Air Force awards $13.4M contract for Whiteman AFB water treatment plant repairs

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,450,169 ($13.5M)

Contractor: Vazquez Reasbeck Construction LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-11-21

End Date: 2027-10-25

Contract Duration: 703 days

Daily Burn Rate: $19.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: PROJECT TITLE: TO 1018 - REPAIR THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AT WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE

Place of Performance

Location: WHITEMAN AFB, JOHNSON County, MISSOURI, 65305

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $13.5 million to VAZQUEZ REASBECK CONSTRUCTION LLC for work described as: PROJECT TITLE: TO 1018 - REPAIR THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AT WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE Key points: 1. Contract awarded to VAZQUEZ REASBECK CONSTRUCTION LLC for essential infrastructure repair. 2. Project aims to ensure reliable water treatment services at Whiteman Air Force Base. 3. The contract duration is 703 days, indicating a significant scope of work. 4. Fixed-price contract type suggests cost certainty for the government. 5. The project falls under the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction NAICS code. 6. Geographic focus on Missouri, specifically within the Whiteman AFB area.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of approximately $13.4 million for repairing a water treatment plant appears reasonable given the scope and duration. Without specific benchmarks for water treatment plant repair projects of this scale and complexity, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the firm fixed-price nature of the contract suggests that the contractor has assessed the risks and costs, and the price reflects this assessment. The award to a single contractor implies a competitive process that resulted in a price deemed acceptable by the Air Force.

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 that the solicitation was broadly advertised, but certain sources were excluded for specific reasons, possibly related to security or specialized capabilities. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this specialized construction project. While not a completely unrestricted full and open competition, it still allowed multiple qualified firms to participate, which generally aids in price discovery and achieving a fair market price.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive process, even with exclusions, likely resulted in a more favorable price for taxpayers compared to a sole-source award. The participation of multiple bidders provides a basis for the government to select the most cost-effective and technically sound offer.

Public Impact

Military personnel and their families residing at Whiteman Air Force Base will benefit from reliable and safe water services. The repair of the water treatment plant ensures continued operational readiness for the Air Force base. The project supports the local economy in Missouri through construction-related employment and resource utilization. Ensures compliance with environmental and public health standards for water treatment.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen issues arise during construction, despite the fixed-price contract.
Dependence on the contractor's ability to meet the project timeline and quality standards.
Risk of disruption to base operations if repair work is not managed efficiently.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Award to a single contractor after a competitive process suggests a well-defined scope and achievable price.
The project addresses a critical infrastructure need, mitigating long-term operational risks.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the construction sector, specifically focusing on institutional and commercial building construction. The market for repairing and maintaining critical infrastructure like water treatment plants is specialized, often involving firms with specific engineering and construction expertise. The value of this contract, approximately $13.4 million, is moderate for a federal infrastructure project of this nature. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found in other Department of Defense or civilian agency projects involving similar facility repairs or upgrades.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that small business participation was not a primary set-aside consideration for this award (ss: false, sb: false). The competition was full and open, suggesting that larger, more specialized construction firms were likely the primary bidders. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within this award notice. Future analysis could explore whether the prime contractor engages small businesses for specialized services or materials.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Department of the Air Force's contracting and engineering divisions. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract shifts much of the cost risk to the contractor, but the government will still monitor progress, quality, and adherence to specifications. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of federal contract awards. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Whiteman Air Force Base Operations and Maintenance
Federal Infrastructure Repair Contracts
Department of Defense Facilities Management
Water Treatment Facility Construction and Maintenance

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep
Contractor performance risk
Unforeseen site conditions

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $13.5 million to VAZQUEZ REASBECK CONSTRUCTION LLC. PROJECT TITLE: TO 1018 - REPAIR THE WATER TREATMENT PLANT AT WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VAZQUEZ REASBECK CONSTRUCTION LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $13.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-11-21. End: 2027-10-25.

What is the track record of VAZQUEZ REASBECK CONSTRUCTION LLC with federal contracts, particularly in infrastructure repair?

VAZQUEZ REASBECK CONSTRUCTION LLC has been awarded federal contracts, with this specific award being for $13,450,168.82. The contract type is a Delivery Order under a larger contract vehicle, indicating a history of working with the government. Further analysis of their contract history would reveal the types of projects they have undertaken, their performance ratings on past federal work, and their experience with similar infrastructure projects. Without access to a comprehensive federal contract database with performance metrics, it's difficult to definitively assess their track record beyond the existence of this award. However, the fact that they were awarded this significant contract suggests they met the government's requirements and passed initial vetting processes.

How does the $13.4 million cost compare to similar water treatment plant repair projects at other military bases?

Benchmarking the $13.4 million cost for repairing the water treatment plant at Whiteman Air Force Base against similar projects is challenging without specific comparative data. Water treatment plant repair costs are highly variable, depending on the size of the facility, the extent of the damage or required upgrades, the specific technologies involved, and regional labor and material costs. Projects at other military bases could range significantly in price. For instance, a minor upgrade might cost a few million dollars, while a complete overhaul or replacement of a large facility could easily exceed $50 million. The firm fixed-price nature of this contract suggests the Air Force believes this price is fair for the defined scope, but a detailed cost-benefit analysis or comparison with other recent, comparable federal projects would be needed for a robust value assessment.

What are the primary risks associated with this specific contract, and how are they being mitigated?

The primary risks associated with this contract include potential construction delays due to unforeseen site conditions, weather, or supply chain disruptions, and the risk of cost overruns if the scope needs to expand beyond the initial fixed-price agreement. Mitigation strategies are inherent in the contract type and oversight. The firm fixed-price structure incentivizes the contractor to manage costs efficiently. The 703-day duration allows for a structured work plan, and the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' process likely vetted the contractor's capability to handle such a project. The Department of the Air Force will provide oversight to monitor progress, quality, and adherence to specifications, and any necessary change orders would be subject to rigorous review and approval.

How effective is the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' approach in ensuring value for taxpayers on this project?

The 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' approach aims to balance broad competition with specific requirements. By excluding certain sources, the Air Force may have targeted firms with unique qualifications or security clearances necessary for a military base project. The fact that three bidders participated indicates that there was sufficient interest among qualified firms to foster price competition. This method is generally effective in ensuring value for taxpayers because it still allows multiple capable contractors to bid, driving down prices through competition, while ensuring that only appropriate firms are considered. It's more competitive than a sole-source award but less so than unrestricted full and open competition.

What is the historical spending pattern for water treatment plant maintenance and repair at Whiteman Air Force Base?

Historical spending data for water treatment plant maintenance and repair specifically at Whiteman Air Force Base is not provided in the current data. This $13.4 million contract represents a significant investment, suggesting either a major upgrade, a long-overdue repair, or a consolidation of previously smaller, recurring maintenance costs into a larger project. To understand historical patterns, one would need to examine past contracts awarded to the base for similar services over several fiscal years. This would reveal whether spending has been consistent, cyclical, or if this project represents a departure from previous investment levels in water infrastructure.

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

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3303 GILLHAM RD, KANSAS CITY, MO, 64109

Business Categories: Category Business, Hispanic American Owned Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $13,450,169

Exercised Options: $13,450,169

Current Obligation: $13,450,169

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA462521D0002

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline