DoD's $37.3M energy efficiency contract awarded to Whiting-Turner, completed in 2017

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $37,327,983 ($37.3M)

Contractor: Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, the

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2013-09-05

End Date: 2017-01-15

Contract Duration: 1,228 days

Daily Burn Rate: $30.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS AT HADNOT POINT AND FRENCH CREEK

Place of Performance

Location: CAMP LEJEUNE, ONSLOW County, NORTH CAROLINA, 28547

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $37.3 million to WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS AT HADNOT POINT AND FRENCH CREEK Key points: 1. The contract focused on energy efficiency improvements, aligning with federal sustainability goals. 2. Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The fixed-price contract type likely transferred risk to the contractor. 4. Performance occurred over a significant duration, indicating a complex project. 5. The project was located in North Carolina, impacting regional construction and energy sectors.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific cost breakdowns for energy efficiency measures. The total award amount of $37.3 million over approximately four years suggests a substantial investment in facility upgrades. However, without comparable projects or detailed performance metrics on energy savings achieved, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. The fixed-price nature of the contract implies that the contractor bore the risk of cost overruns, which can sometimes lead to higher initial bids.

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 bids. The presence of 4 bids suggests a reasonable level of competition for this project. This competitive environment is generally expected to drive prices towards market rates and encourage efficient project execution by the winning contractor.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by selecting the most cost-effective solution for the government.

Public Impact

The Department of the Navy benefits from improved energy efficiency at its facilities. The project delivered construction services and infrastructure upgrades. The geographic impact is concentrated in North Carolina. The construction workforce in the region likely experienced employment opportunities.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if initial estimates were inaccurate, though mitigated by fixed-price.
Ensuring actual energy savings meet or exceed projections requires ongoing monitoring.
Coordination challenges between multiple construction phases and facility operations.

Positive Signals

Fixed-price contract structure shifts cost risk to the contractor.
Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust selection process.
Focus on energy efficiency aligns with long-term sustainability objectives.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, a significant segment of the broader construction industry. Federal spending in this area often supports infrastructure modernization and sustainability initiatives. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve other large-scale federal construction projects focused on facility upgrades or energy retrofits, which can range from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars depending on scope and complexity.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses, and there is no explicit mention of subcontracting goals for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely limited unless the prime contractor voluntarily engaged small businesses for specialized services.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would have been managed by the Department of the Navy, likely through contracting officers and project managers. Accountability measures would include adherence to contract terms, performance standards, and delivery schedules. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed project performance reports may not always be publicly accessible.

Related Government Programs

Federal Energy Management Program
Department of Defense Facilities Modernization
Naval Facilities Engineering Command Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns
Uncertainty of realized energy savings
Complexity of large-scale construction projects

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $37.3 million to WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE. IGF::OT::IGF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS AT HADNOT POINT AND FRENCH CREEK

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 Navy).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $37.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2013-09-05. End: 2017-01-15.

What specific energy efficiency measures were implemented under this contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific energy efficiency measures undertaken. However, typical projects of this nature often include upgrades to HVAC systems, lighting retrofits (e.g., LED conversions), building envelope improvements (insulation, windows), and installation of renewable energy sources or energy monitoring systems. The scope would depend on the specific needs and existing infrastructure of the Hadnot Point and French Creek facilities.

How did the final cost compare to the initial estimated cost for this project?

The data shows a total award amount of $37,327,983. Since this was a firm fixed-price contract, the award amount represents the ceiling price. Without access to the initial bid estimates or any change orders, it's impossible to determine if the final cost deviated from the initial projections. Fixed-price contracts aim to provide cost certainty, but the contractor assumes the risk of cost overruns.

What was the track record of Whiting-Turner Contracting Company with similar federal energy efficiency projects prior to this award?

Whiting-Turner Contracting Company has a significant history of performing large-scale construction projects for various federal agencies, including the Department of Defense. While specific details on their prior energy efficiency project portfolio are not in the provided data, their extensive experience in federal contracting suggests they possess the capabilities for such work. A deeper dive into their contract history would reveal the extent of their specialization in energy efficiency.

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

The provided summary data does not contain information regarding performance issues, disputes, or contract modifications. Typically, such details would be found in contract performance reports, inspection records, or legal filings, which are not included here. The completion of the contract within its defined period (September 2013 to January 2017) suggests that it was likely completed successfully, though minor issues are common in projects of this scale.

What is the estimated return on investment or energy savings realized from this $37.3 million expenditure?

The provided data does not include information on the realized energy savings or return on investment (ROI) for this contract. Assessing ROI would require post-completion energy consumption data compared to pre-project baselines, along with the cost of the project. Federal energy efficiency projects often have long-term payback periods, and the specific savings depend heavily on the implemented technologies and usage patterns at the facilities.

How does the per-square-foot cost of this project compare to similar energy efficiency upgrades in institutional buildings?

Calculating a meaningful per-square-foot cost requires detailed information on the total square footage of the facilities upgraded and the specific scope of work. Without this, a direct comparison is not feasible. However, large-scale energy efficiency retrofits in institutional buildings can vary widely, often ranging from $10 to $50+ per square foot, depending on the complexity of the upgrades and the age/type of the building.

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: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: N4008510R5306

Offers Received: 4

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: $37,327,983

Exercised Options: $37,327,983

Current Obligation: $37,327,983

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: N4008510D5330

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline