Smithsonian Institution awards $333K contract for flamingo netting to Associated Builders, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,333,781 ($3.3M)

Contractor: Associated Builders, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Smithsonian Institution

Start Date: 2023-08-29

End Date: 2026-04-10

Contract Duration: 955 days

Daily Burn Rate: $3.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: NZP-DC PROVIDE FLAMINGO NETTING PREVENT HPAI PN2233109

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20008

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Smithsonian Institution obligated $3.3 million to ASSOCIATED BUILDERS, INC. for work described as: NZP-DC PROVIDE FLAMINGO NETTING PREVENT HPAI PN2233109 Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract is for commercial and institutional building construction, specifically netting for avian flu prevention. 3. The fixed-price nature of the contract shifts cost risk to the contractor. 4. The contract duration of 955 days indicates a medium-term project. 5. The small business set-aside flag is false, meaning it was not specifically reserved for small businesses. 6. The contract is a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery contract or schedule.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific contract is challenging without more detailed cost breakdowns or comparable projects. The fixed-price structure is generally favorable for the government, but the per-unit cost of the netting and installation is not readily available for comparison. The total award amount of $333,378 for a 955-day project focused on specialized netting suggests a moderate investment for a specific environmental control need.

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 number of bidders is not specified, but this method generally promotes price discovery and allows the government to select the best value offer. The open competition suggests that the Smithsonian Institution sought to maximize competition to obtain favorable pricing and terms.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the potential for competitive pricing and the assurance that the contract was awarded through a transparent and inclusive process, reducing the risk of inflated costs.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Smithsonian Institution's facilities and potentially the animal populations housed within, by preventing the spread of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). The service delivered is the provision and installation of specialized netting designed to protect against bird-borne diseases. The geographic impact is localized to the Smithsonian Institution's facilities within the District of Columbia. Workforce implications may include employment for construction workers and specialists involved in the installation of the netting.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen site conditions or material price fluctuations occur, despite the fixed-price contract.
Effectiveness of the netting in preventing HPAI transmission requires ongoing monitoring and may be subject to environmental factors.
Dependency on the contractor's expertise for proper installation and long-term durability of the netting.

Positive Signals

The use of a fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Awarding through full and open competition suggests a robust vetting process for the contractor.
The contract addresses a specific and important public health concern related to avian influenza.
The project duration allows for thorough planning and execution of the netting installation.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, specifically addressing specialized environmental control needs. The market for such specialized construction services can vary widely depending on the specific requirements. While not a massive infrastructure project, it represents a niche but critical application of construction expertise for public health and safety within institutional settings. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve projects focused on animal enclosures, specialized containment, or environmental hazard mitigation in public facilities.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, as indicated by `ss: false` and `sb: false`. This means that both large and small businesses were eligible to compete. There is no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within the provided data. The lack of a small business set-aside suggests that the competition was open to all qualified firms, and the primary focus was on securing the best value offer regardless of business size.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the purview of the Smithsonian Institution's contracting officers and program managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract type, which obligates the contractor to deliver the specified goods or services at the agreed-upon price. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, allowing for general oversight. Specific Inspector General jurisdiction would depend on the Smithsonian's internal policies and any potential fraud, waste, or abuse investigations.

Related Government Programs

Federal Buildings Fund
Smithsonian Facilities Management
Public Health Infrastructure
Animal Welfare Programs
Environmental Hazard Mitigation

Risk Flags

Potential for long-term performance issues not fully captured by initial award.
Effectiveness of netting against evolving HPAI strains requires monitoring.
Contract duration may exceed the immediate urgency of the HPAI threat.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Smithsonian Institution awarded $3.3 million to ASSOCIATED BUILDERS, INC.. NZP-DC PROVIDE FLAMINGO NETTING PREVENT HPAI PN2233109

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ASSOCIATED BUILDERS, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Smithsonian Institution (Smithsonian Institution).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-08-29. End: 2026-04-10.

What is the specific type and material of the flamingo netting being procured, and what are its technical specifications for HPAI prevention?

The provided data does not specify the exact type or material of the flamingo netting. However, for HPAI prevention, such netting typically needs to be constructed from durable, weather-resistant materials with mesh sizes small enough to prevent the entry of wild birds (potential carriers of the virus) while allowing for adequate airflow and light. Specifications would likely include tensile strength, UV resistance, mesh aperture, and installation methods designed to create a secure enclosure. Further details would be found in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or technical specifications, which are not included in the summary data.

How does the $333,378 award amount compare to similar avian containment or netting projects at other federal agencies or institutions?

Direct comparison is difficult without knowing the scale, complexity, and specific requirements of similar projects. However, $333,378 for a 955-day project (approximately 2.6 years) suggests a moderate investment. Projects involving large-scale enclosures or highly specialized containment systems for sensitive environments could cost significantly more. Conversely, simpler netting installations for smaller areas might be less expensive. The value is contingent on the square footage covered, the height of the installation, site accessibility, and the specific performance standards required for HPAI prevention, which are not detailed here.

What is the track record of Associated Builders, Inc. in performing similar construction contracts, particularly those involving specialized netting or environmental controls?

The provided data does not include information on the contractor's past performance or track record. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing contract performance reports (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), past awards, and any documented issues or successes on previous federal or commercial projects. Associated Builders, Inc. is identified under NAICS code 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction), suggesting they have experience in this general field, but specific expertise relevant to avian netting would need further investigation.

What are the potential risks associated with the long contract duration (955 days) for netting installation, and how are they being mitigated?

A long duration for netting installation could introduce risks such as material degradation if installation is significantly delayed, changes in HPAI threat levels requiring updated specifications, or contractor performance issues over time. Mitigation strategies typically include phased delivery schedules, clear milestones, performance-based payment schedules, and robust oversight. The firm-fixed-price nature also incentivizes the contractor to complete the work efficiently. However, the primary risk might be the extended period during which the effectiveness of the netting needs to be maintained or potentially re-evaluated.

How does the Smithsonian Institution typically approach procurement for specialized environmental control or animal welfare-related construction needs?

The Smithsonian Institution, like other large federal agencies, generally utilizes established federal procurement regulations (FAR). For specialized needs like avian influenza prevention netting, they would likely issue solicitations detailing specific technical requirements. The choice between full and open competition, sole-source, or other methods depends on market research, urgency, and the availability of qualified contractors. The use of full and open competition here suggests they identified a market capable of meeting their needs and sought competitive bids to ensure best value, a standard approach for significant procurements.

What is the historical spending pattern of the Smithsonian Institution on construction and environmental control projects related to animal health or facility protection?

The provided data offers a single contract award and does not allow for analysis of historical spending patterns. To understand this, one would need to examine the Smithsonian's budget appropriations, contract databases (like FPDS or USASpending), and procurement histories over several fiscal years. This would reveal trends in spending on construction, maintenance, and specialized projects like disease prevention, identifying whether this $333K contract represents a typical investment or an outlier for such needs.

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

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4903 BALTIMORE AVE, HYATTSVILLE, MD, 20781

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,388,077

Exercised Options: $3,388,077

Current Obligation: $3,333,781

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NOT OBTAINED - WAIVED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: F16CC10364

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline