National Park Service awards $16.7M for Flight 93 Memorial construction, completed on time and within budget

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,691,193 ($16.7M)

Contractor: Arrow Kinsley Joint Venture

Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior

Start Date: 2009-11-06

End Date: 2011-09-30

Contract Duration: 693 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 17

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: FLIGHT 93 NATIONAL MEMORIAL PHASE 1A

Place of Performance

Location: SOMERSET, SOMERSET County, PENNSYLVANIA, 15501

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of the Interior obligated $16.7 million to ARROW KINSLEY JOINT VENTURE for work described as: FLIGHT 93 NATIONAL MEMORIAL PHASE 1A Key points: 1. Project delivered on schedule and within allocated funds, indicating effective project management. 2. The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Fixed-price contract type likely mitigated cost overrun risks for the government. 4. Construction services for a significant national memorial demonstrate a focus on public heritage. 5. The project's completion signifies a successful investment in preserving national history. 6. The contractor, Arrow Kinsley Joint Venture, successfully executed the construction phase.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $16.7 million for the Flight 93 National Memorial Phase 1A appears reasonable for a large-scale construction project of this nature. While direct comparisons are difficult without specific project scope details, the project's completion within the original timeframe and budget suggests good value for money. The firm fixed-price contract structure also helps in controlling costs and ensuring predictable expenditure for the government.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 17 bids suggests a robust level of competition for this project. A higher number of bidders generally leads to more competitive pricing and a greater likelihood of the government securing the best possible value.

Taxpayer Impact: The extensive competition for this contract likely resulted in taxpayer savings by driving down the final award price. It also ensures that the National Park Service received proposals from a wide range of qualified contractors.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the American public, who gain access to a completed national memorial honoring the victims of Flight 93. Services delivered include the construction of Phase 1A of the Flight 93 National Memorial. The geographic impact is localized to Stonycreek Township, Pennsylvania, but the memorial has national significance. The project supported jobs in the construction sector within Pennsylvania.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope creep occurred, though mitigated by fixed-price contract.
Ensuring quality of construction meets the solemn requirements of a national memorial.

Positive Signals

Project completed within the scheduled duration, indicating efficient execution.
Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a fair and competitive process.
Firm fixed-price contract type minimizes financial risk for the government.
Successful completion of a significant national monument project.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector. The construction of national memorials is a specialized niche within this sector, often involving significant public investment and requiring adherence to strict historical and aesthetic standards. Benchmarking for such projects is challenging due to their unique nature, but the scale of this award is substantial for a single-phase construction effort.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was awarded through full and open competition and does not specify any small business set-aside. There is no direct information on subcontracting plans for small businesses. Without specific set-aside provisions or reporting on subcontracting, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is not detailed in this data.

Oversight & Accountability

The National Park Service, as part of the Department of the Interior, is responsible for the oversight of this contract. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of financial oversight. Transparency is generally maintained through public contract awards, and the Inspector General for the Department of the Interior would have jurisdiction over any potential fraud or mismanagement.

Related Government Programs

National Park Service Construction Projects
Department of the Interior Capital Investments
Memorial and Monument Construction

Risk Flags

Potential for quality compromises in fixed-price contracts if not rigorously overseen.
Need for detailed scope definition to prevent contractor disputes in fixed-price agreements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of the Interior awarded $16.7 million to ARROW KINSLEY JOINT VENTURE. FLIGHT 93 NATIONAL MEMORIAL PHASE 1A

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ARROW KINSLEY JOINT VENTURE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (National Park Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $16.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-11-06. End: 2011-09-30.

What was the specific scope of work for Phase 1A of the Flight 93 National Memorial?

Phase 1A of the Flight 93 National Memorial primarily involved the initial construction and site preparation necessary for the memorial's development. While specific details are not provided in the abbreviated data, typical components of such a phase could include site grading, foundational work, basic infrastructure installation (like utilities), and potentially the initial construction of key architectural elements or pathways. The contract value of $16.7 million suggests a substantial undertaking, likely encompassing significant earthwork, material procurement, and labor for the early stages of bringing the memorial design to fruition.

How does the number of bids (17) compare to similar large-scale construction contracts awarded by the National Park Service?

Receiving 17 bids for a contract valued at $16.7 million is generally considered a healthy level of competition, especially for specialized construction projects like national memorials. For large-scale federal construction contracts, the number of bids can vary significantly based on project complexity, geographic location, and market conditions. However, a range of 5 to 15 bids is often seen as competitive. The 17 bids received here suggest strong interest from the construction industry, which is positive for ensuring competitive pricing and a wide selection of qualified contractors for the National Park Service.

What are the potential risks associated with a firm fixed-price contract for a project of this nature?

While firm fixed-price (FFP) contracts are favored for their cost certainty, they can introduce risks for the contractor if the project scope is not well-defined or if unforeseen issues arise during construction. For the government, the primary risk with FFP is that the contractor may cut corners on quality to maintain profitability if they underestimated costs. However, for a project like a national memorial, stringent quality control and oversight by the National Park Service would be expected to mitigate this. The contractor bears the risk of cost overruns, which can incentivize efficient project management but could also lead to contractor disputes if significant unexpected challenges emerge.

What was the historical spending pattern for the Flight 93 National Memorial project prior to and after this contract?

The provided data focuses solely on the 'Flight 93 National Memorial Phase 1A' contract awarded in 2009 for approximately $16.7 million. It does not offer insight into historical spending patterns before or after this specific contract. To understand the broader spending context, one would need to examine other contracts related to the memorial's development, including design, subsequent construction phases, landscaping, and ongoing maintenance. Analyzing total project costs over its lifecycle would reveal the complete historical spending trajectory.

Were there any performance issues or disputes reported during the execution of this contract?

The provided data indicates that the contract was completed within its scheduled duration (693 days) and awarded in 2009 with an end date of 2011. There is no mention of performance issues, disputes, or contract modifications within this summary data. The successful and timely completion, coupled with the absence of negative indicators, suggests that the contractor, Arrow Kinsley Joint Venture, likely met the performance requirements satisfactorily. Further investigation into contract performance reports or official records would be needed for a definitive assessment.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Construction › Nonresidential Building Construction › Commercial and Institutional Building Construction

Product/Service Code: CONSTRUCT OF STRUCTURES/FACILITIES › CONSTRUCT NONBUILDING FACILITIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 1443N2011091598

Offers Received: 17

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2700 WATER ST, YORK, PA, 10

Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Emerging Small Business, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $16,691,193

Exercised Options: $16,691,193

Current Obligation: $16,691,193

Timeline