DoD's $19.6M construction contract for Munitions/EOD facilities awarded to M. A. Mortenson Company

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,626,685 ($19.6M)

Contractor: M. a. Mortenson Company

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2009-09-20

End Date: 2011-09-25

Contract Duration: 735 days

Daily Burn Rate: $26.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: MUNITION/EOD, LEE

Place of Performance

Location: FORT LEE, PETERSBURG CITY County, VIRGINIA, 23801

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $19.6 million to M. A. MORTENSON COMPANY for work described as: MUNITION/EOD, LEE Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 3. The duration of 735 days indicates a significant construction project. 4. The contract was awarded by the Department of the Army, a major component of the DoD. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 236220 points to commercial and institutional building construction. 6. The contract was a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract or a similar vehicle.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific contract is challenging without more detailed cost breakdowns or comparable project data. However, the firm fixed-price nature suggests that the initial bid was deemed acceptable by the Army. The total award amount of $19.6 million for a construction project of this duration (735 days) appears within a reasonable range for large-scale institutional building, but a precise value-for-money assessment would require detailed cost analysis against similar DoD construction projects.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The presence of 4 bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this project. While more than one bidder participated, the exact number of potential bidders and the intensity of the competition are not detailed. A higher number of bids typically leads to better price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging competitive pricing and potentially leading to cost savings compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army, who will receive enhanced facilities for Munitions and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD). The services delivered include the construction of specialized buildings designed to support critical military operations. The geographic impact is concentrated in Virginia, where the construction project was located. The project likely created temporary employment opportunities for construction workers and related trades in the Virginia area.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Positive Signals

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector (NAICS 236220). This sector is a significant part of the broader construction industry, encompassing the building of non-residential structures like government facilities, educational institutions, and healthcare buildings. Federal spending in this sector is substantial, driven by the need for infrastructure maintenance, upgrades, and new construction across various agencies. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale construction projects awarded by the Department of Defense or other federal agencies for similar types of facilities.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications specifically mandated for small businesses through a set-aside program for this particular award. The prime contractor, M. A. Mortenson Company, may still engage small businesses as subcontractors, but this is not explicitly detailed in the provided data. The absence of a small business set-aside means the primary competition was open to all eligible firms, regardless of size.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of the Army's contracting and project management offices. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract type, which obligates the contractor to deliver the specified construction within the agreed-upon price. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, allowing for review of basic contract details. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected during the contract's performance or closeout.

Related Government Programs

Risk Flags

Tags

construction, department-of-defense, department-of-the-army, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, virginia, commercial-and-institutional-building-construction, munitions-eod, delivery-order, large-project

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $19.6 million to M. A. MORTENSON COMPANY. MUNITION/EOD, LEE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is M. A. MORTENSON COMPANY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $19.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-09-20. End: 2011-09-25.

What is the track record of M. A. Mortenson Company with the Department of Defense?

M. A. Mortenson Company has a history of securing contracts with the Department of Defense, as evidenced by this award. To fully assess their track record, a deeper dive into their past performance ratings, any past disputes or claims, and the total value of contracts previously awarded by DoD would be necessary. Analyzing their success rate in winning bids and their performance on similar large-scale construction projects for military clients would provide further insight into their reliability and capability in executing complex federal projects.

How does the $19.6 million award compare to similar Munitions/EOD facility construction projects?

Direct comparison of the $19.6 million award for this specific Munitions/EOD facility construction project is difficult without access to a comprehensive database of similar projects with detailed cost breakdowns and scope. Factors such as facility size, specific security requirements, geographic location (affecting labor and material costs), and the complexity of the ordnance handling systems significantly influence project costs. However, for large-scale institutional or specialized government facility construction, $19.6 million represents a substantial investment, suggesting a project of considerable scope and complexity.

What are the primary risks associated with this type of construction contract?

Key risks for this firm fixed-price construction contract include potential cost overruns if the contractor underestimated material, labor, or specialized equipment needs, although the risk is primarily on the contractor. Schedule delays due to unforeseen site conditions, weather, or supply chain disruptions are also significant risks. For Munitions/EOD facilities, specific risks involve stringent safety protocols, specialized construction techniques, and potential regulatory compliance challenges related to ordnance handling and storage, which could impact cost and schedule if not managed meticulously.

How effective is the 'Full and Open Competition' strategy in ensuring value for taxpayer money in construction?

Full and open competition is generally considered the most effective strategy for ensuring value for taxpayer money in federal contracting, including construction. By allowing all responsible sources to compete, it fosters a competitive environment that drives down prices and encourages innovation. The requirement for multiple bids, as indicated by the 4 bids received in this case, provides a basis for price discovery and allows the government to select the offer that represents the best value, considering both price and technical factors. However, the effectiveness is contingent on the clarity of the solicitation and the government's ability to evaluate proposals rigorously.

What is the historical spending trend for Munitions/EOD facility construction by the Department of the Army?

Analyzing historical spending trends for Munitions/EOD facility construction by the Department of the Army requires access to extensive historical contract data. Such analysis would involve identifying all contracts related to these facility types over several fiscal years, aggregating their values, and examining patterns in award amounts, contract types, and competition levels. Trends might reveal periods of increased investment driven by modernization efforts, changes in operational requirements, or shifts in budget allocations. Without specific historical data, it's impossible to determine if this $19.6 million award represents an increase, decrease, or average spending for such projects.

What are the implications of the contract being a 'Delivery Order'?

The designation of this award as a 'Delivery Order' (AW: DELIVERY ORDER) implies that it was issued under a pre-existing contract vehicle, such as an Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, a blanket purchase agreement, or a similar master agreement. This approach allows agencies to procure goods or services incrementally as needed, often with pre-negotiated terms and pricing. For taxpayers, this can streamline the procurement process and potentially achieve better pricing through bulk commitments. However, it also means that the competition and value assessment might have occurred at the master contract level, with the delivery order being a specific task order against it.

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: W9123607R0001

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: M. a. Mortenson Companies, Inc. (UEI: 130731797)

Address: 700 MEADOW LN N, MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 55422

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,658,955

Exercised Options: $20,352,580

Current Obligation: $19,626,685

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W9123608D0006

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2009-09-20

Current End Date: 2011-09-25

Potential End Date: 2011-09-25 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2021-03-28

More Contracts from M. a. Mortenson Company

View all M. a. Mortenson Company federal contracts →

Other Department of Defense Contracts

View all Department of Defense contracts →

Explore Related Government Spending