State Department awards $6.67M construction contract to Tidewater, Inc. for building upgrades

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,666,652 ($6.7M)

Contractor: Tidewater, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2023-11-01

End Date: 2026-05-01

Contract Duration: 912 days

Daily Burn Rate: $7.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: ---------- COMMENTS: APPROVAL FLOW EDIT: POLLY ELIZABETH FASSNACHT ADDED BY JILL MICHAELIS ON WED SEP 27 09:24:24 EDT 2023 REASON ADDED: SELECTED APPROVER CONTRACTING OFFICER: ALLA WEINSTEIN PROJECT MANAGER: KAMILA POLLOCK RFCA LINK: HTTPS://USD

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $6.7 million to TIDEWATER, INC. for work described as: ---------- COMMENTS: APPROVAL FLOW EDIT: POLLY ELIZABETH FASSNACHT ADDED BY JILL MICHAELIS ON WED SEP 27 09:24:24 EDT 2023 REASON ADDED: SELECTED APPROVER CONTRACTING OFFICER: ALLA WEINSTEIN PROJECT MANAGER: KAMILA POLLOCK RFCA LINK: HTTPS://USD Key points: 1. The contract value of $6.67 million appears reasonable for a multi-year construction project of this nature. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process that should drive value. 3. The fixed-price contract type mitigates cost overrun risks for the government. 4. The project duration of 912 days indicates a significant scope of work. 5. The contractor, Tidewater, Inc., has a track record with federal contracts, though specific performance on this project is yet to be determined. 6. The project falls under commercial and institutional building construction, a common sector for federal spending.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $6.67 million for a project spanning over two years (November 2023 to May 2026) seems within a reasonable range for commercial and institutional building construction. Without specific details on the scope of work (e.g., square footage, type of upgrades), a direct comparison is challenging. However, the firm fixed-price nature of the contract is a positive indicator for cost control. Benchmarking against similar government construction projects would provide a more precise value assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources,' indicating that the agency sought bids from all responsible sources after initially excluding some. While the exact number of bidders is not provided, the 'full and open' designation suggests a competitive process. This approach is generally expected to yield fair market prices and a wider range of potential solutions.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it promotes a level playing field, encourages competitive pricing, and increases the likelihood of selecting the most cost-effective and technically sound offer.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely the Department of State personnel who will utilize the improved facilities. The project will deliver essential upgrades and maintenance to government buildings. The geographic impact is localized to the area where the construction takes place. The project will likely involve a workforce of construction laborers, tradespeople, and project managers.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep if project requirements are not clearly defined and managed.
Risk of unforeseen site conditions impacting schedule and cost.
Dependence on contractor's ability to meet quality standards and timelines.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type limits government exposure to cost increases.
Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process.
Contract duration allows for thorough execution of planned upgrades.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the commercial and institutional building construction sector, a significant segment of federal procurement. Federal agencies frequently engage in construction and renovation projects to maintain and upgrade their facilities. Spending in this sector is influenced by infrastructure needs, modernization efforts, and security requirements. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other construction contracts awarded by agencies like the General Services Administration (GSA) or the Department of Defense for similar facility types and scopes.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions for this contract, nor does it detail subcontracting plans. The contract was awarded under full and open competition. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors or if there were opportunities missed for small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Department of State's contracting officer and project manager, as indicated by the provided data. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract type, which obligates the contractor to deliver the specified work within the agreed price. Transparency can be assessed through publicly available contract data and reporting mechanisms. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

Department of State Facilities Management
Federal Building Construction and Renovation
Commercial Building Construction Services
Government Infrastructure Projects

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen conditions arise.
Risk of schedule delays impacting facility availability.
Contractor performance quality needs monitoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $6.7 million to TIDEWATER, INC.. ---------- COMMENTS: APPROVAL FLOW EDIT: POLLY ELIZABETH FASSNACHT ADDED BY JILL MICHAELIS ON WED SEP 27 09:24:24 EDT 2023 REASON ADDED: SELECTED APPROVER CONTRACTING OFFICER: ALLA WEINSTEIN PROJECT MANAGER: KAMILA POLLOCK RFCA LINK: HTTPS://USD

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TIDEWATER, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-11-01. End: 2026-05-01.

What is the specific scope of work for this construction contract?

The provided data indicates the contract is for 'Commercial and Institutional Building Construction' with a start date of November 1, 2023, and an end date of May 1, 2026, totaling 912 days. However, the specific details of the construction work, such as the type of upgrades (e.g., HVAC, electrical, structural, cosmetic), the specific buildings involved, and the square footage to be affected, are not detailed in the provided summary. This information is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the project's scope and for accurate value assessment.

How does Tidewater, Inc.'s past performance on similar federal contracts compare to the current award?

The provided data confirms Tidewater, Inc. as the contractor but does not include details on their past performance history with the federal government. A thorough assessment would require reviewing their track record on previous contracts, including on-time delivery, budget adherence, quality of work, and any past disputes or contract terminations. Without this historical data, it is difficult to benchmark their reliability and expertise against the requirements of this specific $6.67 million construction project.

What is the estimated value of the work to be performed annually over the contract's duration?

The total contract value is $6.67 million over a period of 912 days, which is approximately 2.5 years. To estimate the annual value, we can divide the total contract value by the approximate duration in years. $6.67 million / 2.5 years = approximately $2.67 million per year. This annual figure provides a more digestible metric for understanding the ongoing investment in this construction project and allows for easier comparison with other annual spending on similar facilities or services.

Are there any specific performance metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) defined in the contract?

The provided summary does not explicitly list specific performance metrics or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this construction contract. Typically, such contracts would include clauses related to quality standards, safety compliance, schedule adherence, and potentially specific deliverables. The absence of listed KPIs in this summary suggests that either they are detailed in the full contract document or that oversight relies more heavily on standard contractual obligations and project management oversight rather than pre-defined, quantifiable performance targets.

What is the historical spending trend for commercial and institutional building construction by the Department of State?

The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending trends for the Department of State in the 'Commercial and Institutional Building Construction' category. To analyze historical spending, one would need access to multi-year federal procurement databases (like USASpending.gov) to aggregate spending on similar North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) codes or Product Service Codes (PSCs) over several fiscal years. This would reveal patterns, identify periods of increased or decreased investment, and contextualize the current $6.67 million award within the agency's broader facilities management budget.

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 AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6625 SELNICK DRIVE SUITE A, ELKRIDGE, MD, 21075

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,666,652

Exercised Options: $6,666,652

Current Obligation: $6,666,652

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 19AQMM22D0058

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline