VA awards $9.17M contract for patient safety improvements, with a focus on construction

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $9,173,027 ($9.2M)

Contractor: Carrigg Commercial Builders LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2023-09-19

End Date: 2026-04-30

Contract Duration: 954 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: 523A5-070123 PATIENT SAFETY PH 2 BROCKTON

Place of Performance

Location: BROCKTON, PLYMOUTH County, MASSACHUSETTS, 02301

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $9.2 million to CARRIGG COMMERCIAL BUILDERS LLC for work described as: 523A5-070123 PATIENT SAFETY PH 2 BROCKTON Key points: 1. Contract focuses on enhancing patient safety through facility improvements. 2. The award was made under full and open competition. 3. The contractor, Carrigg Commercial Builders LLC, has a history of government contracts. 4. The contract duration is 954 days, indicating a medium-term project. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 6. The project is located in Brockton, Massachusetts.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $9.17 million for patient safety improvements appears reasonable given the scope of construction and renovation likely involved. Benchmarking against similar VA facility improvement projects would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm-fixed-price structure suggests a defined scope and budget, which is generally positive for cost control. However, without detailed project specifications, a definitive value assessment is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The fact that it was competed openly suggests a healthy market for these services and likely resulted in competitive pricing. The specific exclusion of sources might warrant further investigation into the rationale, but the overall competition level is a positive sign for price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down costs and encouraging innovation among contractors.

Public Impact

Patients at the VA facility in Brockton, MA, will benefit from enhanced safety measures. The contract will likely involve construction and renovation services to improve the physical environment. The geographic impact is localized to Brockton, Massachusetts, and surrounding areas served by the VA facility. The project may create or sustain jobs in the construction sector within the local region.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if initial project requirements are not clearly defined.
Ensuring timely completion within the 954-day duration is crucial to realizing patient safety benefits.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive market and potentially better pricing.
The contract aims to directly improve patient safety, a critical government function.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector. This sector is vital for maintaining and upgrading public infrastructure, including healthcare facilities. The market for healthcare construction is substantial, driven by the need for modern, safe, and efficient medical environments. The VA's spending in this area is consistent with its mission to provide healthcare services to veterans, often requiring specialized construction and renovation to meet healthcare regulations and patient needs.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was awarded under full and open competition and does not specify small business set-asides or subcontracting goals. Therefore, the direct impact on small businesses is unclear without further information on subcontracting opportunities. It is possible that larger construction firms will be the primary awardees, potentially utilizing small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Department of Veterans Affairs contracting officers and project managers. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract type, requiring the contractor to deliver specified outcomes within budget. Transparency is generally maintained through federal contract databases, though specific project progress reports may not be publicly available.

Related Government Programs

VA Healthcare Construction Projects
Federal Building Renovation Contracts
Patient Safety Improvement Initiatives
Commercial Construction Services

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep if project requirements are not clearly defined.
Risk of contractor performance issues impacting project timeline and quality.
Rationale for 'exclusion of sources' in competition needs further review.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $9.2 million to CARRIGG COMMERCIAL BUILDERS LLC. 523A5-070123 PATIENT SAFETY PH 2 BROCKTON

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CARRIGG COMMERCIAL BUILDERS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $9.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-19. End: 2026-04-30.

What specific patient safety enhancements are included in this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'PATIENT SAFETY PH 2 BROCKTON' and falls under 'Commercial and Institutional Building Construction.' While the specific details of the patient safety enhancements are not itemized in the summary data, it is highly probable that the contract involves physical modifications to the VA facility in Brockton, Massachusetts. These could include upgrades to infrastructure, room renovations to improve accessibility and reduce fall risks, installation of advanced medical gas systems, enhancements to infection control measures, or improvements to emergency response infrastructure. The 'PH 2' suggests this is a second phase of a larger patient safety initiative, implying a continuation or expansion of previously identified needs.

How does the $9.17 million contract value compare to similar VA patient safety construction projects?

Benchmarking the $9.17 million contract value requires comparison with similar projects undertaken by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) or other federal agencies focused on healthcare facility upgrades. Projects of this magnitude typically involve significant renovation or construction work. For instance, similar contracts for hospital wing renovations, specialized medical unit construction, or major infrastructure overhauls within healthcare settings can range from several million to tens of millions of dollars, depending on the scope, complexity, and location. Without specific details on the scope of work for this 'Phase 2' project, a precise comparison is difficult. However, the value appears within a plausible range for substantial facility improvements aimed at enhancing patient safety.

What are the primary risks associated with this firm-fixed-price contract?

The primary risks associated with this firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract, while generally favorable for cost control, lie in potential scope definition issues and contractor performance. If the project requirements are not meticulously defined upfront, the contractor may face challenges in execution, potentially leading to change orders or disputes. For the government, the risk is that the contractor might cut corners on quality to maintain profitability if margins are tight, although quality assurance measures should mitigate this. Contractor performance risk also includes potential delays or failure to meet specifications, which could impact the intended patient safety improvements. Given the FFP structure, the contractor bears the brunt of cost overruns due to unforeseen circumstances or poor estimation.

What is the historical spending pattern for patient safety initiatives at this VA facility?

The data provided does not include historical spending patterns for patient safety initiatives at the Brockton VA facility. However, the designation 'PH 2' strongly suggests that this is not an isolated expenditure but rather a continuation or second phase of a planned initiative. This implies that there was likely a 'Phase 1' or previous related projects focused on patient safety. To understand the historical spending pattern, one would need to analyze past contract awards for the Brockton VA facility related to construction, renovation, or specific patient safety equipment and systems. Analyzing trends over several fiscal years would reveal the VA's commitment and investment level in improving patient safety at this location.

How does the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' clause impact contractor selection and pricing?

The 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' clause indicates that while the solicitation was broadly advertised, certain potential sources were intentionally excluded from bidding. This is typically done under specific circumstances, such as when only a limited number of contractors possess the required specialized capabilities or when prior contract performance necessitates limiting the pool. While it still allows for open competition among the remaining eligible bidders, the exclusion of some sources could potentially limit the breadth of competition compared to a truly unrestricted full and open process. This might influence pricing, as a smaller pool of bidders could theoretically lead to less aggressive pricing, although the presence of multiple bidders should still foster competitive offers. The rationale for exclusion is critical to understanding the full impact.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 36C24123R0145

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 454 SHEFFIELD RD, MANCHESTER, NH, 03103

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $9,173,027

Exercised Options: $9,173,027

Current Obligation: $9,173,027

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 36C24118D0093

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline