EPA awards $6.7M construction contract to Skinner Development Inc. for Athens Lab Phase 2

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,729,227 ($6.7M)

Contractor: Skinner Development Inc

Awarding Agency: Environmental Protection Agency

Start Date: 2022-09-29

End Date: 2025-05-30

Contract Duration: 974 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: ATHENS MAIN LAB PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION TASK ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ATTACHED STATEMENT OF WORK, SPECIFICATIONS AND DRAWINGS.

Place of Performance

Location: ATHENS, CLARKE County, GEORGIA, 30605

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Environmental Protection Agency obligated $6.7 million to SKINNER DEVELOPMENT INC for work described as: ATHENS MAIN LAB PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION TASK ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ATTACHED STATEMENT OF WORK, SPECIFICATIONS AND DRAWINGS. Key points: 1. Contract awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract is a firm-fixed-price delivery order, providing cost certainty for the government. 3. Project duration of 974 days indicates a significant construction undertaking. 4. The contract is for commercial and institutional building construction, a common federal need. 5. Skinner Development Inc. is the sole awardee for this specific task order.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $6.7 million for a 974-day construction project appears within a reasonable range for commercial and institutional building construction. However, without specific details on the scope of work, square footage, or complexity of the Athens Main Lab Phase 2, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. Benchmarking against similar EPA laboratory construction projects or large-scale institutional builds would provide a clearer picture of whether this represents a competitive price point.

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,' which implies that while the initial solicitation may have had some restrictions, the final award was made after a broad competitive process. The specific details of how many bidders participated and their respective proposals are not provided, but the designation suggests that multiple qualified contractors had the opportunity to bid.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to lower prices and better quality services. It ensures that the government is not limited to a single provider, increasing the likelihood of obtaining the best value.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiary is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which will receive upgraded laboratory facilities. The project involves construction services for the Athens Main Lab Phase 2. The geographic impact is localized to Athens, Georgia, where the EPA facility is located. The contract will likely create or sustain jobs in the construction sector within the Athens area and potentially for Skinner Development Inc.'s workforce.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed scope of work makes it difficult to fully assess value for money.
Limited information on the number of bidders and their qualifications hinders a deeper competition analysis.
The 'exclusion of sources' clause warrants further investigation to understand its implications on competition.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a broad market solicitation.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost predictability for the government.
Project duration is clearly defined, allowing for structured planning and execution.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, a significant segment of the broader construction industry. Federal agencies frequently procure construction services for facilities like laboratories, offices, and research centers. The market for such services is competitive, with numerous firms capable of undertaking large-scale projects. Benchmarking this $6.7 million contract would involve comparing it to similar-sized construction projects for institutional or government facilities, considering factors like location, complexity, and duration.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a specific set-aside for this contract. This means the competition was open to all eligible contractors, regardless of size. While there's no explicit small business set-aside, Skinner Development Inc. may still utilize small businesses as subcontractors. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether subcontracting opportunities are made available and actively pursued.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will primarily be managed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) contracting officers and project managers. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of accountability by fixing the total cost. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards, allowing for general oversight. Specific Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse is suspected.

Related Government Programs

EPA Facilities Management
Federal Construction Contracts
Laboratory Infrastructure Projects
Commercial Building Construction

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep if not managed tightly.
Risk of construction delays impacting project timelines.
Contractor performance and quality control.
Unforeseen site conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Environmental Protection Agency awarded $6.7 million to SKINNER DEVELOPMENT INC. ATHENS MAIN LAB PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION TASK ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ATTACHED STATEMENT OF WORK, SPECIFICATIONS AND DRAWINGS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SKINNER DEVELOPMENT INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Environmental Protection Agency (Environmental Protection Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-09-29. End: 2025-05-30.

What is the specific scope of work for the Athens Main Lab Phase 2 construction task order?

The provided data indicates the task order is for 'ATHENS MAIN LAB PHASE 2 CONSTRUCTION TASK ORDER IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE ATTACHED STATEMENT OF WORK, SPECIFICATIONS AND DRAWINGS.' However, the detailed statement of work, specifications, and drawings are not included in the provided data. To understand the specific scope, one would need to access these supplementary documents. Generally, such a scope for a lab phase 2 construction would involve building out or renovating laboratory spaces, including specialized ventilation, utilities, safety features, and potentially administrative or support areas, based on the requirements outlined in the SOW.

How does the $6.7 million contract value compare to similar EPA laboratory construction projects?

A direct comparison of the $6.7 million contract value to similar EPA laboratory construction projects requires access to a database of historical EPA construction contracts with detailed scope information. Without knowing the specific square footage, complexity of lab equipment integration, and renovation versus new construction aspects of the Athens Main Lab Phase 2, a precise benchmark is difficult. However, for a significant construction task order over nearly three years, $6.7 million is a substantial but not necessarily exorbitant amount for specialized federal facilities. Further analysis would involve comparing cost per square foot or cost per specialized lab module against comparable projects.

What are the key risk indicators associated with this contract award?

Key risk indicators for this contract include the inherent risks of any large-scale construction project, such as potential delays, cost overruns (though mitigated by firm-fixed-price), unforeseen site conditions, and contractor performance issues. The 'exclusion of sources' clause in the competition type, while still allowing for full and open competition, could indicate specific requirements or past performance issues that limited the initial pool of potential bidders, potentially introducing a risk if the final pool was not as diverse as desired. The long duration (974 days) also increases the exposure to market fluctuations in material costs and labor availability.

What does the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' designation imply for price discovery?

This designation implies that while the initial solicitation might have had specific criteria or exclusions that narrowed the field of potential offerors, the final award was made after a competitive process where all responsible sources were given a fair opportunity to submit a proposal. This suggests that the government actively sought multiple bids from qualified contractors. The 'exclusion of sources' might relate to specific technical requirements, security clearances, or past performance criteria that not all companies could meet. Nevertheless, the subsequent competition among the remaining eligible sources should have facilitated price discovery, allowing the government to select the best value offer.

What is Skinner Development Inc.'s track record with federal construction contracts, particularly with the EPA?

Information regarding Skinner Development Inc.'s specific track record with federal construction contracts, and particularly with the EPA, is not provided in the data. A comprehensive assessment would require searching federal procurement databases (like SAM.gov or FPDS) for past awards, contract performance evaluations (e.g., CPARS reports), and any history of disputes or claims. Understanding their past performance, experience with similar projects, and financial stability is crucial for evaluating the risk associated with this award.

How does the contract's firm-fixed-price (FFP) type impact the government's financial risk?

The firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract type significantly reduces the government's financial risk. Under an FFP contract, the contractor agrees to a total price for a well-defined scope of work, and is responsible for controlling costs to meet that price. Any cost overruns incurred by the contractor are absorbed by Skinner Development Inc., not the EPA. This provides budget certainty for the government. The primary risk shifts to the contractor, who must accurately estimate all costs and potential contingencies. The EPA's main risk under FFP relates to ensuring the scope is precisely defined to avoid change orders that could increase the price.

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: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: 68HERC22R0252

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1705 ENTERPRISE WAY STE 200, MARIETTA, GA, 30067

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, HUBZone Firm, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,729,227

Exercised Options: $6,729,227

Current Obligation: $6,729,227

Actual Outlays: $6,729,227

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 68HERC20D0031

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline