VA awards $5.35M food catering contract to Admiral's Experience Inc. for 1,914 days

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,351,939 ($5.4M)

Contractor: Admirals Experience Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2021-02-01

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 1,914 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.8K/day

Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FOOD CATERING SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: ATLANTA, FULTON County, GEORGIA, 30310

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $5.4 million to ADMIRALS EXPERIENCE INC for work described as: FOOD CATERING SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded for food catering services, indicating a need for consistent food provision. 2. The contract duration of 1,914 days suggests a long-term requirement for these services. 3. Awarded under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), implying a streamlined procurement process for a moderate value. 4. The firm-fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the government. 5. The contractor, Admiral's Experience Inc., is responsible for delivering these services. 6. Geographic location of service delivery is Georgia (GA).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total award amount is $5,351,939.46. Without specific benchmarks for food catering services of this scale and duration, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, the firm-fixed-price structure suggests an attempt to manage costs. Further analysis would require comparing per-meal costs or per-person-day costs against industry averages or similar government contracts.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was competed under Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), which typically involves a competitive process among a broader range of vendors than micro-purchases. While the exact number of bids received is not detailed, the 'COMPETED UNDER SAP' designation suggests that multiple offers were likely solicited and evaluated, fostering price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive process, even under SAP, generally leads to better pricing for taxpayers compared to sole-source awards, as it encourages vendors to offer competitive terms.

Public Impact

Veterans receiving services at VA facilities in Georgia will benefit from the provision of food catering. The contract ensures the delivery of essential food services to support the daily operations and well-being of beneficiaries. The geographic impact is concentrated within the state of Georgia. The contract supports jobs within the food service industry, potentially including local hires in Georgia.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for service quality variations over the long contract duration.
Reliance on a single contractor for a critical service like food provision.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract helps in budget predictability.
Competitive award process suggests a reasonable effort to secure value.
Long-term contract provides stability for service delivery.

Sector Analysis

The food service industry is a significant sector within the broader services market. Government contracts for food catering are common across various agencies, particularly those with large facilities or operational needs like the Department of Veterans Affairs. Benchmarking this contract would involve comparing its total value and duration against other large-scale food service contracts awarded by federal or state entities, considering factors like the number of meals served and service complexity.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, Admiral's Experience Inc., is likely not a small business. There is no explicit information on subcontracting requirements or performance, so the impact on the small business ecosystem is not directly discernible from this data alone.

Oversight & Accountability

As a purchase order awarded under SAP, oversight would typically involve the contracting officer's representative (COR) monitoring performance against the contract terms and conditions. The Department of Veterans Affairs has an Office of Inspector General that could investigate any reported issues of fraud, waste, or abuse. Transparency is facilitated by public contract databases, but detailed performance metrics are not always publicly available.

Related Government Programs

VA Food Services
Government Catering Contracts
Healthcare Facility Food Supply
Federal Food Service Contracts

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of service degradation.
Potential for cost increases if contractor's initial estimates were inaccurate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $5.4 million to ADMIRALS EXPERIENCE INC. FOOD CATERING SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ADMIRALS EXPERIENCE INC.

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 $5.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-02-01. End: 2026-04-30.

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

Analyzing historical spending patterns for food catering services by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is crucial for understanding trends, identifying potential cost efficiencies, and benchmarking current awards. While specific historical data for this exact service category across the entire VA is not provided in the given data snippet, general trends indicate a consistent need for food services to support veterans in medical centers and other facilities. The VA's overall budget is substantial, and a portion is allocated to operational support services, including food. Examining past contracts for similar catering services, their values, durations, and the number of bidders can reveal whether spending has increased or decreased, if certain contractors have dominated the market, and if prices have remained stable or escalated. This context helps assess if the current $5.35 million award for Admiral's Experience Inc. aligns with historical norms or represents a significant deviation.

How does the per-diem cost of this contract compare to similar VA catering contracts?

To compare the per-diem cost of this contract to similar VA catering contracts, we first need to calculate the daily cost. The total award is $5,351,939.46 over 1,914 days, resulting in a daily cost of approximately $2,796.20 ($5,351,939.46 / 1914 days). Without access to a database of comparable VA catering contracts, a direct benchmark is difficult. However, this figure represents the total cost per day for all services rendered under the contract, not necessarily per veteran served. Factors such as the number of meals provided daily, the complexity of the menu, service requirements (e.g., delivery, setup, cleanup), and the specific location within Georgia would influence this daily rate. If similar contracts in comparable geographic areas serving a similar number of individuals cost significantly less or more, it would indicate potential overpricing or exceptional value, respectively. Further analysis would require detailed data on the scope of services and the number of beneficiaries for comparison.

What is Admiral's Experience Inc.'s track record with federal contracts, particularly with the VA?

Admiral's Experience Inc. has been awarded this $5.35 million purchase order by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for food catering services. To assess their track record, one would typically look at their past performance on federal contracts, especially those with the VA. This includes examining the number of previous awards, their values, the types of services provided, and crucially, their past performance ratings. Positive ratings indicate successful delivery, adherence to schedules, and compliance with contract terms. Conversely, negative ratings, contract disputes, or terminations would raise concerns. Without access to a comprehensive federal contract database with performance history for Admiral's Experience Inc., it's challenging to provide a detailed assessment. However, being awarded a multi-year contract of this magnitude suggests they have met certain criteria and demonstrated capability to the VA during the procurement process.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this food catering contract?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a food catering contract like this one are essential for ensuring the quality, timeliness, and safety of the services provided. While not explicitly detailed in the provided data, typical KPIs for such contracts would include: Food Quality (e.g., adherence to nutritional standards, taste, freshness, presentation), Timeliness of Service (e.g., meals delivered on schedule), Food Safety and Sanitation (e.g., compliance with health codes, temperature control, absence of foodborne illnesses), Menu Variety and Compliance (e.g., offering diverse and approved menus), and Customer Satisfaction (e.g., feedback from the end-users, typically veterans in this case). The contracting officer's representative (COR) would monitor these KPIs, and performance would likely be formally assessed. Failure to meet these KPIs could result in corrective actions or penalties as stipulated in the contract.

What is the potential impact of the firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type on service quality and cost?

The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type for this food catering service aims to provide cost certainty for the government. Under an FFP agreement, the contractor, Admiral's Experience Inc., assumes the risk of cost overruns. This means they are obligated to provide the specified services for the agreed-upon price, regardless of their actual costs. For the government, this offers predictability in budgeting. However, the FFP structure can sometimes incentivize contractors to cut corners on quality or service to maximize profit, especially if their cost estimates were too low or if unforeseen issues arise. Conversely, it can also drive efficiency as the contractor seeks to manage their costs effectively. The VA's oversight, through the COR and performance monitoring, is critical to ensure that cost certainty does not come at the expense of essential service quality and safety standards.

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: 36C24721Q0126

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3835 AVOCADO BLVD, LA MESA, CA, 91941

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $5,351,939

Exercised Options: $5,351,939

Current Obligation: $5,351,939

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline