Treasury's $3.66M Catering Contract Awarded to Haute on the Hill by Ridgwell's, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,662,302 ($3.7M)

Contractor: Haute on the Hill by Ridgewell's, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of the Treasury

Start Date: 2023-07-07

End Date: 2026-07-06

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.3K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: CATERING AND CONFERENCE SUPPORT SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20219

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Treasury obligated $3.7 million to HAUTE ON THE HILL BY RIDGEWELL'S, INC. for work described as: CATERING AND CONFERENCE SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded for catering and conference support services. 2. The contract has a duration of 1095 days. 3. The award was made under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). 4. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price. 5. The contractor is Haute on the Hill by Ridgwell's, Inc. 6. The place of performance is Washington D.C.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total value of this contract is $3,662,301.78 over three years. Without specific benchmarks for catering and conference support services in the D.C. area, it is difficult to definitively assess value for money. However, the firm fixed-price nature of the contract shifts some of the financial risk to the contractor, which can be a positive indicator. Further analysis would require comparison to similar government contracts for comparable services and quantities.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

This contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically allows for a broader range of competition than micro-purchases but may not reach the full and open competition level. The data indicates 3 offers were received. While some competition existed, the specific limitations of SAP might have restricted the pool of potential bidders, potentially impacting price discovery compared to a full and open competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The limited competition under SAP suggests that taxpayers may not have benefited from the lowest possible prices achievable through a wider bidding process. However, the presence of multiple offers indicates some level of market engagement.

Public Impact

Federal employees and attendees at conferences and events hosted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency will benefit from catering and conference support services. The services provided will ensure the smooth execution of official government meetings and events. The geographic impact is localized to the District of Columbia. The contract supports the food service industry workforce in the D.C. area.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for price escalation if market conditions change significantly, though mitigated by fixed-price contract.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical support services could pose a risk if performance issues arise.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract structure provides cost certainty for the government.
Award to a known entity (Haute on the Hill by Ridgwell's, Inc.) suggests a degree of confidence in their capabilities.
Contract duration of three years allows for stable planning and service delivery.

Sector Analysis

The food service industry is a significant sector within the broader services economy. Government contracts for catering and conference support are common, particularly in areas with high concentrations of federal agencies like Washington D.C. This contract fits within the general category of facility support services, with specific emphasis on food and event management. Benchmarking would typically involve comparing per-event costs or per-person meal prices against industry standards and other government contracts.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from a set-aside requirement. The primary contractor, Haute on the Hill by Ridgwell's, Inc., is likely a small business itself given the contract value and SAP competition, but this is not explicitly stated. The impact on the broader small business ecosystem is minimal without a specific set-aside.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) within the Department of the Treasury. Accountability measures are inherent in the Firm Fixed Price contract type, requiring the contractor to deliver services as specified. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

General Services Administration (GSA) Schedules for Food Services
Department of Defense (DoD) Catering Contracts
Conference and Event Management Services

Risk Flags

Limited competition may impact price discovery.
Reliance on a single vendor for critical services.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Treasury awarded $3.7 million to HAUTE ON THE HILL BY RIDGEWELL'S, INC.. CATERING AND CONFERENCE SUPPORT SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is HAUTE ON THE HILL BY RIDGEWELL'S, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Treasury (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-07-07. End: 2026-07-06.

What is the track record of Haute on the Hill by Ridgwell's, Inc. with federal contracts?

Information regarding the specific track record of Haute on the Hill by Ridgwell's, Inc. with federal contracts is not detailed in the provided data. A thorough analysis would require searching federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) for past awards, performance reviews, and any reported issues or successes associated with this contractor. Understanding their history with similar catering and conference support services, especially for government clients, would provide crucial context for assessing their reliability and performance on this current contract. Without this historical data, evaluating their suitability and potential risks is more speculative.

How does the per-meal cost of this contract compare to industry benchmarks?

The provided data does not include specific details on the number of meals or events to be provided, nor the cost breakdown per meal or per attendee. Therefore, a direct comparison of per-meal costs to industry benchmarks is not possible with the current information. To perform such an analysis, one would need to know the estimated quantity of meals, the types of service (e.g., buffet, plated, boxed lunches), and the specific services included (e.g., staffing, equipment rental). Benchmarking would then involve researching average catering costs for similar events in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area and comparing them against the contract's projected per-meal expenditure.

What are the primary risks associated with this catering contract?

The primary risks associated with this catering contract include potential performance issues, such as food quality, timeliness of service, or failure to meet dietary requirements, which could disrupt government events. Given the firm fixed-price nature, the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns if their operational costs increase unexpectedly. There's also a risk of vendor lock-in if the contractor's performance is satisfactory but switching providers would be disruptive and costly. Finally, reliance on a single vendor for critical support services presents a risk if the vendor faces unforeseen operational challenges (e.g., staffing shortages, supply chain disruptions).

How effective is the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) competition in ensuring value for taxpayers?

The effectiveness of SAP competition in ensuring value for taxpayers is generally considered moderate. SAP is designed for purchases below the simplified acquisition threshold (currently $250,000, though specific agency thresholds can vary), aiming to streamline procurement while still encouraging some level of competition. While this contract's total value exceeds typical SAP thresholds, its classification suggests it was processed under these expedited procedures. The receipt of three offers indicates some market engagement, which is positive. However, SAP may not attract the same breadth of bidders or the same level of price negotiation as full and open competition, potentially leading to prices that are not the absolute lowest achievable. Therefore, while SAP offers efficiency, it might not always maximize taxpayer savings compared to more robust competition methods.

What is the historical spending trend for similar catering services by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency?

The provided data does not include historical spending trends for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) on similar catering services. To analyze this, one would need to access historical procurement data for the OCC, identifying contracts for catering, conference support, and related food services over several fiscal years. This would involve looking at the number of contracts awarded, their values, the duration, and the types of services procured. Understanding past spending patterns would help determine if the current $3.66 million award represents an increase, decrease, or stable level of investment in these services, and whether the OCC has consistently used the same vendors or competed these services broadly.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Accommodation and Food Services › Special Food Services › Food Service Contractors

Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 2031JW23Q00048

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 5525 DORSEY LN, BETHESDA, MD, 20816

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,830,212

Exercised Options: $3,894,276

Current Obligation: $3,662,302

Actual Outlays: $3,042,712

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline