GSA Awards $67.6M for Billings Federal Courthouse Construction to M. A. Mortenson Company
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $67,635,276 ($67.6M)
Contractor: M. a. Mortenson Company
Awarding Agency: General Services Administration
Start Date: 2009-12-23
End Date: 2016-03-31
Contract Duration: 2,290 days
Daily Burn Rate: $29.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Construction
Official Description: DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW U.S. FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, BILLINGS, MONTANA TAS::47 4543::TAS
Place of Performance
Location: BILLINGS, YELLOWSTONE County, MONTANA, 59101
State: Montana Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
General Services Administration obligated $67.6 million to M. A. MORTENSON COMPANY for work described as: DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW U.S. FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, BILLINGS, MONTANA TAS::47 4543::TAS Key points: 1. The contract awarded to M. A. Mortenson Company for $67.6 million covers the design and construction of a new federal courthouse in Billings, Montana. 2. The project falls under the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction NAICS code (236220). 3. The contract was awarded using Full and Open Competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 4. The project utilized a Firm Fixed Price contract type, which shifts cost risk to the contractor. 5. The duration of the contract was 2290 days, spanning from December 2009 to March 2016.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total award amount of $67.6 million for a federal courthouse project of this scale appears reasonable given the firm fixed price structure and the extensive duration. Benchmarking against similar large-scale federal construction projects would provide a more precise assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The use of Full and Open Competition suggests that multiple bidders were likely considered, promoting price discovery and potentially leading to a more competitive price. The definitive contract award indicates a single contract was issued after the competition.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive bidding process likely ensured taxpayer funds were used efficiently for this significant infrastructure project.
Public Impact
Construction of a new federal courthouse enhances judicial infrastructure and services in Billings, Montana. The project created jobs and stimulated economic activity in the local construction sector. The new facility will house federal court operations, impacting legal proceedings and public access to justice. The long duration of the project suggests a complex undertaking with potential for phased development or significant construction challenges.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Long project duration (2290 days) could indicate potential for delays or scope creep.
- Lack of specific details on the 'definitive contract' type beyond 'award' may obscure further contract specifics.
- No indication of small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) might be a missed opportunity for economic inclusion.
Positive Signals
- Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
- Full and Open Competition generally leads to better pricing.
- The project addresses a clear need for federal judicial infrastructure.
Sector Analysis
The construction sector is a significant area of federal spending, particularly for infrastructure projects like courthouses. Benchmarks for similar federal building construction projects would be necessary for a detailed cost comparison, but the scale suggests a substantial investment.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that neither small business set-asides nor subcontracting were explicitly noted (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the primary contractor, M. A. Mortenson Company, was not a small business, and there's no explicit information on small business involvement in the subcontracting.
Oversight & Accountability
The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for overseeing federal building construction. The use of a firm fixed price contract and full and open competition are standard oversight mechanisms to ensure value and accountability.
Related Government Programs
- Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
- General Services Administration Contracting
- Public Buildings Service Programs
Risk Flags
- Long project duration.
- No explicit small business participation noted.
- Potential for scope creep or unforeseen issues over an extended construction period.
- Limited transparency on specific contract details beyond award amount and type.
Tags
commercial-and-institutional-building-co, general-services-administration, mt, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
General Services Administration awarded $67.6 million to M. A. MORTENSON COMPANY. DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF NEW U.S. FEDERAL COURTHOUSE, BILLINGS, MONTANA TAS::47 4543::TAS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is M. A. MORTENSON COMPANY.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Public Buildings Service).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $67.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2009-12-23. End: 2016-03-31.
What was the final cost compared to the initial bid or estimated cost?
The provided data shows the final award amount of $67.6 million. Without the initial bid or estimated cost from the competitive bidding process, it's impossible to determine if the final cost represented significant deviations. Further analysis would require access to the original solicitation documents and bid tabulations.
Were there any significant delays or cost overruns during the project's 2290-day duration?
The data indicates a long project duration from 2009 to 2016. While the firm fixed price contract aims to mitigate cost overruns for the government, extended durations can sometimes signal unforeseen challenges, scope changes, or delays. Specific project management reports or post-award reviews would be needed to assess performance against schedule and budget.
How did the final price compare to other federal courthouse construction projects of similar size and scope?
A comprehensive comparison would require detailed cost data from comparable federal courthouse projects, including location, size, complexity, and construction methods. The $67.6 million award for a 2290-day project suggests a significant investment, but without specific benchmarks, it's difficult to definitively assess its value relative to peers.
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
Solicitation ID: GS-08P-09-JF-C-0009
Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: M. a. Mortenson Companies, Inc.
Address: 700 MEADOW LN N, MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 55422
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $67,635,276
Exercised Options: $67,635,276
Current Obligation: $67,635,276
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2009-12-23
Current End Date: 2016-03-31
Potential End Date: 2016-03-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-04-01
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