VA Police Use of Amherst Training Facility for $525K Over 3 Years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $52,500 ($52.5K)

Contractor: Town of Amherst Police Department

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2024-05-01

End Date: 2027-04-30

Contract Duration: 1,094 days

Daily Burn Rate: $48/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: YEAR-ROUND USE OF TOWN OF AMHERST PD INDOOR TRAINING FACILITY BY BUFFALO AND BATAVIA VA POLICE

Place of Performance

Location: BUFFALO, ERIE County, NEW YORK, 14215

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $52,500 to TOWN OF AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT for work described as: YEAR-ROUND USE OF TOWN OF AMHERST PD INDOOR TRAINING FACILITY BY BUFFALO AND BATAVIA VA POLICE Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Town of Amherst PD for facility use. 2. Limited competition due to facility specificity. 3. Potential risk of higher costs without competitive bidding. 4. Recreation industry spending benchmark not directly applicable.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The VA is paying $525,000 over three years for access to a training facility. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price is optimal compared to similar facilities or alternative training solutions.

Cost Per Unit: $175,000 per year

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

This contract was not competed, likely due to the specific nature of the facility required by the Buffalo and Batavia VA Police. The lack of competition limits price discovery and potentially leads to a higher cost for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may be paying a premium for this facility use due to the absence of a competitive bidding process.

Public Impact

Ensures continued training access for VA police officers. Supports local government services through facility rental. Potential for increased operational readiness for VA police.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for price escalation
Limited market research evident

Positive Signals

Addresses a specific training need
Supports inter-agency cooperation

Sector Analysis

The contract falls under amusement and recreation services. Benchmarks for this sector are broad; however, the specific nature of police training facilities makes direct comparison challenging. The annual cost of $175,000 appears reasonable for specialized facility access.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to involve small businesses. The vendor is a municipal police department, and the contract type (purchase order) does not typically facilitate small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made via a purchase order, which generally involves less stringent oversight than larger contract vehicles. The lack of competition warrants closer scrutiny to ensure fair pricing.

Related Government Programs

All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Non-competitive award
Potential for inflated pricing
Lack of documented market research
Limited transparency

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $52,500 to TOWN OF AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT. YEAR-ROUND USE OF TOWN OF AMHERST PD INDOOR TRAINING FACILITY BY BUFFALO AND BATAVIA VA POLICE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TOWN OF AMHERST POLICE DEPARTMENT.

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 $52,500.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-05-01. End: 2027-04-30.

What is the justification for not competing this requirement?

The justification for not competing likely stems from the unique availability and suitability of the Town of Amherst PD's indoor training facility for the specific needs of the Buffalo and Batavia VA Police. Agencies often sole-source or limit competition when a particular facility or service is uniquely capable of meeting requirements, though this should be well-documented.

Could alternative training solutions have been more cost-effective?

It is possible that alternative training solutions, such as utilizing other government-owned facilities or developing mobile training capabilities, could have been more cost-effective. The lack of competition prevents a thorough analysis of these alternatives and their associated costs and benefits.

What is the long-term value proposition for the VA?

The long-term value proposition lies in ensuring consistent and accessible training for VA police, which is crucial for maintaining operational readiness and officer proficiency. However, the value is diminished if the cost is significantly higher than it would be under a competitive scenario.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation › Other Amusement and Recreation Industries › All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries

Product/Service Code: LEASE/RENT FACILITIES › LEASE/RENTAL OF BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 36C24224Q0423

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 500 JOHN JAMES AUDUBON PKWY, BUFFALO, NY, 14228

Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. Local Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $87,500

Exercised Options: $52,500

Current Obligation: $52,500

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline