DoD's $23.6M Fort Campbell housing project awarded to BL Harbert International, completed on time

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,639,479 ($23.6M)

Contractor: BL Harbert International LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2008-08-26

End Date: 2010-03-31

Contract Duration: 582 days

Daily Burn Rate: $40.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: CONSTRUCTION OF UEPH FORT CAMPBELL

Place of Performance

Location: FORT CAMPBELL, MONTGOMERY County, KENTUCKY, 42223

State: Kentucky Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $23.6 million to BL HARBERT INTERNATIONAL LLC for work described as: CONSTRUCTION OF UEPH FORT CAMPBELL Key points: 1. Project delivered within the initial contract value, indicating effective cost management. 2. Full and open competition suggests a competitive bidding process likely yielded fair pricing. 3. Fixed-price contract structure transferred risk to the contractor, potentially benefiting the government. 4. Project completion within the scheduled duration points to good contractor performance. 5. The contract falls within the broad category of commercial and institutional building construction. 6. No small business set-aside was utilized, suggesting the primary focus was on best value.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $23.6 million for the construction of UEPH at Fort Campbell appears reasonable for a project of this nature. Benchmarking against similar military housing construction projects would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm-fixed-price contract type generally indicates that the government secured a predictable cost, assuming the scope was well-defined. The absence of significant modifications or overruns suggests the initial pricing was competitive and achievable.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, with six bids received. This level of competition is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive offers. The presence of multiple bidders suggests a healthy market for this type of construction service, allowing the Department of the Army to select the most advantageous proposal based on price and other factors.

Taxpayer Impact: The robust competition for this contract likely resulted in taxpayer savings by driving down the offered prices. A competitive environment encourages contractors to submit their best possible bids to secure the work.

Public Impact

Service members and their families at Fort Campbell benefit from improved housing facilities. The project delivered new Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing (UEPH). The geographic impact is localized to Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The construction project likely supported local and regional employment in the construction sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Positive Signals

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the construction sector, specifically commercial and institutional building construction. The market for military construction is significant, driven by the Department of Defense's continuous need to maintain and upgrade its infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale barracks or housing construction projects awarded by federal agencies, particularly the Army Corps of Engineers or Naval Facilities Engineering Command.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor does it indicate specific subcontracting goals for small businesses. This suggests that the primary evaluation criteria focused on overall best value rather than prioritizing small business participation. While this may limit direct opportunities for small businesses on this specific prime contract, it does not preclude them from participating as subcontractors if BL Harbert International chooses to engage them.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this construction project would typically be managed by the contracting officer's representative (COR) from the Department of the Army, ensuring compliance with contract terms, specifications, and quality standards. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract, which incentivizes the contractor to complete the work within budget. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though detailed project-specific oversight reports may not always be publicly accessible.

Related Government Programs

Risk Flags

Tags

construction, department-of-defense, department-of-the-army, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, fort-campbell, kentucky, ueph, commercial-and-institutional-building-construction, large-contract

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $23.6 million to BL HARBERT INTERNATIONAL LLC. CONSTRUCTION OF UEPH FORT CAMPBELL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BL HARBERT INTERNATIONAL LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $23.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-08-26. End: 2010-03-31.

What was the original estimated cost versus the final awarded cost for this project?

The provided data indicates the final awarded amount was $23,639,479. Without access to the original estimated cost or pre-negotiation objectives, a direct comparison is not possible. However, the contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION' with six bids, suggesting the awarded price was competitive. The contract duration was 582 days, and it was completed within the specified timeframe, which often implies that the awarded price was achievable and aligned with the project scope.

How does the per-square-foot cost of this housing compare to similar military housing projects?

To accurately compare the per-square-foot cost, we would need detailed specifications of the housing units constructed (e.g., size, number of rooms, amenities) and the total square footage built. The provided data does not include this level of detail. However, the total contract value of $23.6 million for Unaccompanied Enlisted Personnel Housing (UEPH) at Fort Campbell, completed by BL Harbert International, can be used as a benchmark against other similar DoD construction projects. Further analysis would require accessing project blueprints and cost breakdowns.

Were there any contract modifications or change orders issued during the project's lifecycle?

The provided data does not explicitly list any contract modifications or change orders. The contract was a firm-fixed-price type, which generally aims to minimize changes after award. The project was completed within its scheduled duration (582 days) and the stated award amount ($23,639,479). While the absence of listed modifications is positive, it's possible minor administrative changes occurred that are not captured in this summary data. A review of the complete contract file would be necessary for definitive confirmation.

What is BL Harbert International's track record with similar DoD construction contracts?

BL Harbert International LLC has a significant track record in constructing facilities for the Department of Defense and other government agencies. While this specific data point focuses on the Fort Campbell UEPH project, the company has been involved in numerous large-scale construction projects, including military barracks, administrative buildings, and infrastructure. Their experience suggests a capability to handle complex projects within the DoD environment. A comprehensive assessment would involve reviewing their past performance evaluations on similar contracts, including on-time delivery, budget adherence, and quality of work.

What was the primary driver for selecting a firm-fixed-price contract type for this project?

The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type is typically chosen when the scope of work is well-defined and the risks associated with performance are relatively low or can be reasonably estimated. For a construction project like UEPH at Fort Campbell, the Army likely opted for FFP to establish a firm ceiling on the government's financial obligation and to incentivize the contractor to manage costs efficiently. This contract type shifts the majority of cost risk to the contractor, making the final price predictable for the government, provided the requirements are clearly specified upfront.

How does the number of bidders (6) reflect the competitiveness of the market for this type of construction?

Receiving six bids under a full and open competition for the Fort Campbell UEPH construction project indicates a healthy level of market interest and competition. This number suggests that multiple qualified contractors were aware of and interested in the opportunity. A higher number of bidders generally correlates with more competitive pricing, as contractors vie to win the contract. It also provides the government with a broader range of options to evaluate based on technical approach, past performance, and price, increasing the likelihood of selecting the best value proposal.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ConstructionNonresidential Building ConstructionCommercial and Institutional Building Construction

Product/Service Code: CONSTRUCT OF STRUCTURES/FACILITIESCONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: W9126G07R0100

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: B.L. Harbert Holdings, L.L.C. (UEI: 147371236)

Address: 820 SHADES CREEK, BIRMINGHAM, AL, 90

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,639,479

Exercised Options: $23,639,479

Current Obligation: $23,639,479

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W9126G08D0041

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2008-08-26

Current End Date: 2010-03-31

Potential End Date: 2010-03-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2010-09-21

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