Transportation contract for fences and barriers awarded to Flintco, LLC for over $57 million

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $57,213,279 ($57.2M)

Contractor: Flintco, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2007-09-25

End Date: 2012-08-31

Contract Duration: 1,802 days

Daily Burn Rate: $31.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: LINE ITEM NO. 0001 - FENCES, GATES, AND VEHICLE BARRIER. .

Place of Performance

Location: TULSA, TULSA County, OKLAHOMA, 74107

State: Oklahoma Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $57.2 million to FLINTCO, LLC for work described as: LINE ITEM NO. 0001 - FENCES, GATES, AND VEHICLE BARRIER. . Key points: 1. Contract value exceeds $57 million, indicating a significant investment in infrastructure. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a potentially competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration of 1802 days (nearly 5 years) points to a long-term project. 4. The fixed-price contract type may offer cost certainty but could limit flexibility. 5. The project falls under commercial and institutional building construction, a broad category. 6. The contract was awarded by the Federal Aviation Administration, suggesting an airport-related need.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of over $57 million for fences, gates, and vehicle barriers is substantial. Without specific details on the scope of work, it is difficult to benchmark against similar contracts. However, the duration of nearly five years suggests a large-scale project. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract implies that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which can be a positive for the government if managed effectively. Further analysis would require comparing the unit costs of specific items (e.g., per linear foot of fencing, per gate installed) to industry standards or other government contracts for similar materials and installation.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this contract. While more than one bidder is positive, a higher number of bidders typically leads to more robust price discovery and potentially lower prices for the government. The specific details of the bidding process, such as the number of proposals received and the evaluation criteria, would provide a clearer picture of the competitive intensity.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition, even with a limited number of bidders, generally provides a better opportunity for taxpayers to receive competitive pricing compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely entities requiring enhanced security and access control, such as airports or federal facilities. The services delivered include the provision and installation of fences, gates, and vehicle barriers. The geographic impact is specified as Oklahoma (SN: OKLAHOMA), indicating the project's location. Workforce implications could include construction jobs in the Oklahoma region during the contract period.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if the fixed-price contract does not adequately account for unforeseen site conditions or material price fluctuations.
Risk of contractor performance issues over the long duration of the contract, potentially impacting project timelines or quality.
Limited competition (3 bidders) may have resulted in a higher-than-optimal price for the government.
The broad nature of 'Commercial and Institutional Building Construction' might obscure specific performance metrics for the fencing and barrier components.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, which generally promotes fair pricing.
Firm fixed-price contract type shifts cost overrun risk to the contractor.
The contract is managed by the Department of Transportation, a major federal agency with established oversight processes.
The contract has a clear start and end date, providing a defined project scope and timeline.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader construction sector, specifically commercial and institutional building construction. The market for security infrastructure, including fencing and barriers, is substantial, driven by government and private sector needs for physical security. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing the cost per linear foot of various fencing types, the cost of automated gate systems, and vehicle barrier installation costs in similar geographic regions and for similar types of facilities (e.g., airports, government buildings). The Federal Aviation Administration's involvement suggests a focus on aviation security infrastructure.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation (SB: false) was not a specific set-aside requirement for this contract. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses. Without this information, it's difficult to assess the direct impact on the small business ecosystem. However, large prime contractors are often encouraged or required to have small business subcontracting goals on federal contracts, which could indirectly benefit small businesses in the construction supply chain or specialized installation services.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. As a large, multi-year contract, it is likely subject to regular performance reviews, financial audits, and potentially oversight from the DOT's Office of Inspector General. Transparency would be facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS-NG (where this data originates) and potentially through agency reporting requirements. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract implies that accountability for cost control rests largely with the contractor, while the government is accountable for monitoring performance and adherence to contract terms.

Related Government Programs

Airport Security Enhancements
Federal Infrastructure Projects
Department of Transportation Procurement
Physical Security Systems
Construction Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of scope creep or performance degradation.
Limited number of bidders could indicate potential lack of robust competition.
Firm Fixed Price contracts can sometimes lead to contractor resistance to changes.
Construction projects are susceptible to unforeseen site conditions and delays.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $57.2 million to FLINTCO, LLC. LINE ITEM NO. 0001 - FENCES, GATES, AND VEHICLE BARRIER. .

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FLINTCO, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $57.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-09-25. End: 2012-08-31.

What is the contractor's track record with the Federal Aviation Administration and Department of Transportation?

Flintco, LLC has a history of federal contracting, including work with the Department of Transportation and its agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration. Analyzing their past performance on similar projects, particularly those involving large-scale construction or security infrastructure, would be crucial. This includes reviewing past contract awards, completion records, any reported disputes or terminations, and stakeholder feedback. A review of their performance ratings on previous government contracts would provide insight into their reliability, quality of work, and adherence to schedules and budgets. Without specific past performance data for Flintco on FAA/DOT contracts, it's difficult to definitively assess their suitability beyond the fact they were awarded this significant contract.

How does the awarded amount compare to the estimated cost or budget for this project?

The provided data shows the awarded amount ($57,213,279.41) but does not include the government's estimated cost or the initial budget allocated for this project. In a full and open competition, the awarded amount is typically the result of the bidding process, where contractors submit their proposed prices. If the awarded amount is significantly lower than the government's estimate, it could indicate a successful competitive process and good value. Conversely, if it's higher, it might suggest issues with the estimate or the bidding environment. Without the estimated cost, a direct comparison to assess value for money is not possible. This information is often internal to the agency or part of the solicitation documents.

What are the specific types of fences, gates, and vehicle barriers being procured, and what are their unit costs?

The data specifies 'FENCES, GATES, AND VEHICLE BARRIER' as the general description for Line Item No. 0001. However, it does not detail the specific types (e.g., chain-link, anti-ram, automated gates) or quantities. To assess value for money, a breakdown of unit costs (e.g., cost per linear foot of fence, cost per gate, cost per vehicle barrier) is essential. These unit costs should then be benchmarked against industry standards, historical pricing for similar materials and installations, and potentially against other government contracts. The absence of this granular detail in the summary data prevents a thorough unit-cost analysis and makes it challenging to determine if the pricing is competitive or excessive.

What is the expected performance period and delivery schedule for this contract?

The contract has a duration of 1802 days, which translates to approximately 4 years and 11 months. The start date is September 25, 2007, and the end date is August 31, 2012. This indicates a long-term project with a defined performance period. The duration suggests that the scope of work is substantial, likely involving phased installation or construction over an extended period. Understanding the delivery schedule within this timeframe, including key milestones and interim deliverables, would be important for monitoring progress and ensuring timely completion of the security infrastructure.

Are there any specific security or performance standards that the installed barriers must meet?

While the contract description is general ('FENCES, GATES, AND VEHICLE BARRIER'), federal contracts, especially those managed by agencies like the FAA, typically include detailed specifications and performance standards. These would likely be outlined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) or technical specifications. Standards could relate to the materials used, resistance to impact (for vehicle barriers), operational reliability (for gates), and compliance with relevant building codes and security protocols (e.g., FAA Advisory Circulars for airport security). Without access to the full contract details, it's impossible to list the specific standards, but it's reasonable to assume they exist and are critical for ensuring the effectiveness of the security measures.

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: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2179 HILLSHIRE CIR, MEMPHIS, TN, 09

Business Categories: American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $1,787,432,826

Exercised Options: $108,109,584

Current Obligation: $57,213,279

Timeline