Commerce Department awards $4M for building renovations, highlighting need for infrastructure upgrades

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $40,438 ($40.4K)

Contractor: Vigil Contracting, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Commerce

Start Date: 2012-03-28

End Date: 2012-04-13

Contract Duration: 16 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.5K/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 $40,438 to VIGIL CONTRACTING, INC. for work described as: BUILDING RENOVATIONS AND ALTERATIONS. Key points: 1. Contract value represents a modest investment in facility maintenance. 2. Competition was robust, suggesting fair market pricing was achievable. 3. Contract duration is short, indicating a focused scope of work. 4. Project is geographically concentrated, impacting local infrastructure. 5. Fixed-price contract type shifts risk to the contractor. 6. No small business set-aside was utilized, potentially limiting broader participation.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $4,043,800 for building renovations appears reasonable given the scope of commercial and institutional building construction. Benchmarking against similar projects would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm fixed-price structure suggests that the contractor assumed the primary risk for cost overruns, which is generally favorable for the government when the scope is well-defined. However, without detailed project specifications, a definitive assessment of cost-effectiveness is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, indicating a broad solicitation process. While the exact number of bidders is not specified, this method generally encourages a competitive environment, leading to potentially better pricing and quality. The exclusion of sources clause suggests specific criteria were met that allowed for a broader competition than a standard full and open process, but still aimed for maximum participation.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive bidding process helps ensure that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by driving down costs and encouraging high-quality service delivery.

Public Impact

Federal employees and visitors benefit from improved facilities. Services delivered include essential building renovations and alterations. Geographic impact is localized to the District of Columbia. Workforce implications include employment for construction trades.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific details on the scope of renovations makes it difficult to assess the full value.
Potential for cost increases if unforeseen issues arise, despite fixed-price contract.
Limited information on sustainability or energy efficiency considerations in the renovation.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive market was leveraged.
Short contract duration indicates a focused and potentially efficient execution.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, a significant segment of the broader construction industry. Spending in this area is often driven by the need to maintain and upgrade aging federal infrastructure. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other federal renovation projects of similar scale and complexity, as well as private sector construction costs in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded as a small business set-aside, nor is there an indication of specific subcontracting goals for small businesses. This suggests that the primary focus was on securing the best value through open competition, rather than specifically targeting small business participation. The impact on the small business ecosystem is neutral to potentially negative if they were unable to compete effectively or were not solicited for subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer's representative (COR) within the Department of Commerce. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm fixed-price contract terms, requiring the contractor to deliver the specified work within the agreed budget. Transparency is facilitated through federal procurement data systems, although detailed project-level oversight information may not be publicly available.

Related Government Programs

Federal Building and Facilities Maintenance
Government Construction Contracts
Department of Commerce Infrastructure Projects

Risk Flags

Potential for unforeseen conditions impacting fixed-price budget.
Limited information on specific renovation scope and value engineering.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Commerce awarded $40,438 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 $40,438.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-03-28. End: 2012-04-13.

What specific renovations were undertaken, and how do they align with the Department of Commerce's operational needs?

The provided data indicates the contract was for 'BUILDING RENOVATIONS AND ALTERATIONS' under NAICS code 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction). However, specific details regarding the scope of work, such as whether it involved structural changes, HVAC upgrades, interior modernization, or accessibility improvements, are not included in the summary data. To assess alignment with operational needs, one would need to review the original contract statement of work (SOW). This would detail the specific facilities targeted, the nature of the improvements, and how these enhancements are intended to support the Department of Commerce's mission and employee functions. Without the SOW, the assessment remains general.

How does the $4.04 million contract value compare to similar building renovation projects within the federal government or the D.C. market?

Benchmarking the $4.04 million contract value requires comparing it to similar projects based on size, scope, and location. Federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) could be queried for contracts awarded to NAICS 236220 in the District of Columbia within a similar timeframe. Factors such as square footage renovated, type of work (e.g., gut renovation vs. cosmetic updates), and specific building systems addressed (e.g., electrical, plumbing, HVAC) are crucial for a meaningful comparison. Anecdotally, $4 million for significant commercial building renovations in a high-cost area like D.C. is within a plausible range, but without detailed project specifics, it's difficult to definitively state if it represents excellent or fair value. Market research reports on commercial construction costs in the region would also provide context.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how did VIGIL CONTRACTING, INC. perform against them?

The provided data does not include specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or performance evaluation details for this contract. Typically, KPIs for construction projects might include adherence to schedule, quality of workmanship, safety compliance, and budget management. Performance information is often documented in contract performance reports or past performance databases accessible to government contracting officers. To assess VIGIL CONTRACTING, INC.'s performance, one would need to access these internal government records or any publicly available contractor performance assessments. The absence of this information in the summary data limits the ability to evaluate the contractor's track record on this specific project.

What is the historical spending trend for building renovations and alterations by the Department of Commerce over the last five years?

Analyzing historical spending trends for building renovations and alterations by the Department of Commerce requires accessing aggregated federal spending data over multiple fiscal years. Databases like USAspending.gov or internal agency budget reports would be the primary sources. A trend analysis would involve summing the obligations for contracts falling under relevant NAICS codes (like 236220) related to facilities maintenance and renovation across the Department of Commerce over the past five years. This would reveal whether spending in this category is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable, potentially indicating shifts in infrastructure investment priorities or the condition of federal buildings managed by the agency.

Were there any significant risks identified during the solicitation or execution phases of this contract, and how were they mitigated?

The provided summary data does not detail specific risks identified for this contract. Common risks in construction projects include unforeseen site conditions, material price fluctuations, labor shortages, weather delays, and scope creep. Mitigation strategies often involve thorough site investigations before bidding, robust contract language (like escalation clauses or contingency allowances, though less common in firm fixed-price), detailed scheduling, and proactive project management. The firm fixed-price nature of this contract shifts much of the cost-related risk to the contractor, provided the scope was well-defined. Any specific risk mitigation plans would likely be documented in the contract file or internal agency risk registers.

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: $40,438

Exercised Options: $40,438

Current Obligation: $40,438

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