DoD's $39.4M Blatchford-Preston Complex Phase 3 contract awarded to WSP USA for construction services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $39,414,470 ($39.4M)

Contractor: WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2012-03-26

End Date: 2025-09-30

Contract Duration: 4,936 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: BLATCHFORD-PRESTON COMPLEX PHASE 3 - BILLETS

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $39.4 million to WSP USA ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE INC. for work described as: BLATCHFORD-PRESTON COMPLEX PHASE 3 - BILLETS Key points: 1. The contract value of $39.4 million represents a significant investment in infrastructure development. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process. 3. The duration of nearly 14 years indicates a long-term commitment to the project. 4. The firm-fixed-price contract type shifts cost risk to the contractor. 5. This project falls within the commercial and institutional building construction sector. 6. The contract was awarded as a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) vehicle.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

Benchmarking the value of this specific contract is challenging without knowing the scope of the 'Phase 3' and the overall IDIQ it belongs to. However, the firm-fixed-price nature suggests that the government has secured a defined cost for the services. The duration of the contract (nearly 14 years) implies a substantial and ongoing need for these construction services, which could indicate a fair price if the market rates for such long-term, complex projects are in line with this award.

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 a bid. With 9 bidders participating, this suggests a healthy level of competition for the contract. A competitive bidding process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The robust competition for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers as it likely drove down prices and ensured the government received competitive offers for the construction services.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Defense and its personnel who will utilize the improved facilities at the Blatchford-Preston Complex. The services delivered include commercial and institutional building construction, likely involving new construction, renovation, or expansion of facilities. The geographic impact is localized to the area of the Blatchford-Preston Complex, which is likely a military installation. Workforce implications include job creation for construction workers, engineers, project managers, and support staff involved in the project.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long contract duration could lead to scope creep or unforeseen cost increases if not managed meticulously.
Reliance on a single contractor for an extended period might limit flexibility in adopting new construction technologies or methods.
Potential for contractor performance degradation over a long project lifecycle if incentives are not structured effectively.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract structure provides cost certainty for the government.
Full and open competition with multiple bidders suggests a competitive market and potentially good value.
The long duration allows for sustained focus and development of specialized expertise by the contractor.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, a broad category encompassing the building of non-residential structures such as offices, educational facilities, healthcare buildings, and government installations. The market for federal construction is substantial, driven by the need to maintain, upgrade, and expand government infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing the cost per square foot or per project for similar federal building projects.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a primary focus for this specific award, as the 'sb' field is false and no specific set-aside information is provided. However, the prime contractor, WSP USA ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE INC., may engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill portions of the construction work. The extent of subcontracting to small businesses would depend on the prime contractor's strategy and any flow-down requirements from the government.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the relevant Department of the Army contracting office. Performance monitoring, quality assurance, and compliance checks would be standard oversight mechanisms. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Military Construction
Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) projects
Department of Defense Facilities Management
General Services Administration (GSA) Public Buildings Service

Risk Flags

Long contract duration
Potential for cost overruns if not managed effectively
Reliance on a single contractor for an extended period

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $39.4 million to WSP USA ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE INC.. BLATCHFORD-PRESTON COMPLEX PHASE 3 - BILLETS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WSP USA ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $39.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-03-26. End: 2025-09-30.

What is the specific nature and scope of the construction work included in Phase 3 of the Blatchford-Preston Complex project?

The provided data identifies the contract as 'BLATCHFORD-PRESTON COMPLEX PHASE 3 - BILLETS' and categorizes it under 'Commercial and Institutional Building Construction.' While the exact scope is not detailed, 'billets' often refers to housing or accommodation units, particularly in a military context. Therefore, Phase 3 likely involves the construction or renovation of personnel housing or related support facilities at the Blatchford-Preston Complex. Further details would typically be found in the contract's statement of work (SOW) or performance work statement (PWS), which are not included in this summary data. This could encompass new construction, upgrades to existing structures, or infrastructure development directly supporting these billets.

How does the awarded amount of $39.4 million compare to similar large-scale federal construction projects?

Comparing the $39.4 million award requires context regarding the project's scale, complexity, and location. Federal construction projects can range widely in cost. For instance, major military construction projects, such as new barracks, training facilities, or airfields, can easily run into hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. Smaller projects, like renovations or specific building additions, might fall within the tens of millions. Without knowing the square footage, specific building types (e.g., barracks vs. administrative offices), and the level of finish required for the Blatchford-Preston Complex Phase 3, a direct comparison is difficult. However, $39.4 million is a substantial sum, indicative of a significant construction undertaking, likely involving multiple buildings or substantial renovation work.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to assess the success of this contract?

Key performance indicators for a construction contract like this typically revolve around schedule adherence, cost control, quality of work, and safety. Specific KPIs might include: 1. On-time completion of milestones and final delivery. 2. Adherence to the firm-fixed-price budget, with any deviations requiring strong justification. 3. Quality of construction, measured against specifications, building codes, and industry standards, often verified through inspections and testing. 4. Safety performance, tracked through metrics like incident rates (e.g., OSHA recordable incidents). 5. Compliance with environmental regulations and site management protocols. 6. Responsiveness to government requests and effective communication. These KPIs would be monitored throughout the contract's nearly 14-year duration.

What is the track record of WSP USA ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE INC. with similar federal construction contracts?

WSP USA ENVIRONMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE INC. is a large, established engineering and professional services firm with a significant presence in federal contracting. They have a history of undertaking complex infrastructure and construction projects for various government agencies, including the Department of Defense. Their track record typically includes large-scale design, engineering, and construction management services. Specific performance on similar federal construction contracts would be detailed in past performance evaluations submitted during the bidding process. Agencies often review a contractor's history of delivering projects on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards when making award decisions. A review of federal procurement data (like SAM.gov or FPDS) would provide more granular details on their past awards and performance.

How has federal spending in the 'Commercial and Institutional Building Construction' sector evolved over the past five years?

Federal spending in the 'Commercial and Institutional Building Construction' sector has generally remained robust, driven by the continuous need to maintain, modernize, and expand government facilities across various agencies, including Defense, Homeland Security, and civilian departments. Factors influencing this spending include aging infrastructure requiring upgrades, new mission requirements necessitating new construction, and congressionally mandated infrastructure improvement initiatives. While specific year-over-year figures fluctuate based on budget appropriations and project pipelines, there has been a sustained focus on infrastructure investment. The COVID-19 pandemic may have introduced some temporary disruptions or shifts in priorities, but the long-term demand for construction services for federal buildings remains a consistent component of federal outlays.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Construction › Nonresidential Building Construction › Commercial and Institutional Building Construction

Product/Service Code: CONSTRUCT OF STRUCTURES/FACILITIES › CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: W912ER10R0089

Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 751 ARBOR WAY, STE 180, BLUE BELL, PA, 19422

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $50,265,764

Exercised Options: $39,414,470

Current Obligation: $39,414,470

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W912ER11D0002

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline