State Department's $20.8M Mesilla Levee Construction Contract Awarded to Briston Construction, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $20,864,721 ($20.9M)

Contractor: Briston Construction, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2010-09-03

End Date: 2013-12-17

Contract Duration: 1,201 days

Daily Burn Rate: $17.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: RECOVERY - CONSTRUCTION MESILLA LEVEE SEGMENTS, PHASE II, MESILLA, DONA ANA COUNTY, NM TAS::19 1079 000::TAS

Place of Performance

Location: EL PASO, EL PASO County, TEXAS, 79922

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $20.9 million to BRISTON CONSTRUCTION, LLC for work described as: RECOVERY - CONSTRUCTION MESILLA LEVEE SEGMENTS, PHASE II, MESILLA, DONA ANA COUNTY, NM TAS::19 1079 000::TAS Key points: 1. Contract value of $20.8 million for levee segment construction. 2. Awarded to Briston Construction, LLC, a Texas-based firm. 3. Project duration was approximately 3.3 years. 4. Classified under 'Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction'. 5. Utilized a firm-fixed-price contract type. 6. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's total value of $20.8 million for levee construction over three years appears within a reasonable range for such infrastructure projects. However, without specific benchmarks for similar levee segment projects in Dona Ana County or comparable regions, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The firm-fixed-price structure suggests that cost overruns were intended to be borne by the contractor, which can be a positive indicator for cost control if managed effectively. Further analysis would require comparing the per-unit costs of work performed against industry standards or similar government contracts.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' indicating that while competition was sought, certain sources may have been excluded for specific reasons, potentially related to technical qualifications or prior performance. With 6 bidders, the competition level suggests a moderate level of market interest. This number of bidders is generally sufficient to promote some price discovery, but it is not as robust as a fully open competition with a larger pool of participants, which could potentially lead to more aggressive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The moderate competition level means taxpayers likely received a fair price, but there may have been opportunities for even greater savings had the competition been broader or less restricted.

Public Impact

Benefits residents and infrastructure in Mesilla, Dona Ana County, New Mexico, by improving flood control. Delivered heavy civil engineering construction services for levee segments. Geographic impact is localized to the Mesilla area in New Mexico. Likely supported construction workforce employment in the region.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if the firm-fixed-price contract did not adequately account for all project contingencies.
Risk associated with the 'exclusion of sources' in the competition, which might have limited the pool of qualified bidders and potentially impacted price.
Dependence on the contractor's ability to manage complex heavy civil engineering tasks effectively.

Positive Signals

Award to a single contractor (Briston Construction, LLC) suggests they met all technical and performance requirements.
Firm-fixed-price contract type incentivizes contractor efficiency and cost control.
The project was completed within the specified duration, indicating successful project management.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the heavy and civil engineering construction sector, specifically focusing on infrastructure related to water management and flood control. The market for such projects is often characterized by specialized firms capable of undertaking large-scale, complex engineering tasks. Government spending in this area is driven by the need to maintain and upgrade critical infrastructure, with contracts often awarded through competitive bidding processes. Benchmarks for similar levee construction projects would typically consider factors like linear footage, soil conditions, and required engineering specifications.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that this contract involved a small business set-aside, as the award went to Briston Construction, LLC, which is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data. The contract also does not appear to have specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses mentioned. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this specific award is likely minimal, unless Briston Construction engaged small businesses as subcontractors without it being a formal requirement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would have been managed by the U.S. Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC), a joint U.S.-Mexico agency responsible for water resource issues along the border. Accountability measures would include adherence to contract specifications, performance milestones, and quality control. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and public reporting, although specific day-to-day oversight details are not provided. The IBWC likely has internal audit and inspection protocols for such construction projects.

Related Government Programs

US Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Projects
Bureau of Reclamation Construction Contracts
Federal Highway Administration Infrastructure Projects
State Department Diplomatic Security Construction

Risk Flags

Competition level may have been suboptimal due to source exclusion.
Lack of detailed performance metrics makes full value assessment difficult.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $20.9 million to BRISTON CONSTRUCTION, LLC. RECOVERY - CONSTRUCTION MESILLA LEVEE SEGMENTS, PHASE II, MESILLA, DONA ANA COUNTY, NM TAS::19 1079 000::TAS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BRISTON CONSTRUCTION, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (International Boundary and Water Commission: U.S.-Mexico).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $20.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-09-03. End: 2013-12-17.

What was the specific reason for excluding certain sources in the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' process?

The provided data does not specify the exact reasons for excluding certain sources. This procurement method, 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' typically implies that a solicitation was issued broadly, but specific vendors were either disqualified based on pre-defined criteria (e.g., past performance, technical capabilities, security clearances) or were not considered eligible for reasons outlined in the solicitation documents. Agencies use this approach when they need to ensure a certain level of expertise or compliance that might not be met by all potential bidders. Without access to the solicitation and award documents, the precise rationale for exclusion remains unknown, but it is a mechanism to ensure the government contracts with capable and appropriate entities.

How does the $20.8 million contract value compare to similar levee construction projects managed by the IBWC or other federal agencies?

Comparing the $20.8 million contract value requires specific data on similar projects. Levee construction costs can vary significantly based on factors such as length, height, soil conditions, environmental mitigation requirements, and the complexity of the engineering involved. Projects managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers or the Bureau of Reclamation, for instance, can range from a few million to hundreds of millions of dollars. For a project involving specific 'segments' in Dona Ana County, NM, this value might be considered moderate to substantial, depending on the scope of work. A detailed comparison would necessitate analyzing the project's specifications (e.g., linear feet of levee, cubic yards of earth moved, specialized materials used) against a database of comparable federal construction contracts.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for Briston Construction, LLC, and how did they perform against them?

The provided data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) established for Briston Construction, LLC under this contract. However, typical KPIs for heavy civil engineering construction projects include adherence to schedule, quality of work (meeting specifications and standards), safety performance (incident rates), and budget management (especially relevant in firm-fixed-price contracts where cost control is the contractor's responsibility). The contract duration of 1201 days (approximately 3.3 years) suggests a significant project timeline. Successful completion within this timeframe, as implied by the contract's end date, indicates that the contractor likely met or exceeded baseline performance expectations related to project delivery.

What is the historical spending pattern for levee construction and related civil engineering projects by the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC)?

The provided data focuses on a single contract and does not offer insight into the IBWC's historical spending patterns for levee construction or related civil engineering projects. To assess historical spending, one would need to analyze contract awards over multiple fiscal years for the IBWC and potentially other agencies involved in border infrastructure and water management, such as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. This analysis would reveal trends in project types, average contract values, frequency of awards, and the distribution of spending across different geographic regions or specific infrastructure needs. Understanding these patterns is crucial for budgeting, resource allocation, and identifying potential shifts in priorities or funding levels for critical infrastructure.

Were there any significant cost overruns or change orders associated with this contract, given its firm-fixed-price nature?

The provided data does not indicate whether there were significant cost overruns or change orders associated with this contract. A firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract is designed to shift the risk of cost overruns to the contractor. While FFP contracts aim to provide cost certainty for the government, change orders can still occur due to unforeseen site conditions, scope adjustments requested by the government, or design modifications. If significant change orders were issued, they would typically be documented and could potentially increase the total contract value beyond the initial award amount. Without access to contract modification records, it's impossible to definitively state the extent of cost changes beyond the initial $20.8 million award.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Construction › Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction › Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, ALTER REAL PROPERTY › MAINT, ALTER, REPAIR NONBUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SEALED BID

Solicitation ID: IBM10B0005

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 637 S 48TH STSTE 201, TEMPE, AZ, 04

Business Categories: Category Business, Emerging Small Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,864,721

Exercised Options: $20,864,721

Current Obligation: $20,864,721

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline