dayton Manor. There are no direct workforce implications mentioned, as this is a service contract rather than a direct employment initiative.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may result in inflated pricing compared to market rates.
Sole-source awards can set a precedent for future non-competitive procurements.
Limited transparency into the justification for the sole-source award.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the duration of the award.
The contract addresses a critical operational need for federal facilities.
Purchase order is a standard procurement instrument for this value range.

Sector Analysis

The solid waste collection industry (NAICS 562111) is a mature and essential service sector. Federal spending in this area supports the operational needs of government facilities nationwide. While this specific contract is relatively small in the overall federal spending landscape, it represents a typical procurement for maintaining basic infrastructure services. Benchmarking would involve comparing pricing with other municipal or federal waste contracts in similar urban environments.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside. There is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. The award to Waste Connections of New York, Inc., a known entity in the waste management sector, suggests it is not specifically targeting small business participation for this procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

As a purchase order, oversight would typically fall under the purview of the contracting officer within the Department of Justice's Federal Prison System. Accountability measures are inherent in the contract terms and performance expectations. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award, with the justification for not competing the contract being the primary area for further scrutiny.

Related Government Programs

Federal Prison System Operations
Bureau of Prisons Facilities Management
General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules (potential alternative procurement)

Risk Flags

Sole-source award without clear justification
Potential for inflated pricing due to lack of competition
Limited transparency in procurement process

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $138,730 to WASTE CONNECTIONS OF NEW YORK, INC. WASTE REMOVAL SERVICES FOR MDC BROOKYN, BUILDING 4, AND DAYTON MANOR (OCT-APRIL FY26)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WASTE CONNECTIONS OF NEW YORK, INC.

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 $138,730.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-10-01. End: 2026-04-30.

What is the justification for awarding this waste removal contract on a sole-source basis?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED' and is a 'sole-source' award. However, the specific justification for this determination is not detailed. Typically, sole-source awards are made when only one responsible source is available, or when the government's need is so specialized that only one contractor can provide the required goods or services. Other reasons can include urgency, or if a previous contract was terminated for cause and a new one must be awarded quickly. Without further information from the Department of Justice, the exact rationale remains unclear, but it is a key area for oversight to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently and appropriately.

How does the contract value compare to similar waste removal services for federal facilities?

The contract value of $1.39 million for approximately seven months of waste removal services for two facilities in Brooklyn, NY, is difficult to benchmark precisely without more granular data on service frequency, volume, and specific waste types. However, considering the urban location and the nature of federal facilities, this value appears within a plausible range. If this contract had been competed, it would be expected that multiple bids would be evaluated to ensure the most competitive pricing. The absence of competition makes a direct value-for-money comparison challenging, but similar municipal contracts in New York City can range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars annually depending on scale and services.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for this service?

The primary risk of a sole-source award for waste removal services is the potential for paying a higher price than would be achieved through a competitive bidding process. Without competing offers, the government lacks the leverage to negotiate the lowest possible cost. There's also a risk that the chosen contractor may not be the most innovative or efficient provider available in the market. Furthermore, sole-source awards can sometimes indicate a lack of proactive planning or market research by the agency to identify multiple capable vendors. This can also lead to a perception of reduced transparency and fairness in the procurement process.

What is the historical spending pattern for waste removal services at these specific DOJ facilities?

The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for waste removal services at Building 4 and Dayton Manor within the Federal Prison System in Brooklyn. To assess historical spending, one would need to access previous contract awards for these specific locations or for similar services provided by the Bureau of Prisons in that region. Analyzing past expenditures would help determine if the current $1.39 million contract represents an increase, decrease, or stable cost compared to previous periods, and whether the current sole-source award is consistent with past procurement strategies or a deviation.

What is the track record of Waste Connections of New York, Inc. with federal contracts?

Waste Connections of New York, Inc. is a subsidiary of a larger waste management company. While this specific data point does not detail their federal contract history, companies of this nature often hold numerous contracts with various government entities, including federal, state, and local levels. Their track record with federal contracts would typically be assessed through contract performance databases (like the Federal Procurement Data System - FPDS) and past performance reviews. A thorough review would examine their history of on-time delivery, quality of service, and any past performance issues or disputes on similar government contracts.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Waste Collection › Solid Waste Collection

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2630 PARK AVE, BRONX, NY, 10451

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $138,730

Exercised Options: $138,730

Current Obligation: $138,730

Actual Outlays: $46,415

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline