GSA's $14.17M A/E Design Services Contract for San Ysidro Border Station Awarded to RossDrulisCusenbery Architecture

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,173,751 ($14.2M)

Contractor: Rossdruliscusenbery Architecture, Inc.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2005-01-31

End Date: 2012-10-30

Contract Duration: 2,829 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: A/E DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE SAN YSIDRO BORDER STATION.

Place of Performance

Location: SAN FRANCISCO, SAN FRANCISCO County, CALIFORNIA, 94102

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $14.2 million to ROSSDRULISCUSENBERY ARCHITECTURE, INC. for work described as: A/E DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE SAN YSIDRO BORDER STATION. Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 2829 days (over 7 years) indicates a long-term need for design services. 3. The firm-fixed-price contract type aims to control costs by establishing a set price upfront. 4. The contract was awarded by the General Services Administration (GSA), a major federal real estate agency. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 236220 points to commercial and institutional building construction services. 6. The contract was awarded in 2005 and completed in 2012, providing historical performance data. 7. The contract was awarded to a single contractor, RossDrulisCusenbery Architecture, Inc.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific A/E design services contract is challenging without comparable project data from the same period and region. The total award amount of $14.17 million over nearly 8 years suggests a significant investment in the San Ysidro Border Station. The firm-fixed-price structure indicates an attempt to manage cost certainty, but the overall value for money would depend on the quality of the design, adherence to budget, and the final construction costs that resulted from these designs. Without further details on the scope of work and deliverables, a precise value assessment is difficult.

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 a bid. The presence of 3 bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this design services contract. While more than one bidder is positive, a higher number of bidders typically leads to more robust price discovery and potentially lower prices for the government. The specific number of bidders (3) implies that the market for these specialized architectural and engineering services was not overly saturated but did attract multiple interested firms.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition with multiple bidders generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a more competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and a wider selection of qualified contractors.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are federal agencies operating at the San Ysidro Border Station, who will utilize the improved facilities. The contract delivered architectural and engineering design services essential for the modernization or construction of border infrastructure. The geographic impact is concentrated in San Ysidro, California, a key point of entry. The contract supported the architecture and engineering workforce, likely including designers, drafters, and project managers.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if the fixed price did not adequately account for all design complexities.
Risk of design flaws impacting subsequent construction phases if quality control was insufficient.
Dependence on a single contractor for an extended period could limit flexibility.
The relatively low number of bidders (3) might indicate limited market interest or high barriers to entry for this type of specialized work.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, ensuring a broad base of potential contractors.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Long contract duration suggests a sustained commitment and potential for deep expertise development.
Contract completed within its awarded timeframe (though specific performance metrics are not detailed).

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Architecture and Engineering (A/E) services sector, specifically related to commercial and institutional building construction. The market for A/E services is driven by government infrastructure projects, private development, and the need for specialized design expertise. Federal spending in this area often supports large-scale projects like border stations, courthouses, and federal office buildings. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other GSA or Department of Homeland Security contracts for similar design services on large federal facilities.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false) and there is no specific mention of small business subcontracting goals (sb: false). This suggests that the primary award was made to a large business, and opportunities for small businesses would likely be through subcontracting if initiated by the prime contractor. Without explicit subcontracting plans or data, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this specific prime contract is unclear, though it represents a significant federal investment in the construction design sector.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) is responsible for overseeing this contract. Oversight mechanisms would typically include contract administration, performance monitoring, and financial oversight to ensure compliance with terms and conditions. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected during the contract's lifecycle. The firm-fixed-price nature of the contract implies a focus on adherence to the agreed-upon scope and cost.

Related Government Programs

Federal Border Infrastructure Projects
GSA Public Buildings Service Contracts
Architectural and Engineering Design Services
Commercial and Institutional Building Construction Contracts

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase risk of scope creep or requirement changes.
Limited number of bidders could indicate market concentration or barriers to entry.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes objective value assessment difficult.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $14.2 million to ROSSDRULISCUSENBERY ARCHITECTURE, INC.. A/E DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE SAN YSIDRO BORDER STATION.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ROSSDRULISCUSENBERY ARCHITECTURE, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-01-31. End: 2012-10-30.

What was the specific scope of work for the A/E design services provided under this contract?

The contract, identified by NAICS code 236220 (Commercial and Institutional Building Construction), was for 'A/E DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE SAN YSIDRO BORDER STATION.' While the exact deliverables are not detailed in the provided data, A/E design services typically encompass preliminary design, schematic design, design development, construction documents, and potentially construction administration. For a border station, this could include architectural plans, structural engineering, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) systems design, site planning, and coordination with various security and operational requirements specific to a port of entry. The duration of nearly eight years suggests a comprehensive design process, possibly involving multiple phases or significant revisions.

How does the $14.17 million award amount compare to similar A/E design contracts for federal facilities?

Comparing the $14.17 million award for A/E design services requires context regarding the scale and complexity of the San Ysidro Border Station project. Large-scale federal infrastructure projects, especially those involving border security and international ports of entry, often command significant design budgets. Without specific details on the square footage, scope of renovation or new construction, and the specific design challenges (e.g., seismic requirements, advanced technology integration), a direct comparison is difficult. However, GSA and other agencies frequently award multi-million dollar contracts for the design of major federal buildings. The number of bidders (3) suggests that while the contract was substantial, it may not have attracted an exceptionally large pool of competitors, potentially indicating a specialized market or high barriers to entry.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate RossDrulisCusenbery Architecture's performance?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate RossDrulisCusenbery Architecture's performance on this contract. Typically, for A/E design services, KPIs would focus on adherence to schedule, staying within budget constraints for the design phase, the quality and completeness of design documents, responsiveness to government feedback, and compliance with relevant building codes and standards. Successful completion of the contract (indicated by the end date) suggests that performance met the minimum requirements, but without explicit performance metrics or ratings, a detailed assessment of their track record on this specific project is not possible.

What is the historical spending pattern for A/E design services at the San Ysidro Border Station or similar border facilities?

The provided data only details one contract ($14.17M) awarded in 2005 for A/E design services for the San Ysidro Border Station. To establish a historical spending pattern, one would need to examine contract awards by the General Services Administration (GSA), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), or other relevant agencies for this specific location and for similar border facilities across the US over an extended period. This would involve searching databases like FPDS or USASpending for contracts related to design, construction, renovation, and maintenance of ports of entry. Understanding historical spending would reveal trends in contract values, types of services procured, and the frequency of such awards.

Were there any significant risks identified during the contract lifecycle, and how were they mitigated?

The provided summary data does not explicitly list identified risks or mitigation strategies for this contract. However, common risks in large A/E design contracts include scope creep, unforeseen site conditions, delays in government reviews and approvals, contractor performance issues, and budget overruns. Given the firm-fixed-price nature, the primary risk for the government would be receiving substandard design work that necessitates costly corrections later, or the contractor failing to deliver the full scope. Mitigation would typically involve robust contract oversight, clear communication channels, phased reviews of design deliverables, and potentially performance bonds. The long duration (nearly 8 years) might have presented risks related to changing requirements or technology, which would need active management.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, ALTER REAL PROPERTY › MAINT, ALTER, REPAIR BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: GS-09P-03-KTC-0091

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 18294 SONOMA HWY, SONOMA, CA, 04

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $14,173,751

Exercised Options: $14,173,751

Current Obligation: $14,173,751

Timeline