GSA's $19.77M parking garage contract awarded to H B A Contractors Inc. under ARRA

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $20,631,369 ($20.6M)

Contractor: H B a Contractors Inc

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2010-03-30

End Date: 2015-10-01

Contract Duration: 2,011 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: TAS::47 4543::TAS CONTRACT NO.GS-02P-10-DT-C-0005 IS HEREBY ISSUED UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY & REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 FOR THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE NEW FEDERAL PARKING GARAGE FOR THE SAN JUAN OFFICE CONSOLIDATION PROJECT IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $19,771.00.

Place of Performance

Location: SAN JUAN County, PUERTO RICO, 00908

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $20.6 million to H B A CONTRACTORS INC for work described as: TAS::47 4543::TAS CONTRACT NO.GS-02P-10-DT-C-0005 IS HEREBY ISSUED UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY & REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 FOR THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE NEW FEDERAL PARKING GARAGE FOR THE SAN JUAN OFFICE CONSOLIDATION PROJECT IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $… Key points: 1. Contract awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, indicating a focus on economic stimulus. 2. The contract was competed under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources', suggesting a specific justification for limited source participation. 3. A firm-fixed-price contract type implies that the contractor bears the risk of cost overruns. 4. The project involves construction services for a new federal parking garage in San Juan, Puerto Rico. 5. The contract duration spans from March 30, 2010, to October 1, 2015. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 236220 points to Commercial and Institutional Building Construction.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without detailed cost breakdowns or comparisons to similar construction projects in Puerto Rico during the same period. The total award amount of $19.77 million for a federal parking garage suggests a significant investment. However, the absence of detailed cost data makes it difficult to assess if the pricing was competitive or represented good value for money. Further analysis would require comparing the cost per parking space or per square foot to industry standards and similar government projects.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This specific procurement method indicates that while the competition was intended to be open, certain sources were excluded, likely due to specific requirements or justifications. The number of bidders (6) suggests some level of interest, but the exclusion of sources may have limited the overall competitive landscape. The implications for price discovery are that the final price might not reflect the broadest possible market competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The exclusion of sources, even with 6 bidders, could mean that taxpayers did not benefit from the most competitive pricing achievable through a truly open market. This procurement approach warrants scrutiny to ensure fairness and optimal value.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are federal employees and visitors requiring parking at the San Juan office consolidation project. The project delivers essential infrastructure in the form of a new federal parking garage. The geographic impact is localized to San Juan, Puerto Rico, supporting federal operations in the region. The construction services likely involved a local workforce, contributing to employment in the Puerto Rican construction sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' raises questions about the rationale for excluding potential bidders and its impact on competition.
Lack of detailed cost breakdowns makes it difficult to assess the value for money and benchmark against similar projects.
The contract duration of over five years (2010-2015) for a construction project might indicate potential for scope creep or delays if not managed effectively.

Positive Signals

The use of a firm-fixed-price contract shifts cost overrun risk to the contractor, potentially protecting the government from unexpected expenses.
Awarding the contract under ARRA suggests alignment with national economic stimulus goals.
The involvement of the General Services Administration (GSA) implies adherence to established federal procurement standards and oversight.

Sector Analysis

The construction industry, particularly commercial and institutional building construction (NAICS 236220), is a significant sector for federal spending. Federal projects like this parking garage contribute to the overall market activity. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing the cost per square foot or per parking space for similar federal or large-scale commercial construction projects in the region and during that time period. The ARRA funding context also places this contract within a specific economic stimulus initiative.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) was not a primary set-aside consideration for this contract. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans or their impact on the small business ecosystem. Further investigation would be needed to determine if any small businesses were involved as subcontractors or if there were specific outreach efforts to include them in the supply chain for this project.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would fall under the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically the Public Buildings Service. As a federal construction project, it would be subject to standard federal acquisition regulations, including potential reviews by the GSA Office of Inspector General. Transparency would be facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Accountability measures would include performance monitoring against contract requirements and adherence to the firm-fixed-price terms.

Related Government Programs

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Projects
Federal Building Construction
General Services Administration (GSA) Contracts
Parking Infrastructure Projects

Risk Flags

Limited Competition Justification
Lack of Detailed Cost Breakdown
Potential for Scope Creep (long duration)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $20.6 million to H B A CONTRACTORS INC. TAS::47 4543::TAS CONTRACT NO.GS-02P-10-DT-C-0005 IS HEREBY ISSUED UNDER THE AMERICAN RECOVERY & REINVESTMENT ACT OF 2009 FOR THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR FOR CONSTRUCTION SERVICES FOR THE NEW FEDERAL PARKING GARAGE FOR THE SAN JUAN OFFICE CONSOLIDATION PROJECT IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $19,771.00.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is H B A CONTRACTORS INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Public Buildings Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $20.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-03-30. End: 2015-10-01.

What was the specific justification for excluding certain sources in the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' procurement?

The justification for excluding sources under this procurement method typically stems from specific technical requirements, unique capabilities needed, or prior experience that only a limited number of contractors can fulfill. Without access to the solicitation documents and award justification, it's impossible to determine the precise reasons. However, such exclusions are meant to be narrowly tailored to ensure the government obtains the best value for a specific need. The fact that 6 bidders were still identified suggests that while some were excluded, a reasonable pool of qualified contractors remained. This method is less common than standard full and open competition and requires a documented rationale to ensure fairness and prevent undue restriction of competition.

How does the final cost of $19.77 million compare to the initial estimated cost for the San Juan Federal Parking Garage project?

The provided data does not include the initial estimated cost for the San Juan Federal Parking Garage project. Therefore, a direct comparison between the final award amount and the initial estimate cannot be made. To assess this, one would need to access pre-solicitation documents or budget approvals related to the project. Understanding the variance, if any, between the estimate and the final award is crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of the procurement process and the contractor's pricing strategy. A significant difference could indicate issues with initial budgeting, scope changes during procurement, or the competitive dynamics of the bidding process.

What were the key performance metrics and milestones for H B A Contractors Inc. during the contract period?

The provided data does not detail the key performance metrics or milestones established for H B A Contractors Inc. during the contract period (2010-2015). Typically, federal construction contracts include specific deliverables, quality standards, safety requirements, and completion deadlines for various project phases. Performance would likely be monitored by GSA contracting officers and project managers. Without access to the contract's statement of work or performance reports, it's difficult to assess how effectively the contractor met these expectations or if any penalties or incentives were applied based on performance.

Were there any significant change orders or contract modifications issued to H B A Contractors Inc. during the contract's lifespan?

The provided data does not specify whether any change orders or contract modifications were issued to H B A Contractors Inc. during the contract's lifespan. Construction projects, especially those spanning several years, often encounter unforeseen conditions or design adjustments that necessitate modifications. Such changes can impact the contract's total value and timeline. Analyzing contract modification history, if available through sources like the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS), would reveal if the project scope evolved and how those changes were managed and priced.

What is the typical cost per parking space for a federal parking garage of this scale in similar geographic regions?

Determining a precise 'typical' cost per parking space for a federal garage of this scale in similar regions is complex due to variations in construction costs, site conditions, design complexity, and market dynamics. However, industry benchmarks for parking garage construction can range widely, often from $20,000 to $50,000 or more per space. For a $19.77 million project, if it accommodates, for example, 500 spaces, the cost per space would be approximately $39,540. This figure would need to be compared against specific regional construction cost indices and data for comparable federal facilities to ascertain if it falls within a reasonable range. Factors like seismic requirements, material costs in Puerto Rico, and specific GSA design standards would influence this benchmark.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Construction › Nonresidential Building Construction › Commercial and Institutional Building Construction

Product/Service Code: CONSTRUCT OF STRUCTURES/FACILITIES › CONSTRUCT NONBUILDING FACILITIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: GS-02P-10-DT-C-0005

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 804 AVE PONCE DE LEON # 502, SAN JUAN, PR, 00907

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Emerging Small Business, HUBZone Firm, Labor Surplus Area Firm, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $20,631,369

Exercised Options: $20,631,369

Current Obligation: $20,631,369

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline