Native Constructors Inc. awarded $2.07M for Texas highway construction, highlighting firm fixed-price contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $2,073,039 ($2.1M)

Contractor: C-A Native Constructors Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2025-02-24

End Date: 2025-09-05

Contract Duration: 193 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: TX FW LAAT 10(4) OCELOT CROSSINGS CONSTRUCTION

Place of Performance

Location: LOS FRESNOS, CAMERON County, TEXAS, 78566

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $2.1 million to C-A NATIVE CONSTRUCTORS INC for work described as: TX FW LAAT 10(4) OCELOT CROSSINGS CONSTRUCTION Key points: 1. Contract awarded using full and open competition after exclusion of sources, suggesting a deliberate selection process. 2. The firm fixed-price contract type indicates a defined scope and price, transferring risk to the contractor. 3. The contract duration of 193 days suggests a focused, short-term project. 4. The project is situated in Texas, potentially impacting local infrastructure and workforce. 5. The award to C-A Native Constructors Inc. may indicate a focus on specific contractor capabilities or regional presence. 6. The NAICS code 237310 points to highway, street, and bridge construction, a critical infrastructure sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $2.07 million for highway construction appears reasonable for a project of this scope and duration. Without specific project details or comparable contract data, a precise benchmark is difficult. However, the firm fixed-price nature suggests that the contractor has absorbed potential cost fluctuations. The award to a single entity implies a competitive bidding process that resulted in a selected price deemed acceptable by the agency.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was competed under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This specific procurement method suggests that while the competition was intended to be broad, certain sources were excluded, possibly due to specific requirements, past performance, or other pre-qualification criteria. The number of bidders (3) indicates a moderate level of competition, which is sufficient to drive price discovery but may not represent the absolute lowest possible price achievable in a completely unrestricted open competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The moderate competition level suggests that taxpayers likely received a fair price, but there might have been opportunities for even greater savings if more bidders had been involved. The exclusion of sources warrants scrutiny to ensure it was justified and did not unduly limit competition.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely users of the improved highway infrastructure in Texas. The contract will deliver construction services for highway, street, and bridge projects. The geographic impact is concentrated in Texas, specifically within the area covered by the contract. The project will likely involve a construction workforce, potentially creating temporary employment opportunities in the region.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The 'exclusion of sources' clause in the competition type requires further investigation to ensure it was justified and did not unnecessarily limit competition.
The limited number of bidders (3) suggests potential for increased competition to drive down costs further in future procurements.

Positive Signals

The use of a firm fixed-price contract transfers cost risk to the contractor, providing budget certainty for the government.
The contract is awarded to C-A Native Constructors Inc., potentially supporting a specific business or regional expertise.
The project falls under highway, street, and bridge construction, addressing essential infrastructure needs.

Sector Analysis

The highway, street, and bridge construction sector is a significant part of the U.S. infrastructure market, driven by federal, state, and local government spending. This contract, valued at approximately $2.07 million, represents a small to medium-sized project within this sector. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing the cost per mile or per bridge for similar projects in the region, considering factors like terrain, materials, and complexity. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) oversees a vast network of roads, and contracts like this are crucial for maintenance and upgrades.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, the primary contractor, C-A Native Constructors Inc., is likely not a small business, or if it is, the contract was not awarded under a small business set-aside program. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this award notice. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether C-A Native Constructors Inc. intends to subcontract portions of the work to small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract type, which holds the contractor responsible for delivering the specified work within the agreed-upon price. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of contract award data. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Federal Highway Administration Grants
National Highway System Program
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Projects
State and Local Transportation Infrastructure Projects

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition due to source exclusion.
Risk of cost overruns if contractor's estimates were inaccurate (though FFP mitigates government exposure).
Need for robust oversight to ensure quality and safety standards are met.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $2.1 million to C-A NATIVE CONSTRUCTORS INC. TX FW LAAT 10(4) OCELOT CROSSINGS CONSTRUCTION

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is C-A NATIVE CONSTRUCTORS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-02-24. End: 2025-09-05.

What is the specific scope of work for OCELOT CROSSINGS CONSTRUCTION, and what are the key performance indicators?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'Highway, Street, and Bridge Construction' under NAICS code 237310. The specific project name, 'OCELOT CROSSINGS CONSTRUCTION,' suggests it likely involves the construction or improvement of crossings, potentially including bridges or intersections, along a highway or street. Key performance indicators would typically be defined in the contract's statement of work and could include adherence to project timelines, quality of construction materials and workmanship, safety compliance, and successful completion of all specified deliverables. Without access to the full contract document, the precise scope and KPIs remain detailed within the agency's internal documentation.

How does the $2.07 million award compare to similar highway construction projects managed by the Federal Highway Administration in Texas?

Benchmarking the $2.07 million award requires comparing it to similar projects in Texas managed by the FHWA. Factors such as project scope (e.g., miles of road, type of bridge, complexity of intersection), contract duration (193 days), and specific construction challenges (e.g., terrain, environmental considerations) are crucial. Generally, highway construction costs can vary significantly. A project of this value might cover several miles of road resurfacing, minor bridge repairs, or the construction of a single, smaller bridge. To provide a precise comparison, one would need to analyze historical FHWA contract data for projects with similar characteristics within Texas, looking at metrics like cost per lane-mile or cost per square foot of bridge deck.

What are the potential risks associated with a firm fixed-price contract for highway construction, and how are they mitigated?

The primary risk with a firm fixed-price (FFP) contract is that the contractor may face financial losses if costs exceed estimates, potentially leading to pressure to cut corners on quality or safety. Conversely, the government risks overpaying if the contractor's initial bid was excessively high. Mitigation strategies employed by the agency include thorough pre-bid market research to establish realistic cost expectations, detailed scope definition to minimize change orders, robust oversight during construction to ensure quality and compliance, and careful contractor selection based on past performance and financial stability. The 'exclusion of sources' might also be a risk mitigation strategy if it ensures only qualified contractors participate.

What is the track record of C-A Native Constructors Inc. in completing federal highway construction projects on time and within budget?

Assessing the track record of C-A Native Constructors Inc. requires examining their past performance on federal contracts, particularly those with the Department of Transportation or Federal Highway Administration. Key metrics to review would include on-time completion rates, adherence to budget, quality of work, and any history of disputes or contract modifications. Publicly available contract databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) can provide insights into their award history, contract values, and performance ratings. A positive track record would indicate a lower risk for this current project, while a history of issues might warrant closer scrutiny and more stringent oversight from the agency.

How does the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' procurement method impact price discovery and taxpayer value?

This procurement method, while aiming for broad competition, introduces a layer of pre-qualification or source exclusion. This can limit the number of potential bidders compared to a truly unrestricted 'full and open' competition. While it can ensure that only capable contractors participate, potentially reducing execution risks, it might also reduce the intensity of price competition if the excluded sources were significant potential bidders. For taxpayers, this means the price achieved is likely competitive among the included bidders but may not represent the absolute lowest price achievable if more firms had been allowed to compete. The justification for excluding sources is critical in determining if this method maximized taxpayer value.

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: 6982AF25B000002

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4000 E HARRIS RD, MUSKOGEE, OK, 74403

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, HUBZone Firm, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $2,073,039

Exercised Options: $2,073,039

Current Obligation: $2,073,039

Actual Outlays: $2,073,039

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline