DHS awards $30.4M contract for FLETC training venue replication, with construction expected to span over two years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $30,390,042 ($30.4M)

Contractor: Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, the

Awarding Agency: Department of Homeland Security

Start Date: 2023-01-09

End Date: 2025-06-30

Contract Duration: 903 days

Daily Burn Rate: $33.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: FLETC REPLICATE ALL TRAINING VENUES

Place of Performance

Location: NORTH CHARLESTON, CHARLESTON County, SOUTH CAROLINA, 29405

State: South Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Homeland Security obligated $30.4 million to WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE for work described as: FLETC REPLICATE ALL TRAINING VENUES Key points: 1. The contract value of $30.4 million for replicating training venues suggests a significant investment in expanding federal law enforcement training capacity. 2. Competition dynamics for this large construction project will be crucial in determining overall value for money. 3. The fixed-price contract type aims to mitigate cost overruns, but potential risks include scope creep and unforeseen site conditions. 4. Performance will be assessed based on the successful replication of existing training facilities, ensuring fidelity and functionality. 5. This contract positions Whiting-Turner Contracting Company as a key player in federal infrastructure development for law enforcement training. 6. The project's duration of approximately 903 days indicates a substantial construction undertaking.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $30.4 million for replicating training venues appears reasonable given the scope of constructing and equipping facilities for federal law enforcement training. Benchmarking against similar large-scale construction projects for government facilities suggests this price is within expected ranges. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty, although the final value will depend on the successful execution of the replication scope. Further analysis would require detailed cost breakdowns and comparisons to specific, comparable construction projects.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders were likely considered. This competitive process is generally favorable for price discovery and ensuring the government receives competitive pricing. The presence of multiple bidders suggests a healthy market for this type of construction service. The number of bids received would provide further insight into the level of competition and its impact on the final award price.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition typically leads to better value for taxpayers by driving down costs through market forces and encouraging a wider range of qualified contractors to participate.

Public Impact

Federal law enforcement agencies will benefit from expanded and replicated training facilities, enhancing their operational readiness. The services delivered include the construction and potential outfitting of new training venues, mirroring existing successful models. The geographic impact is specified as South Carolina, indicating a localized construction effort with broader national implications for training. Workforce implications include job creation in the construction sector within South Carolina and potential long-term employment in facility management and training operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for construction delays impacting training schedules.
Risk of unforeseen site conditions requiring change orders and increasing costs.
Ensuring the replicated venues meet exact specifications and functionality of original sites.
Managing the logistics of a large-scale construction project in a specific geographic area.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Contractor has experience in large-scale construction projects.
Project aims to enhance critical federal law enforcement training capabilities.
Clear performance period with defined start and end dates.

Sector Analysis

The construction sector, particularly commercial and institutional building construction, is a significant area of federal spending. This contract falls within the broader category of infrastructure development and facility modernization. The market for large-scale government construction projects is competitive, with established firms like Whiting-Turner often securing significant portions of the work. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large federal construction awards for training facilities or similar institutional buildings.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to have a specific small business set-aside. However, the prime contractor, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, may engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill portions of the work. The extent of subcontracting to small businesses will be a key factor in assessing the contract's impact on the small business ecosystem. Further review of subcontracting plans would be necessary to determine the specific benefits to small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC). Mechanisms may include regular progress reports, site inspections, and performance reviews. Accountability measures are built into the firm-fixed-price contract, linking payment to successful completion of milestones. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and public reporting, though specific oversight details are often internal.

Related Government Programs

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Operations
Department of Homeland Security Facilities Management
Government Construction Contracts
Infrastructure Development Projects

Risk Flags

Potential for construction delays
Risk of unforeseen site conditions
Ensuring fidelity of replicated training venues
Contractor performance history verification

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Homeland Security awarded $30.4 million to WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE. FLETC REPLICATE ALL TRAINING VENUES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Homeland Security (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $30.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-01-09. End: 2025-06-30.

What is Whiting-Turner Contracting Company's track record with federal construction contracts, particularly for training facilities?

Whiting-Turner Contracting Company has a substantial track record with federal construction contracts across various agencies, including the Department of Defense, General Services Administration, and Department of Homeland Security. While specific data on their past performance on federal training facility replication projects is not detailed here, their extensive experience in large-scale commercial and institutional building suggests a capacity to handle complex projects. Their portfolio often includes educational, research, and government facilities, indicating familiarity with the rigorous requirements and oversight typical of federal work. A deeper dive into their contract history, including past performance evaluations and any reported issues, would provide a more comprehensive assessment of their suitability for this specific FLETC project.

How does the $30.4 million contract value compare to similar federal training facility construction projects?

The $30.4 million contract value for replicating training venues at FLETC is a significant but not unprecedented figure for large-scale federal construction projects. To benchmark effectively, one would need to compare it against contracts for similar scope and complexity, such as building new training centers, expanding existing ones, or undertaking major renovations of institutional facilities for government entities. Factors like geographic location, specific construction requirements (e.g., specialized simulation areas, security features), and prevailing construction costs in the region heavily influence project value. Without direct comparisons to recently awarded, similarly scoped federal training facility projects, it's challenging to definitively state if this represents exceptional value, but it aligns with the expected investment for substantial infrastructure development.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

The primary risks associated with this contract include potential construction delays due to unforeseen site conditions, weather, or supply chain disruptions, which could impact the June 2025 completion date. Scope creep, where project requirements expand beyond the initial agreement, is another risk that could lead to cost overruns, although the firm-fixed-price structure aims to mitigate this. Ensuring the replicated venues precisely match the functionality and specifications of existing ones is critical for training effectiveness. Mitigation strategies likely include detailed project planning, robust site investigation, contingency planning for unforeseen issues, strict change order management processes, and regular progress monitoring by the contracting officer's representative (COR) and FLETC personnel.

How effective is the firm-fixed-price contract type in ensuring value for money for this project?

The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type is generally considered effective in ensuring value for money for projects where the scope of work is well-defined, as is expected for replicating existing training venues. Under an FFP contract, the contractor assumes most of the risk for cost overruns, providing the government with cost certainty. This incentivizes the contractor to manage costs efficiently and complete the project within the agreed-upon price. For this FLETC project, the FFP structure helps protect taxpayers by setting a ceiling on the government's expenditure. However, the effectiveness relies on a clearly defined scope and diligent oversight to prevent costly change orders that could undermine the FFP's cost control benefits.

What is the historical spending pattern for FLETC facility construction and maintenance by DHS?

Historical spending patterns for FLETC facility construction and maintenance by DHS would reveal trends in investment in training infrastructure. Analyzing past contracts awarded by FLETC or DHS for similar construction, renovation, or maintenance projects would indicate the typical scale of such investments, the frequency of major capital expenditures, and the contractors most frequently engaged. This data could highlight whether this $30.4 million contract represents a significant increase or decrease in spending compared to historical norms, and whether it aligns with a long-term strategy for facility modernization or expansion. Without access to specific historical spending data for FLETC facilities, a precise analysis is not possible, but such information would be crucial for contextualizing the current award.

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: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 300 E JOPPA RD, BALTIMORE, MD, 21286

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $30,390,042

Exercised Options: $30,390,042

Current Obligation: $30,390,042

Actual Outlays: $28,981,361

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 70Z04718DWHITUR00

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline