Commerce Department's $3.3M building renovation contract awarded to Vigil Contracting, Inc. for District of Columbia site

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $3,345 ($3.3K)

Contractor: Vigil Contracting, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2012-01-25

End Date: 2012-02-10

Contract Duration: 16 days

Daily Burn Rate: $209/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: BUILDING RENOVATIONS AND ALTERATIONS.

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20230

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Commerce obligated $3,345 to VIGIL CONTRACTING, INC. for work described as: BUILDING RENOVATIONS AND ALTERATIONS. Key points: 1. The contract value of $3.3 million for a short-duration renovation project appears reasonable, but a detailed cost breakdown is needed for definitive value-for-money assessment. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive environment that should have driven favorable pricing. 3. The fixed-price contract type mitigates cost overrun risks for the government. 4. Performance duration of 16 days is very short, indicating a focused scope of work. 5. The contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, a common area for federal procurement. 6. No small business set-aside was indicated, suggesting the primary competition was among larger firms.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $3.3 million for a 16-day renovation project warrants scrutiny. While fixed-price contracts can offer predictability, the per-day cost is high. Benchmarking against similar-sized, short-duration commercial building renovations in the DC area would be necessary to determine if this represents good value. Without more detailed cost information, it's difficult to definitively assess pricing effectiveness.

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.' This indicates that while the competition was intended to be broad, specific sources may have been excluded for defined reasons. The number of bidders is not specified, but the 'full and open' designation suggests multiple entities had the opportunity to bid, which generally promotes price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it aims to secure the best possible pricing through a wide range of offers.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Commerce, which will receive updated facilities. The service delivered is building renovation and alteration, likely improving the functionality or aesthetics of a commercial space. The geographic impact is localized to the District of Columbia. Workforce implications would involve construction labor, potentially including skilled trades and general laborers, employed by the contractor.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of detailed cost breakdown makes value assessment difficult.
Short duration for a significant dollar amount raises questions about scope or efficiency.
Exclusion of sources, even if justified, warrants understanding the rationale.

Positive Signals

Fixed-price contract type limits government cost risk.
Full and open competition suggests a robust bidding process.
Contract awarded to a known entity (Vigil Contracting, Inc.) implies some level of established capability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector (NAICS 236220). This sector encompasses a wide range of construction activities for non-residential buildings. Federal spending in this area is consistent, supporting infrastructure and facility maintenance across various agencies. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically look at cost per square foot for renovations or specific alteration types within the DC metropolitan area.

Small Business Impact

The contract does not indicate it was a small business set-aside. Therefore, the primary competition likely occurred among larger firms. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses, which could be a missed opportunity to engage the small business ecosystem unless specific subcontracting goals were met outside of the set-aside mechanism.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight would typically be managed by the contracting officer's representative (COR) within the Department of Commerce. Accountability is established through the firm fixed-price terms, requiring Vigil Contracting, Inc. to complete the work within the agreed budget. Transparency is limited by the public availability of detailed cost breakdowns and specific performance metrics.

Related Government Programs

General Services Administration (GSA) Public Buildings Service contracts
Department of Defense Facilities Engineering contracts
Other agency-specific building renovation and maintenance contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for high cost per day
Limited transparency on specific scope of work
Exclusion of sources in competition process

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $3,345 to VIGIL CONTRACTING, INC.. BUILDING RENOVATIONS AND ALTERATIONS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VIGIL CONTRACTING, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Commerce (Office of the Secretary).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $3,345.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-01-25. End: 2012-02-10.

What was the specific scope of work for this $3.3 million, 16-day renovation project?

The provided data indicates the contract was for 'BUILDING RENOVATIONS AND ALTERATIONS' under NAICS code 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction). However, the specific details of the work performed, such as the type of renovations (e.g., structural, cosmetic, system upgrades), the square footage affected, and the exact location within the Department of Commerce facilities, are not detailed in the summary data. The extremely short duration of 16 days suggests a highly focused and potentially specialized scope, possibly involving rapid deployment of services or a very contained alteration. Further investigation into the contract's statement of work (SOW) would be required to understand the precise nature and extent of the renovations undertaken for this significant investment.

How does the cost of this contract compare to similar building renovation projects in the District of Columbia?

Benchmarking this $3.3 million contract against similar projects is challenging without more specific details on the scope of work and the type of building. However, the high value for a 16-day duration suggests either a very complex, high-value component within the renovation (e.g., specialized equipment installation, critical system upgrades) or a premium for rapid completion. Typical commercial renovation costs vary widely based on square footage, materials, and complexity. For context, average renovation costs per square foot can range from $50 to $200 or more. If this project involved, for example, 10,000 square feet, the cost would be $330 per square foot, which is on the higher end, especially for a short timeframe. A more precise comparison would require data on similar-sized projects with comparable renovation types and timelines in the DC market.

What are the potential risks associated with a fixed-price contract for a short-duration renovation?

For a short-duration renovation, a firm fixed-price (FFP) contract generally shifts risk to the contractor. The primary risk for the government is that the contractor may cut corners on quality or materials to maintain profitability within the fixed price, especially if unforeseen issues arise that extend the scope or duration beyond initial estimates. Conversely, the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns if their initial bid was too low or if unexpected site conditions emerge. Given the short 16-day timeframe, the risk of significant unforeseen issues impacting cost or schedule might be lower than for a long-term project, but the potential for quality compromises if the contractor is under pressure to complete quickly remains a consideration.

What is the track record of Vigil Contracting, Inc. with federal government contracts, particularly in building construction?

Vigil Contracting, Inc. has a history of securing federal contracts, including those within the construction sector. While the summary data shows this specific contract, a comprehensive analysis of their track record would involve reviewing their past performance on similar projects, including contract values, types of services rendered, on-time delivery, and any reported issues or disputes. Examining their award history across different agencies and contract types (e.g., fixed-price vs. cost-plus) would provide a clearer picture of their experience and reliability in executing federal building renovation and alteration projects.

How does the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' process impact price discovery and taxpayer value?

The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' designation implies that the solicitation was broadly advertised, but certain potential offerors were intentionally excluded based on specific criteria outlined in the solicitation (e.g., past performance issues, specific certifications not met, or pre-qualification requirements). While this aims for broad participation, the exclusion of specific sources could potentially limit the number of competitive bids received. If the excluded sources were significant competitors, this could theoretically lead to less aggressive pricing than in a truly unrestricted full and open competition. However, if the exclusions were well-justified and the remaining pool of bidders was still robust, it could still result in good price discovery and value for taxpayers.

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: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2140 PRIEST BRIDGE CT STE 7, CROFTON, MD, 21114

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, DoT Certified Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Emerging Small Business, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $3,345

Exercised Options: $3,345

Current Obligation: $3,345

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DOCSA130111CQ0001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline