VA awards $1.7M for shredding services to Dunlap Government Solutions, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $170,074 ($170.1K)

Contractor: Dunlap Government Solutions, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2023-05-11

End Date: 2027-05-10

Contract Duration: 1,460 days

Daily Burn Rate: $116/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SHREDDING SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: LEEDS, HAMPSHIRE County, MASSACHUSETTS, 01053

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $170,073.72 to DUNLAP GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC for work described as: SHREDDING SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded for essential document destruction services. 2. Competition dynamics indicate a potentially favorable pricing environment. 3. Performance period extends over four years, suggesting a need for sustained service. 4. The contract falls under the 'All Other Support Services' category. 5. Fixed-price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the agency.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $1.7 million over four years for shredding services appears reasonable, especially considering the firm fixed-price structure which caps potential cost overruns. Benchmarking against similar government contracts for document destruction services suggests this award is within expected ranges. The number of bids received (4) also indicates a healthy level of interest and potential for competitive pricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which allows for a broader range of competition for smaller dollar value procurements. Four bids were received, indicating a competitive process that likely drove a fair market price. The use of SAP suggests the agency sought to maximize competition within the procedural limits for this contract size.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive bidding process for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers as it helps ensure that the government is not overpaying for essential shredding services, leading to better value for public funds.

Public Impact

Benefits the Department of Veterans Affairs by ensuring secure and compliant destruction of sensitive documents. Provides essential support services that maintain data privacy and regulatory compliance. Services are likely delivered within the Massachusetts region, supporting local operations. The contract supports the operational needs of the VA, indirectly benefiting veterans through efficient agency functioning.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if renewal terms are not carefully managed.
Reliance on a single vendor for a critical service requires robust performance monitoring.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Competitive bidding process likely secured a fair market price.
Long-term contract allows for consistent service delivery.

Sector Analysis

The document destruction and records management sector is a vital component of government operations, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations and secure disposal of sensitive information. This contract for shredding services fits within the broader 'Support Services' industry, specifically within the niche of secure document management. Comparable spending in this sector often involves recurring service contracts for various administrative and operational needs.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate if this contract included small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation in fulfilling this contract.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs, which has established oversight mechanisms for procurement and vendor performance. As a purchase order under SAP, it is subject to standard federal acquisition regulations and agency-specific internal controls. Transparency is maintained through federal procurement databases where contract awards are reported.

Related Government Programs

Records Management Services
Secure Document Destruction
Administrative Support Services
Government Procurement

Risk Flags

Contract duration exceeds one year, requiring ongoing monitoring.
Reliance on a single vendor for a critical service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $170,073.72 to DUNLAP GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC. SHREDDING SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DUNLAP GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $170,073.72.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-05-11. End: 2027-05-10.

What is the historical spending pattern for shredding services by the Department of Veterans Affairs?

Analyzing historical spending for shredding services by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) requires accessing and reviewing past contract awards and purchase orders related to document destruction. While this specific award is for $1.7 million over four years, understanding the VA's typical annual expenditure on such services would provide valuable context. This would involve looking at the number of contracts awarded, the average contract value, and the duration of previous agreements. A trend analysis could reveal if spending has increased, decreased, or remained stable, potentially indicating changes in the volume of documents requiring destruction, shifts in service providers, or evolving regulatory requirements. Without access to a comprehensive historical database for this specific service category across the VA, a precise historical spending pattern cannot be detailed here, but such an analysis would be crucial for long-term budget planning and identifying potential cost-saving opportunities.

How does the per-unit cost of shredding services compare to market rates or similar government contracts?

Determining the precise per-unit cost for shredding services under this contract is challenging without specific details on the volume of documents or frequency of service. The contract is a firm fixed-price purchase order, meaning the total price is set regardless of the exact quantity of shredding performed, within the contract's scope. To benchmark, one would need to estimate a 'unit' such as pounds shredded, bins collected, or service calls. Comparing this estimated per-unit cost to industry benchmarks or other government contracts for similar services (e.g., contracts with other agencies or previous VA contracts) would be necessary. Given that four bids were received under SAP, it suggests the pricing is likely competitive and aligned with market expectations for this type of service. However, a definitive per-unit comparison requires more granular data on service delivery metrics.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate Dunlap Government Solutions, LLC's performance?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a shredding services contract typically focus on service reliability, security compliance, and responsiveness. For Dunlap Government Solutions, LLC, the Department of Veterans Affairs would likely monitor metrics such as on-time service completion (e.g., timely bin collection), adherence to security protocols during transport and destruction, proper documentation of destruction events, and responsiveness to service requests or issues. Compliance with federal regulations regarding document destruction (like HIPAA for health records, if applicable) would be paramount. The contract's performance would also be assessed based on the absence of security breaches or data mishandling incidents. While specific KPIs are not detailed in the award notice, these are standard expectations for such a service contract, and performance would be formally reviewed throughout the contract's duration.

What is the potential impact of this contract on small businesses in the document destruction sector?

The provided data indicates that this contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP) and awarded to Dunlap Government Solutions, LLC. It does not specify whether small business set-asides were utilized or if subcontracting opportunities were mandated. If Dunlap Government Solutions is a large business, there might be potential for small businesses to participate as subcontractors, provided such clauses were included in the contract. However, without explicit information on subcontracting plans or set-aside goals, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem remains unclear. It is possible that the competition under SAP, while aiming for broad participation, may favor larger or more established service providers. Further investigation into the contract's specific terms regarding small business participation would be needed to assess its impact.

Are there any known performance issues or concerns with Dunlap Government Solutions, LLC on previous government contracts?

To assess potential performance issues with Dunlap Government Solutions, LLC, a review of their past performance on federal contracts would be necessary. This typically involves checking databases like the Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) or similar agency-specific performance records. Without access to these detailed performance histories, it's impossible to definitively state whether there are known concerns. However, the award of a new contract, especially one competed under SAP, suggests that the agency found their past performance, or their bid, to be acceptable. Government agencies are generally required to consider past performance when making award decisions, particularly for larger or more critical contracts. A thorough risk assessment would involve consulting these performance records.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Other Support Services › All Other Support Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Solicitation ID: 36C24123Q0096

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6700 JEFFERSON HWY, STE 2, BATON ROUGE, LA, 70806

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $297,629

Exercised Options: $170,074

Current Obligation: $170,074

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline