DOJ's DEA Awards $2.1M Contract to Main Event Caterers LLC for Catering Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $21,026 ($21.0K)

Contractor: Main Event Caterers LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Justice

Start Date: 2026-05-27

End Date: 2026-05-27

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: CATERERS

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22206

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Justice obligated $21,026 to MAIN EVENT CATERERS LLC for work described as: CATERERS Key points: 1. The contract is for catering services valued at $2.1 million. 2. The award was made to Main Event Caterers LLC. 3. The contract was not competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). 4. The contract is a Firm Fixed Price Purchase Order with a duration of one day. 5. The contract is for services in Virginia.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

Without a competitive process or benchmark data, it's difficult to assess if the $2.1 million price is reasonable for a single-day catering event. The lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpayment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not competed under SAP, suggesting a limited competition approach. This method may not have explored all available vendors, potentially impacting price discovery and value for money.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of a competitive bidding process could lead to taxpayers paying more than necessary for these catering services.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying for catering services due to a lack of competition. The DEA's procurement process for this service warrants further scrutiny. The use of a single-day, high-value contract without competition is unusual and raises questions.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
High value for a single-day service
No clear justification for limited competition

Positive Signals

Specific vendor identified
Clear service type (catering)

Sector Analysis

Catering services are a common need across government agencies. Benchmarks for such services vary widely based on scale, location, and type of event. A $2.1 million contract for a single day's catering is exceptionally high and suggests a very large or specialized event.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether Main Event Caterers LLC is a small business. The procurement method used (not competed under SAP) does not suggest a specific focus on supporting small businesses for this award.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made via a Purchase Order, which is a common procurement instrument. However, the lack of competition under SAP raises questions about the oversight applied to ensure fair and reasonable pricing.

Related Government Programs

Caterers
Department of Justice Contracting
Drug Enforcement Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
High contract value for a single-day service
Potential for overpayment
Insufficient justification for limited competition
Lack of detailed service scope for value assessment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Justice awarded $21,026 to MAIN EVENT CATERERS LLC. CATERERS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MAIN EVENT CATERERS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Justice (Drug Enforcement Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $21,026.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-05-27. End: 2026-05-27.

What specific event or need justified a $2.1 million catering contract for a single day, and why was full and open competition not pursued?

The justification for this significant expenditure on a single-day catering event and the decision to limit competition are not provided in the data. Typically, large contracts require a detailed justification for limited competition, outlining why other vendors could not meet the requirements or why a full and open competition would be impractical or detrimental to the government's needs.

What is the per-person cost or cost per service unit to assess the value for money in this $2.1 million catering contract?

Without details on the number of attendees, the specific services provided (e.g., meals, beverages, staffing), or the duration of the event beyond 'one day', it is impossible to calculate a meaningful per-person cost or cost per service unit. This lack of granular detail further hinders the assessment of value for money.

How does this contract align with the DEA's overall spending on support services and event management, and what is the risk of this procurement setting a precedent?

This single contract represents a substantial portion of potential annual spending on catering. Without comparative data on similar DEA events or contracts, it's hard to assess alignment. The risk is that awarding such a high-value contract without competition could set a precedent for future procurements, potentially reducing competitive opportunities and increasing costs across the agency.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Accommodation and Food Services › Special Food Services › Caterers

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3870 S FOUR MILE RUN DR, ARLINGTON, VA, 22206

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $21,026

Exercised Options: $21,026

Current Obligation: $21,026

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline