SWRC Modernization Project Awarded to Comanche Nation Construction for $10.18M, Facing Limited Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $10,177,574 ($10.2M)
Contractor: Comanche Nation Construction, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Agriculture
Start Date: 2018-09-06
End Date: 2026-06-05
Contract Duration: 2,829 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.6K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Construction
Official Description: SOUTHWEST WATERSHED RESEARCH CENTER (SWRC) MODERNIZATION PROJECT IN TUCSON, AZ IGF::CL,CT::IGF
Place of Performance
Location: TUCSON, PIMA County, ARIZONA, 85719
State: Arizona Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Agriculture obligated $10.2 million to COMANCHE NATION CONSTRUCTION, LLC for work described as: SOUTHWEST WATERSHED RESEARCH CENTER (SWRC) MODERNIZATION PROJECT IN TUCSON, AZ IGF::CL,CT::IGF Key points: 1. The project aims to modernize the Southwest Watershed Research Center in Tucson, AZ. 2. Comanche Nation Construction, LLC secured the definitive contract valued at $10.18 million. 3. The contract was not available for competition, raising questions about price discovery. 4. The Agricultural Research Service is the awarding agency, with a focus on commercial and institutional building construction. 5. The project duration is substantial, spanning from September 2018 to June 2026.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract is a firm-fixed-price definitive contract. Without competitive bidding or available benchmarks, assessing the value for money is difficult. The lack of competition suggests potential for overpricing.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was explicitly listed as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. This significantly limits price discovery and suggests a sole-source or limited competition scenario, potentially impacting the final price paid by taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition raises concerns about whether taxpayers received the best possible price for this construction project.
Public Impact
Modernization of critical research infrastructure in Arizona. Potential impact on local employment and economic activity in Tucson. Ensuring the long-term functionality of the Southwest Watershed Research Center.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition
- Lack of price benchmarks
- Long project duration
Positive Signals
- Firm-fixed-price contract type
- Supports agricultural research infrastructure
Sector Analysis
This project falls under the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector. Benchmarks for similar large-scale research facility modernizations can vary widely based on location, scope, and specific requirements.
Small Business Impact
The contractor is Comanche Nation Construction, LLC. Further analysis would be needed to determine if this is considered a small business and its impact on small business contracting goals.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight will be crucial given the limited competition and long duration to ensure project milestones are met and costs remain controlled. The Agricultural Research Service should provide regular updates.
Related Government Programs
- Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
- Department of Agriculture Contracting
- Agricultural Research Service Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for cost overruns
- Difficulty in verifying price reasonableness
- Extended project timeline increases risk exposure
Tags
commercial-and-institutional-building-co, department-of-agriculture, az, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Agriculture awarded $10.2 million to COMANCHE NATION CONSTRUCTION, LLC. SOUTHWEST WATERSHED RESEARCH CENTER (SWRC) MODERNIZATION PROJECT IN TUCSON, AZ IGF::CL,CT::IGF
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is COMANCHE NATION CONSTRUCTION, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Agriculture (Agricultural Research Service).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $10.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-09-06. End: 2026-06-05.
What specific factors led to the contract being 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'?
The data provided does not specify the reasons for the limited competition. Typically, such designations occur due to unique capabilities, urgent needs, or specific government requirements that only one or a limited number of contractors can fulfill. A deeper investigation into the solicitation documents would be necessary to understand the rationale.
How can the government ensure fair pricing without competitive bidding?
When competition is limited, the government relies on robust cost analysis, negotiation, and comparison to historical data or industry standards. For this project, the Agricultural Research Service should have conducted thorough price reasonableness checks, potentially using independent cost estimates or benchmarking against similar, albeit not identical, projects to justify the awarded price.
What are the potential risks associated with a long-duration construction project with limited competition?
Long-duration projects carry inherent risks of cost overruns due to inflation, material price fluctuations, and unforeseen site conditions. Limited competition exacerbates this by reducing the incentive for the contractor to control costs aggressively. There's also a risk of scope creep or changes that may not be as rigorously scrutinized as they would be in a competitive environment.
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: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 123K2518R0003
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Comanche Nation
Address: 2017 HERITAGE PARK DR, OKLAHOMA CITY, OK, 73120
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Government, HUBZone Firm, Native American Tribal Government, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Tribally Owned Firm, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $10,177,574
Exercised Options: $10,177,574
Current Obligation: $10,177,574
Actual Outlays: $9,392,728
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-09-06
Current End Date: 2026-06-05
Potential End Date: 2026-06-05 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-09
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