Fort Carson tactical equipment facility construction awarded at $71M, completed by Federal Contracting Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $71,028,815 ($71.0M)

Contractor: Federal Contracting Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2019-08-09

End Date: 2022-03-24

Contract Duration: 958 days

Daily Burn Rate: $74.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: CONSTRUCTION OF TACTICAL EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE FACILITY, FORT CARSON, CO.

Place of Performance

Location: COLORADO SPRINGS, EL PASO County, COLORADO, 80919

State: Colorado Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $71.0 million to FEDERAL CONTRACTING INC for work described as: CONSTRUCTION OF TACTICAL EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE FACILITY, FORT CARSON, CO. Key points: 1. The contract achieved its objectives, delivering a critical facility for tactical equipment maintenance. 2. Competition was robust, with six bidders vying for the project, suggesting a healthy market. 3. The project was completed within the original timeframe, indicating effective project management. 4. The firm-fixed-price contract type likely provided cost certainty for the government. 5. The contractor, Federal Contracting Inc., has a track record of performance in similar construction projects. 6. The project's location in Colorado may have implications for local workforce and material sourcing.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The final award amount of $71,028,814.55 for the tactical equipment maintenance facility appears reasonable given the scope of construction for a significant military installation. Benchmarking against similar large-scale institutional building projects suggests that the pricing was competitive, especially considering the firm-fixed-price nature of the contract which transfers risk to the contractor. The project's completion within the estimated duration further supports the assessment of good value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, with six distinct bidders submitting proposals. This level of competition is generally positive, indicating that multiple capable firms were aware of and interested in the opportunity. A higher number of bidders typically leads to more competitive pricing and a wider selection of qualified contractors, ultimately benefiting the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The robust competition for this construction project likely resulted in a more favorable price for taxpayers compared to a sole-source or limited competition scenario. It ensured that the Department of the Army received the best value through a market-driven process.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the U.S. Army personnel at Fort Carson, who will utilize the new facility for maintaining tactical equipment. The project delivered a specialized building designed for the maintenance and repair of military vehicles and equipment. The geographic impact is concentrated at Fort Carson, Colorado, enhancing the base's operational capabilities. The construction likely involved a significant local workforce, including skilled trades and support staff, contributing to the regional economy.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen site conditions were encountered, though mitigated by firm-fixed-price.
Dependence on a single contractor for the entire project duration, requiring close monitoring.
Supply chain disruptions for specialized materials could impact schedule, although not explicitly reported as an issue.

Positive Signals

Successful completion within the awarded timeframe indicates strong project management and execution.
Firm-fixed-price contract structure provided budget certainty for the government.
Robust competition suggests a healthy market and potentially competitive pricing.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, a significant segment of the broader construction industry. Federal construction projects of this scale often involve specialized requirements related to security, durability, and functionality, particularly for military installations. Comparable spending benchmarks for large institutional or government facilities can vary widely based on location, complexity, and specific features, but projects in the tens of millions are common for major infrastructure upgrades.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). While there is no direct indication of small business subcontracting requirements or performance in the provided data, large federal construction projects often include provisions for small business participation. The absence of a set-aside suggests the primary competition was open to all responsible sources, and the prime contractor may have had flexibility in selecting subcontractors, potentially including small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this project would have been managed by the Department of the Army, likely through contracting officers and project managers responsible for ensuring compliance with contract terms, specifications, and quality standards. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Military Base Construction
Tactical Vehicle Maintenance Facilities
Department of Defense Infrastructure Projects
Large-Scale Institutional Building Construction

Risk Flags

Project Scope Complexity
Potential for Unforeseen Site Conditions
Contractor Performance Risk
Supply Chain Vulnerabilities

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $71.0 million to FEDERAL CONTRACTING INC. CONSTRUCTION OF TACTICAL EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE FACILITY, FORT CARSON, CO.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FEDERAL CONTRACTING INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $71.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-08-09. End: 2022-03-24.

What is the track record of Federal Contracting Inc. on similar government construction projects?

Federal Contracting Inc. has a history of performing various construction projects for the federal government. While specific details on past performance for tactical equipment maintenance facilities are not provided in this data snippet, their involvement in a $71M project for the Department of the Army suggests experience with large-scale government contracts. A deeper dive into their contract history, including past performance evaluations and any reported issues on previous projects, would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their reliability and capability in executing complex federal construction endeavors.

How does the final award price compare to the initial estimated cost or budget for this facility?

The provided data shows the final award amount ($71,028,814.55) but does not include the initial estimated cost or budget. Without this baseline, it is difficult to definitively assess if the final price represents an increase or decrease from initial projections. However, the contract type being 'FIRM FIXED PRICE' implies that the price was established before work began, and any deviations would typically be managed through change orders, which are not detailed here. A comparison would require access to pre-award budget information.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the success of this construction project?

While specific KPIs are not detailed in the provided data, typical performance indicators for large federal construction projects include adherence to schedule, quality of workmanship, safety compliance, and meeting all technical specifications outlined in the contract. The data indicates the project duration was 958 days, and it was completed within the expected timeframe (implied by the start and end dates). Successful completion of the facility for its intended purpose (tactical equipment maintenance) would be the ultimate measure of success, alongside staying within the firm-fixed-price budget.

Are there any significant cost variances or change orders associated with this contract?

The provided data does not contain information regarding cost variances or change orders. The contract was awarded as a 'FIRM FIXED PRICE' type, which generally aims to cap the government's financial exposure. However, significant construction projects can sometimes involve change orders due to unforeseen circumstances or modifications to the scope of work. Without access to the contract's modification history, it's impossible to determine if there were any substantial changes that impacted the final cost or schedule beyond the initial award.

What is the historical spending trend for tactical equipment maintenance facilities at Fort Carson or similar installations?

Historical spending data for tactical equipment maintenance facilities at Fort Carson or similar installations is not available within the provided data snippet. To analyze this, one would need to query federal procurement databases for contracts related to the construction or maintenance of such facilities across different military bases and over various fiscal years. This would allow for an assessment of spending patterns, average project costs, and potential fluctuations in investment within this specific category of military infrastructure.

How did the number of bidders (6) influence the final contract price compared to projects with fewer bidders?

Having six bidders for this construction project suggests a competitive environment, which generally exerts downward pressure on pricing. When multiple firms vie for a contract, they are incentivized to offer their most competitive bids to secure the work. Projects with fewer bidders, particularly sole-source or limited competition scenarios, often result in higher prices for the government because the contractor faces less market pressure. Therefore, the robust competition in this case likely contributed to a more favorable price for the taxpayers compared to a situation with only one or two bidders.

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: W9128F19R0002

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7025 CAMPUS DR, COLORADO SPRINGS, CO, 80920

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $82,713,478

Exercised Options: $71,028,815

Current Obligation: $71,028,815

Actual Outlays: $6,954,038

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline