USDA Awards $6.99M for Biocontainment Lab Pressure Monitor Upgrades to Firelake Construction

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,986,827 ($7.0M)

Contractor: Firelake Construction Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture

Start Date: 2025-06-26

End Date: 2026-06-30

Contract Duration: 369 days

Daily Burn Rate: $18.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: BIOCONTAINMENT LAB PRESSURE MONITOR IMPROVEMENTS

Place of Performance

Location: MANHATTAN, RILEY County, KANSAS, 66502

State: Kansas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Agriculture obligated $7.0 million to FIRELAKE CONSTRUCTION INC for work described as: BIOCONTAINMENT LAB PRESSURE MONITOR IMPROVEMENTS Key points: 1. Spending focuses on critical infrastructure upgrades for agricultural research. 2. Competition method suggests potential for better price discovery. 3. Risk of performance issues exists given the specialized nature of the work. 4. Construction sector spending is influenced by infrastructure needs and material costs.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The award amount of $6.99M for a 369-day contract appears reasonable for specialized construction. Benchmarking against similar lab construction projects would provide a clearer picture of value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

Full and open competition after exclusion of sources was utilized, indicating a broad search for qualified contractors. This method generally promotes competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The contract aims to improve essential research facilities, ensuring taxpayer-funded research is conducted safely and effectively.

Public Impact

Enhances safety and operational efficiency of biocontainment laboratories. Supports critical agricultural research by ensuring reliable environmental controls. Potential for improved data integrity in research due to stable lab conditions.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of small business participation.
Potential for cost overruns in specialized construction.
Dependency on a single contractor for critical upgrades.

Positive Signals

Use of full and open competition.
Clear contract duration and delivery dates.
Firm fixed price contract type.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the commercial and institutional building construction sector. Spending benchmarks in this sector are highly variable, depending on project complexity, location, and material costs.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small businesses were not involved in this contract, which could be a missed opportunity for economic development and diversity in contracting.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract specifies a firm fixed price, which provides cost certainty. However, ongoing monitoring will be crucial to ensure quality and adherence to specifications throughout the project lifecycle.

Related Government Programs

Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
Department of Agriculture Contracting
Agricultural Research Service Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of small business participation.
Potential for scope creep or unforeseen technical challenges in specialized construction.
Contractor's past performance on similar complex projects needs thorough review.
Dependency on specific materials or technologies that could face supply chain issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Agriculture awarded $7.0 million to FIRELAKE CONSTRUCTION INC. BIOCONTAINMENT LAB PRESSURE MONITOR IMPROVEMENTS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FIRELAKE CONSTRUCTION INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Research Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $7.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-06-26. End: 2026-06-30.

What is the specific technical expertise required for these biocontainment lab pressure monitor improvements, and how was it validated during the procurement process?

The specific technical expertise likely involves advanced HVAC systems, pressure regulation, air filtration, and integration with building management systems, crucial for maintaining sterile environments. Validation during procurement would typically involve reviewing contractor qualifications, past performance on similar projects, and potentially technical proposals demonstrating their understanding of biocontainment requirements and proposed solutions.

How does the $6.99M cost compare to industry benchmarks for similar specialized laboratory construction or upgrade projects, considering the firm fixed price?

Without specific project details and location, a precise benchmark is difficult. However, $6.99M for a 369-day specialized construction project suggests a significant investment. The firm fixed price offers cost certainty but relies heavily on the accuracy of the initial cost estimation and the contractor's ability to manage unforeseen issues within that price.

What are the potential risks associated with the exclusion of sources prior to the full and open competition, and how are these risks being mitigated?

Excluding sources initially, even if later followed by full and open competition, could theoretically limit the pool of potential bidders if not widely publicized. Mitigation involves ensuring the exclusion criteria were justified and that the subsequent full and open competition phase was robustly advertised to attract a diverse range of qualified bidders, thereby maximizing competition and price discovery.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, ALTER REAL PROPERTY › MAINT, ALTER, REPAIR NONBUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Firelake Construction, Inc.

Address: 1011 E 31ST ST, LAWRENCE, KS, 66046

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,986,827

Exercised Options: $6,986,827

Current Obligation: $6,986,827

Actual Outlays: $4,620,871

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 12805B25D0001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline