Department of Energy awards $4.87M grounds maintenance contract to Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $4,869,704 ($4.9M)
Contractor: Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Energy
Start Date: 2020-10-01
End Date: 2026-03-31
Contract Duration: 2,007 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.4K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: $0 PR TO INITIATE RENEWAL OF GERMANTOWN GROUNDS MAINTENANCE 5 YEAR CONTRACT. PREVIOUS CONTRACT DE-MA0012084. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 06/01/2020 - 05/31/2025 AMENDMENT TO ADD SIX MONTHS&OT FUNDING (POP: 10/01/2020 - 09/30/2021)
Place of Performance
Location: UPPER MARLBORO, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20772
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Energy obligated $4.9 million to MELWOOD HORTICULTURAL TRAINING CENTER, INC. for work described as: $0 PR TO INITIATE RENEWAL OF GERMANTOWN GROUNDS MAINTENANCE 5 YEAR CONTRACT. PREVIOUS CONTRACT DE-MA0012084. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 06/01/2020 - 05/31/2025 AMENDMENT TO ADD SIX MONTHS&OT FUNDING (POP: 10/01/2020 - 09/30/2021) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a non-profit organization focused on training and employing individuals with disabilities. 2. The contract is a renewal, indicating a continued need for these services and a potentially stable relationship. 3. The contract has a firm-fixed-price structure, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 4. The period of performance spans over five years, suggesting a long-term requirement. 5. The contract was not competitively procured, raising questions about potential cost savings through competition.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The total value of $4.87 million over approximately five years for grounds maintenance services appears reasonable for a large federal facility. However, without specific details on the scope of work, it is difficult to benchmark against similar contracts. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which can be a positive for the government if managed effectively. The renewal of the contract implies satisfaction with the previous performance, but also limits opportunities for price discovery through new competition.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competitively procured, as indicated by 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. This suggests that the Department of Energy may have sole-sourced the award, potentially due to specific requirements or a pre-existing relationship with the contractor. The lack of competition means that the government did not benefit from a bidding process that could have driven down prices or spurred innovation from multiple vendors.
Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition means taxpayers may not have received the best possible price for these services, as there was no market pressure to lower bids.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiary is Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Inc., a non-profit organization. The contract provides grounds maintenance services for a Department of Energy facility. The services are delivered in Maryland, impacting the local workforce and environment. This contract supports Melwood's mission to provide job training and employment for individuals with disabilities.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
- Limited transparency into the justification for sole-sourcing.
- Potential for complacency in service delivery due to long-term, non-competitive award.
Positive Signals
- Supports a non-profit organization with a social mission.
- Provides stable employment and training opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
- Firm-fixed-price contract shifts cost risk to the contractor.
- Long-term contract provides service continuity for the agency.
Sector Analysis
The grounds maintenance sector for federal agencies is a significant market, encompassing landscaping, janitorial, and facility upkeep services. This contract falls within the broader facilities support services industry. While specific market size data for federal grounds maintenance is not readily available, the government is a major consumer of such services across numerous agencies and locations. Benchmarking this contract's value would require detailed scope of work comparisons, but the $4.87 million over five years suggests a substantial service requirement for a federal site.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business (ss: false) and does not appear to have a small business set-aside component (sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses stemming from this specific award. The primary contractor, Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Inc., is a non-profit organization, and its structure and mission do not align with typical small business set-aside objectives.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the Department of Energy's contracting officers and program managers. As a definitive contract, it is subject to standard federal procurement regulations and oversight. The firm-fixed-price nature implies that performance monitoring will focus on adherence to the scope of work and service level agreements. Transparency is limited by the sole-source nature of the award, but contract modifications and performance reports would typically be available through federal procurement databases.
Related Government Programs
- Federal Grounds Maintenance Contracts
- Department of Energy Facilities Management
- Non-Profit Service Contracts
- Disability Employment Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
- Limited transparency on justification for non-competition.
- Potential for cost inefficiencies due to lack of market pressure.
Tags
department-of-energy, grounds-maintenance, landscaping-services, firm-fixed-price, definitive-contract, sole-source, non-profit-contractor, maryland, facilities-support, contract-renewal
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Energy awarded $4.9 million to MELWOOD HORTICULTURAL TRAINING CENTER, INC.. $0 PR TO INITIATE RENEWAL OF GERMANTOWN GROUNDS MAINTENANCE 5 YEAR CONTRACT. PREVIOUS CONTRACT DE-MA0012084. PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE: 06/01/2020 - 05/31/2025 AMENDMENT TO ADD SIX MONTHS&OT FUNDING (POP: 10/01/2020 - 09/30/2021)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is MELWOOD HORTICULTURAL TRAINING CENTER, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Energy (Department of Energy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $4.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-10-01. End: 2026-03-31.
What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' which is synonymous with a sole-source award. The specific justification for this determination is not detailed in the provided data. Typically, sole-source awards are made when only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services, such as in cases of unique capabilities, urgent needs, or when a follow-on contract is required and only the incumbent possesses the necessary knowledge or proprietary data. Without further documentation from the Department of Energy, the precise rationale remains unknown. This lack of transparency can be a concern for ensuring fair and competitive procurement practices.
How does the cost of this contract compare to similar grounds maintenance contracts at other federal facilities?
Direct cost comparison is challenging without a detailed breakdown of the scope of work, service levels, and geographic location specifics for other contracts. However, a total contract value of approximately $4.87 million over five years, averaging around $974,000 annually, for grounds maintenance at a federal facility suggests a significant operational footprint. Factors such as the size of the facility, complexity of landscaping, frequency of services, and local labor costs in Maryland would influence this figure. To perform a robust comparison, one would need to analyze contracts with similar square footage, types of services (e.g., basic mowing vs. extensive horticultural care, pest control, snow removal), and contract types (firm-fixed-price vs. cost-plus).
What is Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Inc.'s track record with federal contracts, particularly with the Department of Energy?
Melwood Horticultural Training Center, Inc. has a history of performing grounds maintenance and related services for federal agencies. While the provided data points to this specific contract (DE-MA0012084) as a renewal, it implies a prior successful performance period. To fully assess their track record, a review of their contract history with the Department of Energy and other federal entities would be necessary. This would include examining past performance evaluations, any contract disputes or terminations, and the overall value and duration of previous awards. Their status as a non-profit with a specific mission suggests a focus on fulfilling social objectives alongside service delivery.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this grounds maintenance contract?
The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. However, for grounds maintenance services, typical KPIs often include metrics related to the quality of landscaping (e.g., turf health, weed control, pruning standards), timeliness of service delivery (e.g., mowing schedules, snow removal response times), adherence to safety protocols, and customer satisfaction. For a firm-fixed-price contract, the government would likely monitor adherence to the defined scope of work and service level agreements. Performance evaluations, often documented in Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS), would capture these metrics and inform future contracting decisions.
How has federal spending on grounds maintenance services evolved over the past five years, and where does this contract fit in?
Federal spending on grounds maintenance and related facility support services is substantial and generally consistent, though it can fluctuate based on agency budgets, infrastructure projects, and contracting strategies. While aggregate data for 'grounds maintenance' specifically can be difficult to isolate, the broader category of 'Facilities Support Services' (NAICS 561210) or 'Landscaping Services' (NAICS 561730) shows significant government expenditure. This $4.87 million contract represents a notable, but not exceptionally large, investment within this category for a single, multi-year requirement. Its renewal suggests a stable demand for these services, reflecting ongoing needs for facility upkeep across the federal estate.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Services to Buildings and Dwellings › Landscaping Services
Product/Service Code: UTILITIES AND HOUSEKEEPING › HOUSEKEEPING SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 5606 DOWER HOUSE RD, UPPER MARLBORO, MD, 20772
Business Categories: AbilityOne Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $5,056,372
Exercised Options: $5,056,372
Current Obligation: $4,869,704
Actual Outlays: $3,844,093
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-10-01
Current End Date: 2026-03-31
Potential End Date: 2026-03-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-13
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