DoD Awards $38.6M for Building 5455 Food Services to South Carolina Commission for the Blind

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $38,635,322 ($38.6M)

Contractor: South Carolina Commission for Blind

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2021-04-01

End Date: 2023-06-06

Contract Duration: 796 days

Daily Burn Rate: $48.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: BLDG. 5455 FULL FOOD SERVICE

Place of Performance

Location: COLUMBIA, RICHLAND County, SOUTH CAROLINA, 29207

State: South Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $38.6 million to SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSION FOR BLIND for work described as: BLDG. 5455 FULL FOOD SERVICE Key points: 1. Significant contract value for food services at a specific facility. 2. Competition method was 'Full and Open', suggesting broad market access. 3. Contract type is 'Firm Fixed Price', providing cost certainty. 4. The awardee is a state commission, potentially indicating a specialized or mission-driven provider.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $38.6 million over approximately two years appears high for food services at a single building. Benchmarking against similar large-scale food service contracts would be necessary to determine true value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, which is generally positive for price discovery. However, the specific awardee being a state commission warrants further investigation into the competitive landscape and whether other specialized food service providers participated.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being utilized for food services. The 'fair' value assessment suggests potential for cost savings through more rigorous benchmarking or negotiation.

Public Impact

Ensures essential food services are provided to personnel at Building 5455. Supports employment opportunities through the South Carolina Commission for the Blind. The large contract value may indicate a significant operational scale or specialized requirements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

High contract value for a single facility's food service.
Awardee is a state commission, not a typical commercial food service provider.
Lack of specific performance metrics or quality indicators in provided data.

Positive Signals

Awarded via full and open competition.
Firm Fixed Price contract type offers cost predictability.
Potential for supporting a state-level employment initiative.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under general support services, specifically food contracting, within the Department of Defense. Spending benchmarks for food services can vary widely based on facility size, location, and service level, but $38.6M for a single building over two years is substantial.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates the awardee is the 'SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSION FOR BLIND' and that small business participation was 'false'. This suggests the primary awardee is not a small business, and the contract was not set aside for small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically involve contract performance monitoring by the Department of the Army to ensure service delivery meets requirements and that the firm fixed price is adhered to. Accountability rests with the contracting officer and the awardee.

Related Government Programs

Food Service Contractors
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Army Programs

Risk Flags

High contract value for a single facility.
Awardee is a state commission, raising questions about typical commercial competition.
Lack of detailed performance metrics in the provided summary.
Potential for cost savings if service scope is less extensive than implied by cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $38.6 million to SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSION FOR BLIND. BLDG. 5455 FULL FOOD SERVICE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SOUTH CAROLINA COMMISSION FOR BLIND.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $38.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-04-01. End: 2023-06-06.

What is the specific scope of 'full food service' for Building 5455, and how does it justify the $38.6 million cost?

The scope of 'full food service' is not detailed in the provided data. It could encompass multiple dining facilities, catering, specialized dietary needs, or extended operating hours. The high cost suggests a comprehensive service offering, potentially serving a large population or requiring specialized equipment and staffing. Further documentation is needed to validate the necessity and scale of these services against the awarded amount.

Given the awardee is a state commission, what are the specific performance metrics and quality standards expected, and how are they monitored?

Performance metrics and quality standards for this contract are not specified in the provided data. Typically, contracts of this magnitude include detailed Service Level Agreements (SLAs) and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) related to food quality, safety, service timeliness, and customer satisfaction. The Department of the Army's contracting officer and quality assurance personnel would be responsible for monitoring adherence to these standards throughout the contract duration.

How does the cost of this contract compare to industry benchmarks for similar food service operations in government facilities?

Direct comparison to industry benchmarks is challenging without detailed service scope and operational data. However, $38.6 million over approximately 26 months for food services at a single building is a significant expenditure. Benchmarking would require analyzing per-meal costs, per-person costs, and overhead allocations against similar DoD or large institutional food service contracts to identify potential cost efficiencies or overruns.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Accommodation and Food Services › Special Food Services › Food Service Contractors

Product/Service Code: OPERATION OF GOVT OWNED FACILITY › OPERATE GOVT OWNED BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: W9124J17R0054

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: South Carolina, State of

Address: 1430 CONFEDERATE AVE, COLUMBIA, SC, 29201

Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, U.S. Regional/State Government

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $38,635,322

Exercised Options: $38,635,322

Current Obligation: $38,635,322

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W9124J19D0008

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline