State Dept. Awards $58M for San Diego Wastewater Plant Upgrade to Arcadis U.S., Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $58,087,216 ($58.1M)

Contractor: Arcadis U.S., Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2024-09-11

End Date: 2032-03-09

Contract Duration: 2,736 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: ---------- COMMENTS: PROJECT FOR SBIWTP (191BWC24R0001) IN SAN DIEGO, CA INCLUDES THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TO REHABILITATE AND EXPAND THE SBIWTP TO 50 MGD INCLUDING REHABILITATION TO ALLEVIATE THE DISCHARGE OF WASTEWATER INTO THE SOUTH BAY (PACIFI

Place of Performance

Location: SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO County, CALIFORNIA, 92154

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $58.1 million to ARCADIS U.S., INC. for work described as: ---------- COMMENTS: PROJECT FOR SBIWTP (191BWC24R0001) IN SAN DIEGO, CA INCLUDES THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TO REHABILITATE AND EXPAND THE SBIWTP TO 50 MGD INCLUDING REHABILITATION TO ALLEVIATE THE DISCHARGE OF WASTEWATER INTO THE SOUTH BAY (PACIFI Key points: 1. Significant investment in critical infrastructure for wastewater treatment capacity expansion. 2. Full and open competition suggests a potentially competitive bidding process. 3. Long project duration (2736 days) may present schedule and cost overrun risks. 4. Firm Fixed Price contract aims to control costs, but scope changes could impact budget.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $58,087,216 for engineering services appears substantial, but without specific benchmarks for similar large-scale wastewater treatment plant rehabilitation and expansion projects, a precise value assessment is difficult. The firm fixed price structure provides cost certainty.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to compete. This method generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being utilized for a critical public infrastructure project aimed at improving wastewater management and environmental protection in the San Diego region.

Public Impact

Improved wastewater treatment capacity to 50 MGD. Alleviation of wastewater discharge into the South Bay, benefiting the local environment. Long-term infrastructure development supporting regional growth and public health. Potential for job creation during the design and construction phases.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Long project duration (2736 days) increases risk of cost escalation and scope creep.
  • Potential for unforeseen site conditions in a rehabilitation project.
  • Dependence on a single contractor for a multi-year, complex project.

Positive Signals

  • Addresses critical environmental need for wastewater treatment.
  • Firm Fixed Price contract offers cost control.
  • Full and open competition promotes market fairness.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, specifically related to large-scale civil infrastructure and environmental projects. Benchmarks for similar wastewater treatment plant upgrades vary widely based on project scope, location, and complexity.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this contract award. Further investigation would be needed to determine if small businesses are involved as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of State, through the International Boundary and Water Commission, is overseeing this project. Standard oversight mechanisms for large federal contracts, including progress reporting and quality assurance, are expected to be in place.

Related Government Programs

  • Engineering Services
  • Department of State Contracting
  • International Boundary and Water Commission: U.S.-Mexico Programs

Risk Flags

  • Long project duration (over 7 years).
  • Complexity of rehabilitating and expanding an existing facility.
  • Potential for unforeseen environmental or geological site conditions.
  • Reliance on a single contractor for a multi-year effort.
  • Scope creep risk despite fixed-price contract.

Tags

engineering-services, department-of-state, ca, delivery-order, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $58.1 million to ARCADIS U.S., INC.. ---------- COMMENTS: PROJECT FOR SBIWTP (191BWC24R0001) IN SAN DIEGO, CA INCLUDES THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION TO REHABILITATE AND EXPAND THE SBIWTP TO 50 MGD INCLUDING REHABILITATION TO ALLEVIATE THE DISCHARGE OF WASTEWATER INTO THE SOUTH BAY (PACIFI

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ARCADIS U.S., INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (International Boundary and Water Commission: U.S.-Mexico).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $58.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2024-09-11. End: 2032-03-09.

What is the estimated cost per MGD of treatment capacity increase?

The total contract value is $58,087,216 for an expansion to 50 MGD. This equates to approximately $1.16 million per MGD of new capacity. However, this figure includes rehabilitation of existing facilities and is not solely for new capacity, making direct comparison difficult without a detailed cost breakdown.

What are the primary risks associated with the long project duration?

The 2736-day duration (over 7 years) presents significant risks including potential for inflation impacting material and labor costs, technological obsolescence, changes in regulatory requirements, and contractor performance degradation over an extended period. Unforeseen site conditions during rehabilitation can also cause delays and cost overruns.

How effectively will the firm fixed price contract manage potential cost overruns given the project's complexity?

A firm fixed price contract is designed to shift cost overrun risk to the contractor. However, for complex, long-duration projects like this, significant cost overruns can still occur if the initial scope is poorly defined or if substantial change orders are issued due to unforeseen circumstances or evolving requirements.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesArchitectural, Engineering, and Related ServicesEngineering Services

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICESARCH-ENG SVCS - CONSTRUCTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: 191BWC23R0002

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 630 PLAZA DR, HIGHLANDS RANCH, CO, 80129

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $58,087,216

Exercised Options: $58,087,216

Current Obligation: $58,087,216

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $1,743,364

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 191BWC24D0003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2024-09-11

Current End Date: 2032-03-09

Potential End Date: 2032-03-09 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2025-09-18

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