DoD's $68M Centrum Seed Project awarded to Whiting-Turner Contracting Company for construction services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $68,149,459 ($68.1M)

Contractor: Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, the

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2012-09-24

End Date: 2016-01-15

Contract Duration: 1,208 days

Daily Burn Rate: $56.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: SEED PROJECT: CENTRUM

Place of Performance

Location: BETHESDA, MONTGOMERY County, MARYLAND, 20816

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $68.1 million to WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE for work described as: SEED PROJECT: CENTRUM Key points: 1. The contract was awarded using full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The firm-fixed-price contract type indicates that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns. 3. The project duration of 1208 days spans over three years, indicating a significant construction undertaking. 4. The contract was awarded by the Department of the Army, a major component of the Department of Defense. 5. The project is located in Maryland, providing potential economic benefits to the state's workforce and businesses. 6. The absence of small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements warrants further investigation into small business participation.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this construction contract is challenging without specific project scope details and comparable project data. However, the total award amount of approximately $68 million for a multi-year construction project suggests a substantial investment. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract shifts cost risk to the contractor, which can be a positive indicator for the government if managed effectively. Further analysis would require comparing the cost per square foot or per unit of construction against similar projects in the Maryland region and for the Department of Defense.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. This method is generally preferred as it maximizes the pool of potential offerors and is expected to yield the best value for the government. The number of bidders is not specified in the provided data, which is a crucial factor in assessing the true level of competition. A high number of bids typically leads to more competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can drive down costs and improve the quality of services or goods received.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Defense and potentially military personnel or operations that will utilize the completed construction. The project delivers commercial and institutional building construction services. The geographic impact is concentrated in Maryland, potentially creating local jobs and stimulating the regional economy. The construction activities will likely involve a significant workforce, including skilled trades and project management personnel.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of transparency regarding the number of bidders in the full and open competition.
Unclear if small businesses were adequately included in subcontracting opportunities.
No specific performance metrics or quality assurance details provided in the summary data.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract type transfers cost overrun risk to the contractor.
Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a broad search for qualified contractors.
Project duration indicates a significant and potentially impactful construction undertaking.

Sector Analysis

The construction sector is a significant part of federal spending, encompassing a wide range of projects from infrastructure to facility development. This contract falls under Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, a category that includes the building of non-residential structures. Federal spending in this area is often driven by the need to maintain, upgrade, or expand government facilities. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing the total federal outlays for similar construction projects awarded by the Department of Defense and other agencies over similar timeframes.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false) and does not explicitly mention subcontracting requirements (sb: false). This suggests that small businesses may not have been a primary focus for this specific award. Further investigation would be needed to determine if any subcontracting opportunities were made available to small businesses by the prime contractor, Whiting-Turner Contracting Company. The impact on the small business ecosystem could be limited if they were not involved.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the relevant program management office within the Department of the Army. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract type, which holds the contractor responsible for delivering the project within the agreed-upon price. Transparency could be enhanced by making detailed contract performance reports and inspection records publicly available. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense Construction Projects
Army Corps of Engineers Construction Contracts
Federal Building and Facility Construction
Commercial Building Construction Contracts
Institutional Building Construction Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential lack of small business participation.
Limited transparency on the number of bidders.
Absence of detailed performance metrics in summary data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $68.1 million to WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE. SEED PROJECT: CENTRUM

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $68.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-09-24. End: 2016-01-15.

What was the specific scope of work for the Centrum Seed Project?

The provided data identifies the contract as 'SEED PROJECT: CENTRUM' and categorizes it under 'Commercial and Institutional Building Construction.' However, the specific scope of work, such as the type of building, its intended use, square footage, or specific construction requirements (e.g., laboratories, offices, barracks), is not detailed in the summary information. To understand the full scope, one would need to access the contract's statement of work (SOW) or related project documentation. This information is crucial for a comprehensive value assessment and for understanding the project's impact.

How many bids were received for this contract, and what was the range of proposed prices?

The data indicates the contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition,' which implies a broad solicitation process. However, the specific number of bids received is not provided. This information is critical for assessing the competitiveness of the bidding environment. A higher number of bids generally suggests greater competition, which can lead to more favorable pricing for the government. Without knowing the number of bidders and their respective price proposals, it is difficult to definitively determine if the awarded price represents the best possible value achieved through competition.

What is Whiting-Turner Contracting Company's track record with similar federal construction projects?

Whiting-Turner Contracting Company is a large, established construction firm with a significant history of undertaking complex projects. While the provided data does not detail their specific track record with the Department of Defense or similar federal construction projects, their ability to win a $68 million contract suggests they possess the necessary experience, financial capacity, and technical expertise. A deeper dive into their past performance on federal contracts, including client satisfaction, on-time completion rates, and adherence to budget, would provide a more robust assessment of their reliability for this project.

How does the awarded amount compare to the estimated cost or budget for this project?

The provided data shows the total award amount ('a') as $68,149,459.15. However, there is no information regarding the government's initial cost estimate or budget allocated for the Centrum Seed Project. Without this comparative data, it's impossible to assess whether the contract was awarded at, above, or below the anticipated cost. Understanding the relationship between the awarded price and the estimated budget is a key indicator of effective price negotiation and fiscal management.

Are there any specific performance metrics or quality assurance plans associated with this contract?

The summary data does not include details about specific performance metrics, key performance indicators (KPIs), or quality assurance plans for this construction contract. For large federal projects, such plans are typically integral to ensuring the work meets required standards and is completed satisfactorily. The effectiveness of oversight and the ultimate success of the project often hinge on the robustness of these quality control and performance monitoring mechanisms. Accessing the full contract documentation would be necessary to review these aspects.

What is the historical spending pattern for similar construction projects by the Department of the Army in Maryland?

Analyzing historical spending patterns for similar construction projects by the Department of the Army in Maryland would require access to extensive federal procurement databases (e.g., FPDS, SAM.gov). This contract, valued at approximately $68 million over a multi-year period, represents a significant investment. Understanding the average cost, duration, and types of construction projects previously awarded by the Army in this geographic region would provide context for evaluating the current contract's scale and potential value. Such analysis could reveal trends in pricing, contractor performance, and the overall federal construction market in Maryland.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: TWO STEP

Solicitation ID: W912DR12R0012

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 300 E JOPPA RD, BALTIMORE, MD, 21286

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $68,149,459

Exercised Options: $68,149,459

Current Obligation: $68,149,459

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W912DR12D0021

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline