Coast Guard awards $91.6K for food services at Fort Macon, bypassing competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $91,616 ($91.6K)

Contractor: Acorn Services Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2026-03-01

End Date: 2026-05-31

Contract Duration: 91 days

Daily Burn Rate: $1.0K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: FULL FOOD SERVICES AT USCG SECTOR FORT MACON, LOCATED IN ATLANTIC BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA.

Place of Performance

Location: ATLANTIC BEACH, CARTERET County, NORTH CAROLINA, 28512

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $91,616.1 to ACORN SERVICES INC for work described as: FULL FOOD SERVICES AT USCG SECTOR FORT MACON, LOCATED IN ATLANTIC BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA. Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis, indicating defined cost parameters. 2. The award was not competed, raising questions about potential cost savings through competitive bidding. 3. The contract duration is short, covering approximately three months. 4. The service is essential for base operations, ensuring personnel welfare. 5. The contractor, Acorn Services Inc., is receiving this award. 6. The contract is a purchase order, a common method for smaller value acquisitions.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $91,616.10 for approximately three months of food services appears reasonable for a single facility. However, without comparable contract data for similar Coast Guard installations or other federal facilities in the region, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government. The lack of competition, however, prevents a benchmark against market-driven pricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating it was likely awarded under a sole-source justification or a specific exception to full and open competition. The absence of a competitive process means that multiple vendors were not given the opportunity to bid, which could limit price discovery and potentially lead to higher costs than if a competitive solicitation had been issued.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may not benefit from the most competitive pricing due to the lack of a bidding process. This could mean that the government is paying more than it would in a competitive environment.

Public Impact

Personnel at USCG Sector Fort Macon in Atlantic Beach, North Carolina, will receive food services. The contract ensures the provision of essential catering and food preparation services. The geographic impact is localized to the Fort Macon facility. The contract supports the operational readiness and morale of Coast Guard personnel stationed at the facility.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may result in suboptimal pricing for taxpayers.
Short contract duration could lead to frequent re-solicitations and administrative overhead.
Limited transparency into the justification for sole-source award.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
Essential service for personnel welfare and operational readiness.
Award to a specific contractor, Acorn Services Inc.

Sector Analysis

The food service industry is a significant sector within government contracting, encompassing a wide range of services from base dining facilities to specialized catering. Federal spending in this area supports military bases, government agencies, and other public institutions. While this specific contract is relatively small, it represents a segment of the broader federal expenditure on facility support services. Benchmarking this contract against similar small-scale food service contracts at other federal installations would provide better context for its value.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside. There is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within the provided data. The award to Acorn Services Inc. does not provide information on whether the contractor itself is a small business, but the lack of set-aside suggests it was not specifically targeted for small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

As a purchase order, oversight would typically be managed by the U.S. Coast Guard contracting officer and the facility's administrative staff. Accountability measures would be outlined in the terms of the purchase order, including service level agreements and payment terms. Transparency is limited due to the non-competitive nature of the award and the absence of publicly available justification documents.

Related Government Programs

Base Operations Support Services
Food and Bar Services
Government Food Service Contracts
Department of Homeland Security Contracts

Risk Flags

Non-competitive award
Short contract duration
Lack of detailed performance metrics in award data

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $91,616.1 to ACORN SERVICES INC. FULL FOOD SERVICES AT USCG SECTOR FORT MACON, LOCATED IN ATLANTIC BEACH, NORTH CAROLINA.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ACORN SERVICES INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (U.S. Coast Guard).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $91,616.1.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-03-01. End: 2026-05-31.

What is the track record of Acorn Services Inc. with federal contracts, particularly in food services?

Information regarding the specific track record of Acorn Services Inc. with federal contracts, especially in food services, is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive review would require searching federal procurement databases like SAM.gov or FPDS for past awards, performance evaluations, and any history of contract disputes or successes. Understanding their past performance is crucial for assessing the reliability and quality of services they are likely to provide under this new contract. Without this historical data, it's difficult to gauge their experience level and suitability beyond the basic award information.

How does the per-diem cost of food services under this contract compare to similar federal facilities?

The provided data does not include the number of personnel to be served or the exact duration in days, making a direct per-diem cost calculation impossible. The total contract value is $91,616.10 for approximately 91 days. To compare per-diem costs, we would need to know the average number of individuals served daily. For instance, if 100 individuals were served daily, the cost per person per day would be approximately $33.50 ($91,616.10 / 91 days / 100 people). This figure would then need to be benchmarked against per-diem rates at comparable military bases or federal facilities, considering regional cost of living and service scope. Without this breakdown, such a comparison remains speculative.

What are the specific risks associated with awarding a food service contract without competition?

The primary risk associated with awarding a food service contract without competition is the potential for inflated pricing. When a contract is not competed, the government loses the benefit of competitive bidding, which typically drives down costs and encourages innovation among vendors. This can lead to taxpayers paying more than necessary for the services. Additionally, a lack of competition might reduce the incentive for the awarded contractor to maintain high service quality or efficiency, as there is no immediate threat of losing the contract to a competitor. There's also a risk of vendor lock-in, where the government becomes dependent on a single provider, potentially facing challenges if that provider underperforms.

What is the expected effectiveness of Acorn Services Inc. in delivering these food services?

The expected effectiveness of Acorn Services Inc. in delivering these food services cannot be definitively assessed solely from the provided contract data. Effectiveness is typically gauged by past performance, adherence to service level agreements, and client satisfaction. Since this is a sole-source award and specific performance metrics or historical data are not detailed, we must rely on the assumption that the contracting agency, the U.S. Coast Guard, has determined Acorn Services Inc. to be capable of meeting the requirements. Future effectiveness will depend on the clarity of the contract's statement of work, the quality of the food provided, and the reliability of the service delivery.

How does this contract's value compare to historical federal spending on food services at similar Coast Guard facilities?

The provided data for this specific contract ($91,616.10 for approximately three months) is a single data point and does not offer sufficient context for historical comparison without additional information. To assess its value relative to historical spending, one would need to analyze procurement records for similar food service contracts at other U.S. Coast Guard sectors or bases of comparable size and operational tempo. Factors such as location, number of personnel served, and the scope of services (e.g., meal types, operating hours) would need to be standardized for a meaningful comparison. Without access to this broader dataset, it's difficult to determine if this award represents an increase, decrease, or stable trend in federal spending for such services.

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: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Acorn Services, Inc.

Address: 519 REVERE RD, MERION STATION, PA, 19066

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: $91,616

Exercised Options: $91,616

Current Obligation: $91,616

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline