Department of Labor awards $31.5M contract for Woodland Job Corps Center operations to MINACT, INC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $31,523,337 ($31.5M)

Contractor: Minact, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Labor

Start Date: 2020-09-04

End Date: 2023-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,121 days

Daily Burn Rate: $28.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: OPERATION OF THE WOODLAND JOB CORPS CENTER, WITH OUTREACH/ADMISSIONS AND CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: LAUREL, ANNE ARUNDEL County, MARYLAND, 20724

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Labor obligated $31.5 million to MINACT, INC for work described as: OPERATION OF THE WOODLAND JOB CORPS CENTER, WITH OUTREACH/ADMISSIONS AND CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 1121 days indicates a significant, long-term service requirement. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 4. The award to MINACT, INC. represents a substantial investment in workforce development services. 5. The scope includes outreach, admissions, and career transition services, crucial for program success. 6. The contract is managed by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management. 7. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 611519 points to specialized trade school services.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $31.5 million over approximately three years for operating a Job Corps center appears within a reasonable range for such services. Benchmarking against similar Job Corps center contracts would provide a clearer picture of value for money. The firm fixed price structure offers cost predictability, but the ultimate value depends on the quality and effectiveness of the services delivered by MINACT, INC.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded using full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. With 7 bidders, the competition level suggests a healthy market interest in providing these services. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more competitive pricing for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The robust competition for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers as it likely drove down the final price and encouraged innovative service delivery approaches.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are individuals seeking vocational training and career development through the Job Corps program. Services delivered include operational management of the Woodland Job Corps Center, alongside crucial outreach, admissions, and career transition support. The geographic impact is centered around the Woodland Job Corps Center, likely serving a specific region in Maryland. Workforce implications include the creation or maintenance of jobs for MINACT, INC. staff operating the center and indirect support for the trainees entering the workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for service delivery inconsistencies across the contract duration.
Ensuring effective career transition services to translate training into stable employment.
Monitoring contractor performance to guarantee adherence to Job Corps program standards.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty.
Long contract duration allows for sustained program operations and impact.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader education and workforce development sector, specifically focusing on vocational training provided by technical and trade schools. The Job Corps program is a significant federal initiative aimed at preparing young people for careers. Spending in this area is driven by the government's commitment to addressing youth unemployment and skill gaps. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other Job Corps center contracts or similar large-scale workforce training initiatives.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary focus was on full and open competition. MINACT, INC. may engage small businesses as subcontractors, but this is not explicitly detailed in the provided data. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on any subcontracting opportunities that arise.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is likely managed by the Department of Labor's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management, which awarded the contract. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract's performance standards and reporting requirements. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance metrics and Inspector General reports would provide deeper insights into accountability.

Related Government Programs

Job Corps Program
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Programs
Department of Labor Training and Employment Services

Risk Flags

Potential for performance variability over the contract duration.
Need to ensure effective career transition and job placement outcomes.
Reliance on a single contractor for a significant workforce development program.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Labor awarded $31.5 million to MINACT, INC. OPERATION OF THE WOODLAND JOB CORPS CENTER, WITH OUTREACH/ADMISSIONS AND CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MINACT, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Labor (Office of the Assistant Secretary for Administration and Management).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $31.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-09-04. End: 2023-09-30.

What is the historical spending pattern for the Woodland Job Corps Center operations?

The provided data reflects a single award of $31,523,337 to MINACT, INC. for the operation of the Woodland Job Corps Center from September 4, 2020, to September 30, 2023. To understand the historical spending pattern, one would need to examine prior contracts for this specific center, including the awarding agency, contractor, value, and duration. This would reveal if there have been consistent awards to the same contractor, fluctuations in contract value, or changes in the scope of services over time. Without prior contract data, it's impossible to establish a multi-year spending trend for this particular center.

How does the cost per trainee compare to other Job Corps centers?

The provided data does not include the number of trainees served or the total operational costs broken down by trainee. Therefore, a direct per-trainee cost comparison is not possible with the given information. To conduct such an analysis, one would need data on the average daily census or annual enrollment figures for the Woodland Job Corps Center, alongside the total contract value. This would then need to be benchmarked against publicly available cost-per-trainee data from other Job Corps centers, which can vary significantly based on location, program offerings, and local economic conditions.

What is MINACT, INC.'s track record with federal contracts, particularly in workforce development?

MINACT, INC. has a history of federal contracting, as evidenced by this award. To assess their track record, a review of their past performance on similar contracts, especially those related to Job Corps or other workforce development programs, would be necessary. This would involve examining contract histories for on-time delivery, quality of services, cost performance, and any past performance issues or disputes. Information from sources like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) or the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) would be crucial for a comprehensive evaluation of MINACT, INC.'s capabilities and reliability.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate MINACT, INC.'s success in operating the Woodland Job Corps Center?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, Job Corps center contracts include performance metrics related to student enrollment, retention rates, completion of training programs, job placement rates post-completion, and employer satisfaction. The Department of Labor would establish these KPIs in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and monitor MINACT, INC.'s performance against them. Regular performance reviews and reporting would be conducted to ensure the contractor is meeting or exceeding expectations.

What is the geographic scope of the outreach and admissions services provided?

The contract specifies the 'OPERATION OF THE WOODLAND JOB CORPS CENTER, WITH OUTREACH/ADMISSIONS AND CAREER TRANSITION SERVICES.' While the center is located in Maryland (ST: MD, SN: MARYLAND), the outreach and admissions services typically extend to a defined recruitment area surrounding the center. This area is determined by the Job Corps program's regional structure and the center's capacity. The exact geographic boundaries for outreach would be detailed in the contract's Statement of Work and are designed to draw eligible youth from surrounding communities into the program.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Technical and Trade Schools › Other Technical and Trade Schools

Product/Service Code: OPERATION OF GOVT OWNED FACILITY › OPERATE GOVT OWNED BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 1630J2-20-R-00001

Offers Received: 7

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Minact Inc

Address: 5220 KEELE ST, JACKSON, MS, 39206

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $62,065,972

Exercised Options: $38,602,572

Current Obligation: $31,523,337

Actual Outlays: $31,523,337

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline