Highway construction contract awarded for Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area access improvements

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,600,000 ($3.6M)

Contractor: N.W. Construction General Contracting, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2025-07-24

End Date: 2025-12-10

Contract Duration: 139 days

Daily Burn Rate: $25.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: FUNDS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OR FLAP DOUGLAS 251(1), OREGON DUNES NATIONAL RECREATION AREA - UMPQUA DUNES ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS. WORK CONSISTS OF EARTHWORK, AGGREGATE, DRAINAGE, SURFACING, PRECAST CONCRETE BLOCK WALLS, AND GUARDRAIL IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, OR

Place of Performance

Location: REEDSPORT, DOUGLAS County, OREGON, 97467

State: Oregon Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $3.6 million to N.W. CONSTRUCTION GENERAL CONTRACTING, INC. for work described as: FUNDS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OR FLAP DOUGLAS 251(1), OREGON DUNES NATIONAL RECREATION AREA - UMPQUA DUNES ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS. WORK CONSISTS OF EARTHWORK, AGGREGATE, DRAINAGE, SURFACING, PRECAST CONCRETE BLOCK WALLS, AND GUARDRAIL IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, OR Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential infrastructure upgrades including earthwork, drainage, and surfacing. 2. Project aims to improve access to Umpqua Dunes, a key recreational area. 3. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 5. The duration of the contract is approximately 4.5 months, indicating a focused scope of work. 6. The project is located in Douglas County, Oregon, impacting local infrastructure.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $3.6 million for highway construction appears reasonable given the scope of work, which includes earthwork, aggregate, drainage, surfacing, precast concrete block walls, and guardrail. Benchmarking against similar projects would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The Firm Fixed Price contract type is standard for this type of construction and helps control costs by transferring risk to the contractor.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' which is a specific type of competitive procurement. While it indicates competition, the 'exclusion of sources' aspect warrants further investigation to understand if any specific criteria limited the pool of potential bidders. Five bids were received, suggesting a healthy level of interest and competition for this project.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive bidding process for this project is beneficial for taxpayers as it likely resulted in a more favorable price compared to a sole-source award. The receipt of multiple bids indicates that the government received a range of pricing options.

Public Impact

Recreational users of the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area will benefit from improved access and safety. The project will enhance the infrastructure supporting tourism and outdoor activities in Douglas County, Oregon. Local and regional construction workforce may see employment opportunities during the project's execution. The improved access could lead to increased visitor numbers and associated economic benefits for the local community.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if unforeseen site conditions arise during earthwork or drainage installation.
Weather delays in Oregon could impact the project timeline and potentially increase costs if not managed effectively.
Ensuring compliance with environmental regulations during construction in a sensitive recreation area.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Full and open competition suggests a robust bidding process leading to potentially competitive pricing.
The project addresses a clear need for infrastructure improvement in a popular recreational area.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction sector, a significant segment of the construction industry. Federal spending in this area often supports national transportation networks and local infrastructure projects. The Federal Highway Administration's involvement suggests alignment with broader transportation goals. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found in public works databases and industry cost indices for civil engineering projects.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that small business participation was not a specific set-aside requirement for this particular award (ss: false, sb: false). However, the prime contractor, N.W. CONSTRUCTION GENERAL CONTRACTING, INC., may engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill portions of the work. The extent of small business subcontracting will depend on the prime contractor's strategy and the availability of qualified small business firms for specialized tasks.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Federal Highway Administration, a division of the Department of Transportation. The contract is a Definitive Contract, which implies a defined scope and duration. Accountability measures will be tied to the contract's performance requirements and milestones. Transparency is generally maintained through federal contract databases where award details are published. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

National Recreation Area Infrastructure Projects
Federal Highway Administration Construction Contracts
Oregon Public Works Projects
Douglas County Transportation Improvements

Risk Flags

Potential for environmental impact in a sensitive recreation area.
Risk of weather-related delays impacting project schedule.
Need to verify specific reasons for 'exclusion of sources' in procurement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $3.6 million to N.W. CONSTRUCTION GENERAL CONTRACTING, INC.. FUNDS CONSTRUCTION PROJECT OR FLAP DOUGLAS 251(1), OREGON DUNES NATIONAL RECREATION AREA - UMPQUA DUNES ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS. WORK CONSISTS OF EARTHWORK, AGGREGATE, DRAINAGE, SURFACING, PRECAST CONCRETE BLOCK WALLS, AND GUARDRAIL IN DOUGLAS COUNTY, OR

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is N.W. CONSTRUCTION GENERAL CONTRACTING, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Highway Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-07-24. End: 2025-12-10.

What is the track record of N.W. CONSTRUCTION GENERAL CONTRACTING, INC. with federal contracts, particularly with the Department of Transportation or similar agencies?

Information regarding the specific track record of N.W. CONSTRUCTION GENERAL CONTRACTING, INC. with federal contracts, especially with the Department of Transportation or the Federal Highway Administration, is not directly provided in the data. A thorough analysis would require querying federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) to review past performance, contract history, any past performance issues, and experience with similar types of construction projects. This would help assess their capability and reliability in executing the Umpqua Dunes access improvements project.

How does the $3.6 million contract value compare to similar highway and access improvement projects in national recreation areas or similar environments?

Benchmarking the $3.6 million contract value requires comparing it to similar projects in terms of scope (earthwork, drainage, surfacing, walls, guardrails), location (coastal, sandy terrain), and project type (access improvements, highway construction). Without specific comparable project data, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. However, the inclusion of precast concrete block walls and guardrails suggests a moderate level of complexity. The Firm Fixed Price nature of the contract provides cost certainty, but the initial bid prices from the five competitors would offer the best indicator of competitive pricing for this specific scope.

What are the primary risks associated with this specific construction project, and what mitigation strategies are likely in place?

Key risks for this project include environmental challenges inherent in a coastal recreation area (e.g., sensitive habitats, potential for erosion), weather-related delays common in Oregon, and potential unforeseen subsurface conditions during earthwork and drainage installation. Mitigation strategies likely involve detailed site assessments prior to and during construction, adherence to strict environmental protection plans, flexible scheduling to accommodate weather, and contingency planning for unexpected ground conditions. The Firm Fixed Price contract also incentivizes the contractor to manage these risks proactively to avoid cost overruns.

How effective is the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' procurement method in ensuring fair pricing and broad contractor participation for this type of project?

The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' method aims to balance broad competition with specific project needs. While 'full and open' implies a wide solicitation, the 'exclusion of sources' suggests that certain types of contractors or specific capabilities were deemed necessary, potentially narrowing the field. Receiving five bids indicates sufficient competition was achieved. The effectiveness in ensuring fair pricing relies on the government's ability to clearly define requirements and the market's responsiveness. The actual pricing achieved through the bidding process is the best measure of its effectiveness in this instance.

What is the historical spending trend for similar access improvement or highway construction projects managed by the Federal Highway Administration in Oregon?

Analyzing historical spending trends for similar projects by the FHWA in Oregon would require access to historical contract databases. This would reveal patterns in contract values, durations, and the number of bids received for comparable work. Such analysis could indicate if the current $3.6 million award is within the typical range, if project costs have been escalating, or if competition levels have changed over time. Without this historical data, it's challenging to place the current contract's value and competitive dynamics within a broader temporal context for the region.

What are the potential long-term benefits and impacts of these access improvements on the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area's visitor experience and ecological health?

The long-term benefits of improved access include enhanced visitor safety, better navigation, and potentially reduced environmental impact from dispersed or uncontrolled access points. By consolidating and improving access routes, the project can help channel visitor traffic, protecting sensitive dune ecosystems. The ecological health impact depends on the specific design and construction methods employed, particularly regarding drainage and erosion control. If implemented effectively, the improvements should support sustainable recreational use while preserving the natural integrity of the dunes.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Construction › Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction › Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction

Product/Service Code: CONSTRUCT OF STRUCTURES/FACILITIES › CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SEALED BID

Solicitation ID: 69056724B000025

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 22317 NE 72ND AVE, BATTLE GROUND, WA, 98604

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,600,000

Exercised Options: $3,600,000

Current Obligation: $3,600,000

Actual Outlays: $1,033,606

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline