GSA's $20M Architectural Services Contract with Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects PC Lacked Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,975,390 ($20.0M)

Contractor: Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects PC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2006-02-13

End Date: 2015-12-31

Contract Duration: 3,608 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.5K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: A/E SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: SALT LAKE CITY, SALT LAKE County, UTAH, 84104

State: Utah Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $20.0 million to NAYLOR WENTWORTH LUND ARCHITECTS PC for work described as: A/E SERVICES Key points: 1. Significant spending of $19.98M on architectural services. 2. Lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpayment. 3. Contract awarded to a single firm without competitive bidding. 4. Long contract duration of over 9 years. 5. Services provided in Utah.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $19.98M for architectural services over 9 years is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the pricing was optimal. Benchmarking against similar GSA contracts for architectural services in Utah would be necessary for a definitive assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there was no market pressure to offer the best price.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may have resulted in higher costs than necessary, impacting taxpayer funds.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may have paid more due to the absence of competitive bidding. The long duration of the contract limits opportunities for other firms to compete for similar work. Government reliance on a single firm for architectural services in a region could indicate potential market concentration.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 55 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Long contract duration
Potential for inflated pricing

Positive Signals

Services were delivered
Fixed price contract type can provide cost certainty if negotiated well

Sector Analysis

Architectural services are crucial for public infrastructure projects. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on project scope and location. This $20M contract over 9 years represents a significant investment in a specific region.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to Naylor Wentworth Lund Architects PC, a firm. There is no indication that small businesses were involved or considered in this sole-source award.

Oversight & Accountability

The 'NOT COMPETED' status suggests a potential lapse in oversight regarding competitive sourcing. Further review is needed to understand the justification for not competing this significant contract.

Related Government Programs

Architectural Services
General Services Administration Contracting
Public Buildings Service Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks transparency and competitive pricing.
Extended contract duration may not reflect current market conditions or needs.
Potential for overpayment due to lack of competition.
No clear indication of small business participation.
Oversight may have failed to ensure competitive sourcing.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $20.0 million to NAYLOR WENTWORTH LUND ARCHITECTS PC. A/E SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NAYLOR WENTWORTH LUND ARCHITECTS PC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Public Buildings Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $20.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-02-13. End: 2015-12-31.

What was the specific justification for not competing this $20M architectural services contract?

The provided data does not include the justification for the sole-source award. Typically, such justifications would cite reasons like unique capabilities, urgent needs, or lack of available alternatives. Without this information, it's impossible to fully assess the necessity of bypassing the competitive process.

How does the per-project cost compare to similar architectural services procured competitively by GSA?

A direct comparison is difficult without detailed project breakdowns and competitive benchmark data. However, the absence of competition inherently raises concerns that the negotiated price might be higher than what could have been achieved through a competitive bidding process, potentially leading to suboptimal value for taxpayers.

What was the impact of the 9-year contract duration on service quality and innovation?

A long contract duration can sometimes lead to complacency or a lack of incentive for innovation if not managed properly. While it provides stability, it also means the government was locked into a single provider for an extended period, potentially missing out on newer technologies or more cost-effective solutions from other firms.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Architectural Services

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ARCHITECT-ENGINEER FAR 6.102

Solicitation ID: GS-08P-97-JFC-0005

Offers Received: 5

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 336 S 400 W, SALT LAKE CITY, UT, 84101

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $19,975,390

Exercised Options: $19,975,390

Current Obligation: $19,975,390

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline