NASA Awards $12.6M AGE Facility Renovation to Lead Builders Inc. Amidst Full and Open Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $12,662,302 ($12.7M)
Contractor: Lead Builders Inc
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2022-10-10
End Date: 2026-08-10
Contract Duration: 1,400 days
Daily Burn Rate: $9.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Construction
Official Description: RENOVATE AEROSPACE GROUND EQUIPMENT (AGE) FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
Place of Performance
Location: EDWARDS, KERN County, CALIFORNIA, 93523
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $12.7 million to LEAD BUILDERS INC for work described as: RENOVATE AEROSPACE GROUND EQUIPMENT (AGE) FACILITY CONSTRUCTION Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Lead Builders Inc. for facility renovation. 2. Full and open competition was utilized after exclusion of sources. 3. Project duration is 1400 days, with an estimated completion in August 2026. 4. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price. 5. The facility is located in California.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The award amount of $12.6M for a 1400-day construction project appears within a reasonable range for commercial and institutional building construction. Benchmarking against similar NASA or DoD facility renovation projects would provide a more precise assessment of value.
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 a competitive process was intended. The specific reason for excluding sources needs further investigation to ensure maximum price discovery and value for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition generally promotes better pricing. However, the exclusion of sources warrants scrutiny to ensure it did not limit competition and inflate costs.
Public Impact
This renovation project will modernize aerospace ground equipment facilities, potentially improving operational efficiency and safety for NASA. The construction will likely create jobs in the local California economy. The long duration of the project suggests a significant scope of work, impacting ongoing aerospace operations at the facility.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Reason for exclusion of sources in full and open competition needs clarification.
- Potential for project delays given the 1400-day duration.
- Lack of small business participation noted.
Positive Signals
- Utilized full and open competition.
- Firm Fixed Price contract type helps control costs.
- Project aims to improve critical aerospace infrastructure.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, a sector critical for supporting government operations. Spending benchmarks for similar facility renovations by NASA or other federal agencies would be useful for comparison.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this award (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis is needed to determine if opportunities for small businesses were overlooked or if the project scope inherently excluded them.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight will be crucial to monitor the project's progress, adherence to budget, and quality of construction, especially given the extended timeline and the exclusion of sources in the procurement process.
Related Government Programs
- Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Exclusion of sources in procurement process.
- Long project duration (1400 days) increases risk of delays and cost escalation.
- No small business participation noted.
- Lack of detailed cost breakdown for transparency.
- Potential impact on ongoing aerospace operations during renovation.
Tags
commercial-and-institutional-building-co, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ca, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $12.7 million to LEAD BUILDERS INC. RENOVATE AEROSPACE GROUND EQUIPMENT (AGE) FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is LEAD BUILDERS INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $12.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-10-10. End: 2026-08-10.
What was the specific justification for excluding sources under the 'Full and Open Competition' designation, and did this exclusion impact the final price?
The justification for excluding sources under a full and open competition is critical. Typically, such exclusions are based on specific technical requirements, existing infrastructure compatibility, or unique capabilities. Without this information, it's difficult to assess if the exclusion limited competitive bids and potentially led to a higher price than could have been achieved through broader competition.
How does the awarded price compare to industry benchmarks for similar aerospace facility renovations of this scale and duration?
A direct comparison to industry benchmarks is challenging without more specific project details and comparable contract data. However, the $12.6 million award over 1400 days suggests a significant investment. Analyzing the cost per square foot or cost per functional unit against similar government or private sector projects would be necessary to determine if the pricing is competitive and represents good value.
What measures are in place to ensure the successful and timely completion of this extensive 1400-day construction project?
Given the 1400-day duration, robust project management and oversight are essential. This includes clear milestones, regular progress reporting, quality assurance checks, and contingency planning for potential delays (e.g., weather, material availability, unforeseen site conditions). The firm fixed price contract provides cost certainty, but effective management is key to ensuring timely delivery and preventing cost overruns due to scope creep or inefficiencies.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Construction › Nonresidential Building Construction › Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, ALTER REAL PROPERTY › MAINT, ALTER, REPAIR NONBUILDINGS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: 80AFRC22R0010
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Lead Builders, Inc.
Address: 2060 D AVE DE LOS ARBOLES U 116, THOUSAND OAKS, CA, 91362
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $12,662,302
Exercised Options: $12,662,302
Current Obligation: $12,662,302
Actual Outlays: $5,894,144
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 80AFRC19D0009
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2022-10-10
Current End Date: 2026-08-10
Potential End Date: 2026-08-10 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-09
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