GSA Awards $757K for Chicago Courthouse Bathroom Renovation to KOO LLC Under Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $75,669 ($75.7K)

Contractor: KOO LLC

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2023-01-10

End Date: 2026-10-01

Contract Duration: 1,360 days

Daily Burn Rate: $56/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES FOR U.S. DISTRICT COURT 20TH FLOOR BATHROOM CONVERSION PROJECT, EVERETT M. DIRKSEN COURTHOUSE AT 219 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Place of Performance

Location: CHICAGO, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60601

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $75,668.68 to KOO LLC for work described as: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES FOR U.S. DISTRICT COURT 20TH FLOOR BATHROOM CONVERSION PROJECT, EVERETT M. DIRKSEN COURTHOUSE AT 219 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. Key points: 1. The contract is for architectural and engineering services for a bathroom conversion project at the Everett M. Dirksen Courthouse. 2. KOO LLC was awarded the contract by the General Services Administration (GSA). 3. The project is valued at $756,686.68 and is expected to be completed by October 2026. 4. The contract was awarded using full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating a competitive bidding process. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, providing cost certainty for the government.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $756,686.68 appears reasonable for architectural and engineering services for a courthouse renovation project of this scope. Benchmarking against similar GSA projects for courthouse renovations would provide a more precise 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,' suggesting that multiple sources were considered, but some were excluded prior to the final award. This method aims for competitive pricing while potentially streamlining the process.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is generally beneficial for taxpayers as it promotes competitive bidding, which can lead to lower prices and better value for government projects.

Public Impact

Taxpayers benefit from a competitive bidding process for public building renovations. The project aims to improve facilities at a federal courthouse, enhancing the user experience. The duration of the contract (over 3 years) suggests a complex project requiring detailed architectural and engineering work.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 56 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep given the project's duration.
Reliance on a single firm for critical design elements.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
Full and open competition generally leads to better value.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Architectural Services sector (NAICS code 541310). Spending in this sector is crucial for maintaining and upgrading federal infrastructure. Benchmarks for similar courthouse renovation projects would provide further context on cost-effectiveness.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this specific contract award. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for overseeing federal building projects. Oversight would involve ensuring the project adheres to design specifications, budget, and timeline, with accountability resting on the contracting officer and the awarded firm.

Related Government Programs

Architectural Services
General Services Administration Contracting
Public Buildings Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen issues arise during renovation.
Dependency on KOO LLC's performance for project success.
The 'exclusion of sources' aspect warrants further investigation into competitive fairness.
Long project duration increases exposure to market fluctuations and changing requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $75,668.68 to KOO LLC. ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES FOR U.S. DISTRICT COURT 20TH FLOOR BATHROOM CONVERSION PROJECT, EVERETT M. DIRKSEN COURTHOUSE AT 219 SOUTH DEARBORN STREET, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is KOO LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Public Buildings Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $75,668.68.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-01-10. End: 2026-10-01.

What specific improvements are included in the bathroom conversion, and how do they align with the project's cost?

The provided data does not detail the specific improvements planned for the bathroom conversion. A thorough review of the project's scope of work and design documents would be necessary to understand the planned upgrades and assess their alignment with the $756,686.68 cost. This would include evaluating the quality of materials, fixtures, and any accessibility enhancements.

What were the criteria for excluding sources in the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' method, and did this exclusion impact the final price?

The criteria for excluding sources are not detailed in the provided data. Typically, exclusions might be based on past performance, technical capabilities, or failure to meet pre-qualification requirements. Understanding these criteria is crucial to assess if the exclusion limited competition and potentially influenced the final price paid by taxpayers.

How will the effectiveness of the architectural and engineering services be measured throughout the project's lifecycle?

The effectiveness of the architectural and engineering services will likely be measured through adherence to project milestones, quality of design deliverables, compliance with building codes and regulations, and successful integration of the design into the construction phase. Performance metrics and regular reviews by the GSA contracting officer are standard mechanisms for evaluating effectiveness.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Architectural Services

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - CONSTRUCTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: EQ5P2PA-23-0002

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 55 W WACKER DR STE 600, CHICAGO, IL, 60601

Business Categories: Asian Pacific American Owned Business, Category Business, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $75,669

Exercised Options: $75,669

Current Obligation: $75,669

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47PF0020D0030

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline