Pueblo Pintado School Construction Contract Awarded for $30.7 Million to David Boland Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $30,733,126 ($30.7M)

Contractor: David Boland Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2007-09-21

End Date: 2011-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,287 days

Daily Burn Rate: $23.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: K NO. CMK66070001, CONSTRUCTION OF PUEBLO PINTADO COMMUNITY SCHOOL (BASE WITH TWO ALTERNATIVE BIDS) WITH PERFORMANCE PERIOD OF 480 CALENDAR DAYS.

Place of Performance

Location: CUBA, SANDOVAL County, NEW MEXICO, 87013

State: New Mexico Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $30.7 million to DAVID BOLAND INC for work described as: K NO. CMK66070001, CONSTRUCTION OF PUEBLO PINTADO COMMUNITY SCHOOL (BASE WITH TWO ALTERNATIVE BIDS) WITH PERFORMANCE PERIOD OF 480 CALENDAR DAYS. Key points: 1. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The project involved the construction of a community school, indicating investment in educational infrastructure. 3. The performance period was 480 calendar days, with an actual duration extending significantly longer. 4. The contract type was Firm Fixed Price, which typically shifts cost risk to the contractor. 5. The base contract value was approximately $30.7 million, with two alternative bids included. 6. The project is located in New Mexico, potentially impacting local employment and economic activity.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $30.7 million for a school construction project needs to be benchmarked against similar projects in New Mexico and nationally. Without specific cost breakdowns for materials, labor, and overhead, a precise value-for-money assessment is difficult. The extended duration beyond the initial performance period might indicate unforeseen costs or delays, which could impact the overall value. However, the firm fixed-price nature of the contract suggests an attempt to control costs upfront.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The number of bidders is not specified, but this method generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more competitive pricing. The agency's choice of this procurement method suggests confidence in the market's ability to provide qualified contractors at reasonable prices.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from full and open competition as it typically drives down costs through market forces, ensuring federal funds are used more efficiently.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the students and staff of the Pueblo Pintado community, who will gain access to a new school facility. The project delivers essential educational infrastructure, supporting learning and community development. The geographic impact is concentrated in New Mexico, specifically within the Pueblo Pintado community. The construction phase likely created temporary employment opportunities for skilled and unskilled labor in the region.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Extended performance period beyond initial 480 days suggests potential for cost overruns or project management challenges.
Lack of detailed cost breakdown makes it difficult to assess the reasonableness of the final price.
The specific nature of 'alternative bids' and their impact on the final cost is not detailed.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type helps to cap costs and transfer risk to the contractor.
Investment in educational infrastructure addresses a critical community need.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector. The market for educational facility construction is significant, driven by federal, state, and local government investments. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing the cost per square foot or per student capacity for similar school construction projects across the United States, particularly those funded by federal agencies like the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. This suggests that the primary contract was awarded to a larger entity, and the direct impact on the small business ecosystem may be limited unless the prime contractor actively engages small businesses for subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education, potentially with involvement from the Department of the Interior's Inspector General. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract, which penalizes contractor cost overruns. Transparency would be enhanced through public contract databases and agency reporting, though specific oversight reports are not detailed here.

Related Government Programs

Bureau of Indian Affairs School Construction Program
Bureau of Indian Education Facilities Management
Federal Capital Construction Projects
Department of the Interior Construction Contracts

Risk Flags

Extended performance period beyond initial estimate.
Lack of detailed cost breakdown for value assessment.
Unspecified number of bidders in full and open competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $30.7 million to DAVID BOLAND INC. K NO. CMK66070001, CONSTRUCTION OF PUEBLO PINTADO COMMUNITY SCHOOL (BASE WITH TWO ALTERNATIVE BIDS) WITH PERFORMANCE PERIOD OF 480 CALENDAR DAYS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DAVID BOLAND INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $30.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-09-21. End: 2011-03-31.

What was the final cost of the contract, considering the base award and alternative bids?

The initial award amount for the construction of the Pueblo Pintado Community School was $30,733,126. This figure represents the base contract value. The data indicates that there were two alternative bids considered as part of this procurement. However, the specific amounts associated with these alternative bids and whether they were exercised, thus increasing the final contract value beyond the base amount, are not detailed in the provided summary. Therefore, the final total expenditure could be higher than the stated base award, depending on the selection and execution of these alternatives.

How did the actual completion date compare to the planned performance period?

The planned performance period for the construction of the Pueblo Pintado Community School was 480 calendar days. The contract's effective start date was September 21, 2007, and the estimated completion date was March 31, 2011. This indicates an actual contract duration of approximately 1287 days (from award to estimated completion), significantly exceeding the initial 480-day performance period. This substantial extension suggests potential delays due to unforeseen circumstances, scope changes, or project management issues, which could have implications for cost and overall project success.

What is the typical cost per square foot for similar institutional building construction projects funded by the federal government?

Benchmarking the cost per square foot for federal institutional building construction is complex due to variations in project scope, materials, labor costs, and geographic location. However, general industry data suggests that costs for new commercial and institutional buildings can range widely, often from $200 to $500 per square foot or more. For federal projects, especially those in remote areas or with specific requirements like those for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, costs might lean towards the higher end. Without the square footage of the Pueblo Pintado school, a direct comparison is impossible, but the $30.7 million award suggests a substantial facility.

What were the primary reasons for the significant extension of the contract's performance period?

The provided data indicates the contract had a performance period of 480 calendar days but an estimated completion date extending to March 31, 2011, from a September 21, 2007 award. This suggests a duration of over 1200 days, far exceeding the initial period. While the specific reasons for this extension are not detailed, common causes for such significant delays in construction projects include unforeseen site conditions, weather impacts, design modifications, contractor performance issues, supply chain disruptions, or changes in project scope requested by the government. Further investigation into contract modifications and official documentation would be needed to pinpoint the exact causes.

How does the firm fixed-price contract type influence risk allocation in this project?

A Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract, like the one awarded for the Pueblo Pintado Community School, places the primary responsibility for cost overruns on the contractor. The contractor agrees to perform the work for a predetermined price, regardless of their actual costs. This shifts significant financial risk to David Boland Inc. If the project costs more than anticipated, the contractor absorbs the loss. Conversely, if costs are lower, the contractor benefits from increased profit. This contract type is generally favored by the government when the scope of work is well-defined and risks can be reasonably estimated, aiming to provide cost certainty for the agency.

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: SEALED BID

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 509 S PALM AVE, TITUSVILLE, FL, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, HUBZone Firm, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $30,733,126

Exercised Options: $30,733,126

Current Obligation: $30,733,126

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Timeline