GSA's $26.9M Paso del Norte Port of Entry project awarded to Turner Tompkins Sambrano, completed in 2009

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $26,903,695 ($26.9M)

Contractor: Turner Tompkins Sambrano

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2006-09-29

End Date: 2009-06-26

Contract Duration: 1,001 days

Daily Burn Rate: $26.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: MODERNIZATION AND EXPANSION DESIGN/BUILD PROJECT, PASO DEL NORTE PORT OF ENTRY, EL PASO, TX

Place of Performance

Location: EL PASO, EL PASO County, TEXAS, 79901

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $26.9 million to TURNER TOMPKINS SAMBRANO for work described as: MODERNIZATION AND EXPANSION DESIGN/BUILD PROJECT, PASO DEL NORTE PORT OF ENTRY, EL PASO, TX Key points: 1. Project aimed at modernizing and expanding a key border crossing. 2. Contract utilized a firm-fixed-price structure, indicating defined cost expectations. 3. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process. 4. The project duration was approximately 1001 days. 5. Geographic focus on El Paso, Texas, highlighting infrastructure development in border regions. 6. The contract was awarded by the General Services Administration's Public Buildings Service.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $26.9 million for a port of entry modernization and expansion appears within a reasonable range for such infrastructure projects, though specific benchmarks are difficult to ascertain without detailed scope comparisons. The firm-fixed-price contract suggests that cost certainty was a priority. However, without access to the detailed project scope, change order history, and final cost compared to the initial bid, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The award amount was very close to the reported bid amount, suggesting efficient pricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The presence of two bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this project. While two bidders are better than one, a higher number of bids would typically lead to more aggressive pricing and potentially better value for the government. The specific details of the bidding process and evaluation criteria would provide further insight into the effectiveness of the competition.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can drive down costs and encourage innovation. In this case, having at least two bidders suggests that the government received multiple offers, which likely contributed to a more competitive price than a sole-source award.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are federal agencies responsible for border security and customs, as well as the public utilizing the port of entry. The project delivered modernized and expanded facilities for the Paso del Norte Port of Entry. The geographic impact is concentrated in El Paso, Texas, a significant border city. The project likely involved a construction workforce, contributing to local employment during its execution.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope creep occurred, though less likely with a firm-fixed-price contract.
Dependence on a single contractor for a critical infrastructure project carries inherent risks.
The limited number of bidders (two) might indicate potential barriers to entry or a niche market for such specialized construction.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Awarded under full and open competition, ensuring a broad range of potential contractors could bid.
Project completion within the specified timeframe (though exact adherence requires further data) is a positive signal.
The award amount was very close to the bid amount, suggesting good initial pricing.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, specifically related to government infrastructure development. The market for large-scale public works projects like port of entry expansions is often characterized by a limited number of specialized firms capable of undertaking such complex endeavors. Benchmarking requires comparison with similar federal or state-level construction projects of comparable scale and complexity, which are not readily available in this context.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a primary focus, as the contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the 'sb' field is false. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses. Without specific subcontracting goals or reporting, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is unclear, though large construction projects often involve a tiered subcontracting structure where smaller firms may participate.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this project would have been primarily managed by the General Services Administration (GSA), specifically its Public Buildings Service. Accountability measures would be embedded in the contract terms, including performance standards, payment schedules tied to milestones, and potential penalties for non-compliance. Transparency is typically facilitated through contract award databases and public reporting, though detailed project execution documentation may be less accessible.

Related Government Programs

Border Infrastructure Projects
Port of Entry Modernization
Federal Building Construction
General Services Administration Contracts

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns if scope creep occurred.
Risk associated with reliance on a limited number of bidders.
Need for detailed post-completion analysis to fully assess value for money.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $26.9 million to TURNER TOMPKINS SAMBRANO. MODERNIZATION AND EXPANSION DESIGN/BUILD PROJECT, PASO DEL NORTE PORT OF ENTRY, EL PASO, TX

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TURNER TOMPKINS SAMBRANO.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $26.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-09-29. End: 2009-06-26.

What was the specific scope of work for the modernization and expansion design/build project at the Paso del Norte Port of Entry?

The provided data indicates the project involved 'MODERNIZATION AND EXPANSION DESIGN/BUILD' for the Paso del Norte Port of Entry in El Paso, TX. While the exact specifications are not detailed, such projects typically encompass upgrades to existing facilities, construction of new structures to increase capacity, improvements to traffic flow, enhanced security features, and integration of modern technology for customs and immigration processing. The 'design/build' nature suggests the contractor was responsible for both the architectural/engineering design and the subsequent construction phases.

How did the final cost compare to the initial bid amount of $26,877,000?

The award amount was $26,903,695, which is very close to the reported bid amount of $26,877,000. This indicates a minimal difference of approximately $26,695, or about 0.1% higher than the bid. Such a small variance suggests that the project was executed very close to the initially proposed cost, which is a positive indicator for cost control and accurate initial bidding, especially for a project of this magnitude.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how was performance measured?

Specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract are not detailed in the provided data. However, for a design/build construction project of this nature, typical KPIs would include adherence to the project schedule (original completion date was June 26, 2009), quality of construction meeting specified standards, safety compliance on the job site, and successful completion of all design and build elements as per the contract requirements. Performance would likely have been monitored through regular site inspections, progress reports, and milestone reviews by the GSA.

Were there any significant challenges or change orders during the project lifecycle?

The provided data does not contain information regarding specific challenges or change orders encountered during the project's lifecycle. However, large-scale construction projects, especially those involving modernization and expansion of critical infrastructure like a port of entry, often face unforeseen issues such as subsurface conditions, design modifications, or regulatory changes. The firm-fixed-price contract structure implies that the contractor bore the risk for cost increases unless changes were formally approved as scope modifications.

What is the historical spending trend for similar port of entry modernization projects by the GSA?

Historical spending trends for similar port of entry modernization projects by the GSA are not directly available from the provided data. However, the GSA's Public Buildings Service is responsible for managing federal building infrastructure, including ports of entry. Spending on such projects can fluctuate based on federal appropriations, national security priorities, and the aging of existing infrastructure. Generally, these are significant capital investments, often costing tens to hundreds of millions of dollars, depending on the scale and complexity of the modernization and expansion.

What is the significance of the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 236220 for this contract?

The NAICS code 236220 signifies 'Commercial and Institutional Building Construction.' This classification indicates that the primary activity of the contractor, Turner Tompkins Sambrano, for this specific contract was the construction of non-residential buildings intended for commercial or institutional use. For a port of entry, this includes the construction of facilities for customs, immigration, inspection, administrative offices, and related infrastructure, falling squarely under the purview of commercial and institutional building construction.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: CONSTRUCT OF STRUCTURES/FACILITIES › CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: GS-07P-06-UK-C-0036

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1333H ST N W STE 200, WASHINGTON, DC, 98

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $26,903,695

Exercised Options: $26,903,695

Current Obligation: $26,903,695

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline