GSA awards $2.9M contract for Federal Protective Service fit-out in Pittsburgh, PA

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,906,394 ($2.9M)

Contractor: MC Dodd Construction LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2024-08-29

End Date: 2026-04-17

Contract Duration: 596 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.9K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE FIT-OUT PROJECT, WILLIAM S MOORHEAD FEDERAL BUILDING, PITTSBURGH, PA. THIS AWARD INCORPORATES RENOVATION OF CURRENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW OFFICE SPACE.

Place of Performance

Location: PITTSBURGH, ALLEGHENY County, PENNSYLVANIA, 15222

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $2.9 million to MC DODD CONSTRUCTION LLC for work described as: FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE FIT-OUT PROJECT, WILLIAM S MOORHEAD FEDERAL BUILDING, PITTSBURGH, PA. THIS AWARD INCORPORATES RENOVATION OF CURRENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW OFFICE SPACE. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on renovation and new construction for office space. 2. Project duration spans nearly two years, indicating significant scope. 3. The award is a firm-fixed-price contract, providing cost certainty. 4. No small business set-aside was utilized for this procurement. 5. The contract falls under commercial and institutional building construction NAICS code. 6. The General Services Administration is the awarding agency.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $2.9 million for a fit-out project of this scope appears within a reasonable range for commercial and institutional building construction. Benchmarking against similar federal building renovation projects would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm-fixed-price structure helps mitigate cost overrun risks for the government, but the initial pricing assessment is based on limited public data.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. The absence of competition means that the government did not solicit bids from multiple contractors. This approach can be justified for various reasons, such as specific contractor capabilities or urgent needs, but it limits the government's ability to explore a wider range of pricing and technical solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: A sole-source award means taxpayers may not benefit from the cost savings typically achieved through competitive bidding processes.

Public Impact

Federal Protective Service personnel will benefit from improved and expanded office facilities. The project will deliver renovated and newly constructed office spaces within the William S. Moorhead Federal Building. The geographic impact is localized to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The construction activities will likely involve a local workforce, supporting regional employment.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition limits potential cost savings for taxpayers.
Sole-source awards can sometimes lead to higher prices than competitive bids.
Transparency regarding the justification for a sole-source award could be enhanced.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Project addresses necessary renovations and new construction for federal facilities.
Awarding agency is the General Services Administration, experienced in federal building projects.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, a significant segment of the construction industry. This sector encompasses a wide range of projects, from office buildings to retail spaces and healthcare facilities. Federal building construction and renovation projects represent a consistent area of government spending, often involving specialized requirements for security and functionality. The market for such services is competitive, though specific project needs can sometimes lead to non-competitive awards.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor is there an indication of specific subcontracting goals for small businesses in the provided data. The absence of these provisions suggests that the primary contractor, MC Dodd Construction LLC, is not a small business, and the contract does not mandate direct participation of small businesses in its execution. This could limit opportunities for small businesses to participate in this federal project.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will be managed by the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically its Public Buildings Service. As a firm-fixed-price contract, the primary accountability lies in ensuring the project is completed according to the specified scope, timeline, and quality standards. Transparency regarding the sole-source justification and project progress would be key areas for oversight. Inspector General jurisdiction would typically fall under the GSA's IG.

Related Government Programs

Federal Building Renovations
Office Space Construction
Public Buildings Service Projects
Federal Protective Service Facilities

Risk Flags

Sole-source award without clear justification
Potential for higher costs due to lack of competition

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $2.9 million to MC DODD CONSTRUCTION LLC. FEDERAL PROTECTIVE SERVICE FIT-OUT PROJECT, WILLIAM S MOORHEAD FEDERAL BUILDING, PITTSBURGH, PA. THIS AWARD INCORPORATES RENOVATION OF CURRENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW OFFICE SPACE.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MC DODD CONSTRUCTION LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Public Buildings Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-08-29. End: 2026-04-17.

What is the track record of MC Dodd Construction LLC on federal contracts?

Information regarding the specific track record of MC Dodd Construction LLC on federal contracts is not detailed in the provided data. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing past performance evaluations, contract history, and any reported issues or successes on previous government projects. Understanding their experience with similar-sized or type of construction projects, particularly federal building fit-outs, would be crucial for evaluating their capability and reliability for this specific award. Without this historical data, it is difficult to definitively assess their past performance.

How does the $2.9 million cost compare to similar federal building fit-out projects?

The $2.9 million cost for the Federal Protective Service fit-out project in Pittsburgh is a significant investment. To benchmark its value, it would need to be compared against similar federal building renovation and construction projects undertaken by the GSA or other agencies in comparable geographic locations and of similar scale and complexity. Factors such as square footage renovated/constructed, specific scope of work (e.g., security enhancements, specialized equipment installation), and prevailing construction costs in the Pittsburgh area would be essential for a meaningful comparison. Without these comparative data points, it's challenging to definitively state whether this represents excellent, fair, or concerning value for money.

What are the primary risks associated with this sole-source contract?

The primary risks associated with this sole-source contract stem from the lack of competition. This can lead to a higher price than might be achieved through a competitive bidding process, potentially resulting in less value for taxpayer money. There's also a risk that the government may not have access to the most innovative solutions or the broadest range of qualified contractors, as only one firm was selected. Furthermore, without a competitive environment, there might be less pressure on the contractor to optimize efficiency and cost-effectiveness throughout the project lifecycle. Ensuring robust oversight and clear performance metrics becomes even more critical in a sole-source scenario.

How effective is the firm-fixed-price contract type in managing project costs for this fit-out?

The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type is generally effective in managing project costs for fit-out and construction projects like this one, as it shifts most of the cost risk to the contractor. Under an FFP agreement, the contractor agrees to a set price for the defined scope of work, regardless of their actual costs. This provides the government with cost certainty and predictability, making budgeting easier. However, the success of an FFP contract heavily relies on a well-defined scope of work and accurate initial cost estimates. If the scope is poorly defined or unforeseen issues arise that are not covered by contract clauses, it can lead to change orders, potentially increasing the overall cost. For this project, the FFP structure is beneficial for controlling the baseline expenditure.

What is the historical spending pattern for Federal Protective Service facility upgrades by GSA?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for Federal Protective Service (FPS) facility upgrades by the General Services Administration (GSA) would provide context for this $2.9 million award. GSA is responsible for maintaining and upgrading federal buildings nationwide, including those housing FPS operations. Historical data would reveal the frequency, scale, and average cost of similar fit-out and renovation projects. Understanding trends in GSA's spending on FPS facilities can help identify whether this contract is part of a larger modernization effort, a routine upgrade cycle, or an anomaly. It can also inform future budget projections and highlight potential areas for cost efficiencies or increased investment.

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: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 47PD0224R0003

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1380 FLESHMAN MILL RD, NEW OXFORD, PA, 17350

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Other Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,906,394

Exercised Options: $2,906,394

Current Obligation: $2,906,394

Actual Outlays: $541,671

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline