VA Awards $8.1M Contract for Santa Fe Retaining Wall Repair to C & C Contractors LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $8,124,473 ($8.1M)

Contractor: C & C Contractors LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2025-06-16

End Date: 2026-07-29

Contract Duration: 408 days

Daily Burn Rate: $19.9K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: EMERGENCY DEMO AND REBUILD OF RETAINING WALL AT SANTA FE NATL

Place of Performance

Location: SANTA FE, SANTA FE County, NEW MEXICO, 87501

State: New Mexico Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $8.1 million to C & C CONTRACTORS LLC for work described as: EMERGENCY DEMO AND REBUILD OF RETAINING WALL AT SANTA FE NATL Key points: 1. Significant investment in critical infrastructure repair for the VA. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and potential cost savings. 3. Project duration of over a year suggests complex or extensive work. 4. Focus on heavy civil engineering construction highlights a specialized sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $8.1M for a retaining wall rebuild appears substantial. Without comparable projects or detailed scope, it's difficult to definitively assess pricing against industry benchmarks. The fixed-price nature provides some cost certainty.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This method limits price discovery and may result in higher costs compared to a competitive bidding process. Justification for the sole-source award is not provided.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for this project. The lack of competition could lead to a less optimal price, meaning taxpayers might be paying more than necessary.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operational safety and accessibility at the Santa Fe VA facility. Addresses potential structural integrity risks associated with aging infrastructure. Supports local employment through construction activities. Represents a necessary but potentially costly infrastructure upgrade.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for overpayment due to sole-source award
Significant contract value for a single repair project

Positive Signals

Addresses critical infrastructure need
Clear contract end date
Firm fixed-price contract type

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction, a sector focused on large-scale infrastructure projects. Spending in this area is often driven by maintenance, repair, and new construction needs for government facilities and public works.

Small Business Impact

The awardee, C & C CONTRACTORS LLC, is not indicated as a small business. The contract was not competed, which typically limits opportunities for small businesses to participate unless they are subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight will be crucial to ensure the project is completed on time, within budget, and to the specified quality standards, especially given the sole-source nature of the award. The VA's contracting office is responsible for monitoring performance.

Related Government Programs

Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competition.
Potential for inflated pricing due to lack of competition.
Extended project duration increases risk.
Lack of transparency regarding justification for sole-source award.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $8.1 million to C & C CONTRACTORS LLC. EMERGENCY DEMO AND REBUILD OF RETAINING WALL AT SANTA FE NATL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is C & C CONTRACTORS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $8.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-06-16. End: 2026-07-29.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and what steps were taken to ensure fair and reasonable pricing?

The justification for a sole-source award typically involves circumstances where only one responsible source can provide the required supply or service. For this contract, the VA would need to document why competition was not feasible. Steps to ensure fair and reasonable pricing might include historical price analysis, independent cost estimates, or comparison to similar market data, though these are less robust without competitive bids.

What are the potential risks associated with the long duration (408 days) of this retaining wall repair project?

A long project duration increases the risk of cost overruns due to potential inflation, material price fluctuations, or unforeseen site conditions. It also extends the period of potential disruption to VA operations and increases the likelihood of weather-related delays. Furthermore, extended timelines can sometimes indicate scope creep or project management challenges.

How does the $8.1M cost compare to similar retaining wall repair projects of comparable scale and complexity, particularly those awarded competitively?

Benchmarking this $8.1M contract against similar projects is challenging without more specific data on the scope, materials, and location. However, for large-scale civil engineering projects, costs can vary widely. A sole-source award inherently makes direct cost comparison difficult, but a review of publicly available data for competitively bid, large civil engineering projects could provide a rough estimate of typical cost per linear foot or cubic yard of material.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Construction › Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction › Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Product/Service Code: CONSTRUCT OF STRUCTURES/FACILITIES › CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: 36C78625R0018

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 209 LYON ST, NOTASULGA, AL, 36866

Business Categories: Category Business, HUBZone Firm, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $8,124,473

Exercised Options: $8,124,473

Current Obligation: $8,124,473

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline