Fort Jackson barracks construction awarded to W. G. Yates & Sons for $25.6M, completed on time

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $25,608,010 ($25.6M)

Contractor: W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Company

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2011-08-31

End Date: 2014-12-18

Contract Duration: 1,205 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL TRAINING (AIT) BARRACKS COMPANY OPERATIONS FACILITY (BCOF) AND SITE WORK, AT FORT JACKSON, SC, PHASE I, PN:53794, PROJECT NUMBER 1555928,

Place of Performance

Location: BALLENTINE, RICHLAND County, SOUTH CAROLINA, 29002, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: South Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $25.6 million to W. G. YATES & SONS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY for work described as: ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL TRAINING (AIT) BARRACKS COMPANY OPERATIONS FACILITY (BCOF) AND SITE WORK, AT FORT JACKSON, SC, PHASE I, PN:53794, PROJECT NUMBER 1555928, Key points: 1. The contract achieved its objectives within the allocated budget, indicating effective cost management. 2. Full and open competition suggests a robust market response and potential for competitive pricing. 3. The project was completed within the planned duration, signaling good contractor performance and project management. 4. This contract falls within the broader category of institutional building construction, a common area for federal investment. 5. The fixed-price nature of the contract shifts cost risk to the contractor, potentially protecting the government from overruns. 6. The absence of small business set-asides means opportunities for smaller firms were not specifically prioritized in this award.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $25.6 million for the AIT Barracks Company Operations Facility at Fort Jackson appears reasonable for a construction project of this scale. Benchmarking against similar institutional building construction projects within the Department of Defense would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. However, the completion within the awarded price suggests the initial estimate and contractor's bid were aligned with project scope and market conditions.

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. With 3 bids received, the competition level was moderate. This suggests that while there was interest from multiple contractors, the market for this specific type of specialized construction may not be exceptionally broad, potentially influencing the final price.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can drive down prices and encourage efficiency. The presence of multiple bidders suggests that the government received a range of pricing options, increasing the likelihood of a fair market price being secured.

Public Impact

Service members undergoing Advanced Individual Training (AIT) at Fort Jackson will benefit from improved living and operational facilities. The project delivers essential infrastructure for military training operations, enhancing the readiness and effectiveness of the Army. The geographic impact is concentrated at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, supporting local economic activity during the construction phase. The construction activities likely involved a workforce of skilled tradespeople and laborers, contributing to employment in the region.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen site conditions arise, though mitigated by firm fixed-price contract.
Dependence on a single contractor for a critical infrastructure project carries inherent performance risks.
Limited visibility into the specific sub-contracting practices and their adherence to fair labor standards.

Positive Signals

Project completed within the scheduled duration, indicating effective project management by the contractor.
Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process that likely yielded a fair price.
Firm fixed-price contract structure provides cost certainty for the government, minimizing financial risk.
Construction of essential training facilities directly supports military readiness and personnel development.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, a significant segment of the federal contracting landscape. The Department of Defense is a major client in this sector, frequently awarding contracts for barracks, training facilities, and administrative buildings. Spending in this area is driven by military readiness requirements, infrastructure modernization, and troop housing needs. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large-scale barracks or training facility construction projects awarded by the Army or other military branches.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, and the data indicates no specific subcontracting goals for small businesses were mandated. This means that while W. G. Yates & Sons may choose to engage small businesses as subcontractors, there was no explicit requirement to do so. The absence of set-asides suggests that the primary focus was on securing the best overall bid from the available market, rather than specifically promoting small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this construction contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer's representative (COR) and the relevant Army Corps of Engineers district. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm fixed-price contract terms, with penalties for delays or non-performance. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though detailed project progress reports may not be publicly accessible. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Military Construction (MILCON)
Barracks and Dormitory Construction
Advanced Individual Training Facilities
Department of Defense Facilities Management
Army Training Infrastructure

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen site conditions arise.
Risk of project delays due to weather or contractor performance issues.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical infrastructure delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $25.6 million to W. G. YATES & SONS CONSTRUCTION COMPANY. ADVANCED INDIVIDUAL TRAINING (AIT) BARRACKS COMPANY OPERATIONS FACILITY (BCOF) AND SITE WORK, AT FORT JACKSON, SC, PHASE I, PN:53794, PROJECT NUMBER 1555928,

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is W. G. YATES & SONS CONSTRUCTION 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 $25.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2011-08-31. End: 2014-12-18.

What is the track record of W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Company with the Department of Defense?

W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Company has a history of contracting with the Department of Defense, as evidenced by this award. To fully assess their track record, a review of their past performance on similar federal construction projects would be necessary. This would include examining metrics such as on-time delivery, adherence to budget, quality of work, and any past disputes or contract modifications. Analyzing their performance across multiple contracts would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability and capabilities in executing large-scale military construction projects.

How does the cost of this project compare to similar barracks construction projects?

Direct comparison of the $25.6 million cost for the AIT Barracks Company Operations Facility at Fort Jackson to similar projects requires detailed data on scope, size (square footage, capacity), location, and construction complexity. However, the fact that the project was completed within the awarded price suggests that the initial cost estimation and bidding process were aligned with market rates for institutional construction at the time. Benchmarking against other barracks projects awarded by the Army or other branches around 2011-2014, adjusted for regional cost differences and inflation, would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment.

What were the primary risks associated with this construction project, and how were they managed?

Key risks for a project of this nature include unforeseen site conditions (e.g., soil issues, hazardous materials), weather delays, material price fluctuations, and labor availability. The firm fixed-price contract structure inherently transfers the risk of cost overruns due to price fluctuations or contractor inefficiencies to W. G. Yates & Sons. Site-specific risks would have been assessed during the design and pre-construction phases, with contingency plans likely developed. Weather delays are common in construction, and the project's completion within the duration suggests effective schedule management and potentially built-in weather contingencies.

How effective was the competition process in ensuring a fair price for this contract?

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, with three bids received. While three bidders represent a moderate level of competition, it is generally sufficient to encourage competitive pricing. The fact that the contract was awarded suggests that the bids received were considered fair and reasonable by the contracting agency. A more robust competition, with a larger number of bidders, might have potentially driven the price lower, but without knowing the specific market dynamics or the number of technically capable firms, it's difficult to definitively state if the price was suboptimal.

What is the historical spending trend for similar barracks construction at Fort Jackson or within the Army?

Historical spending on barracks construction at Fort Jackson and across the Army fluctuates based on military end strength, training requirements, and infrastructure modernization initiatives. The Department of Defense's Military Construction (MILCON) budget is a primary source for such projects. Trends are influenced by factors like troop deployment cycles, aging facilities requiring replacement, and evolving standards for troop housing. Analyzing past MILCON budgets and awarded contracts for barracks over several fiscal years would reveal patterns in investment levels and project types.

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

The provided data does not detail any contract modifications or change orders. In firm fixed-price contracts, modifications are typically reserved for significant scope changes initiated by the government or for unforeseen circumstances that fundamentally alter the project's basis. The absence of reported modifications could indicate a well-defined initial scope and successful execution without major deviations, or it could mean that smaller adjustments were handled through less formal means or are not publicly detailed in summary data.

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: W9126G08R0145

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: THE Yates Companies Inc (UEI: 017041232)

Address: ONE GULLY AVE, PHILADELPHIA, MS, 39350

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $25,880,330

Exercised Options: $25,608,010

Current Obligation: $25,608,010

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W9126G09D0018

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline