GSA Awards $23.3M for Architectural Services to Shalom Baranes Associates via Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,275,314 ($23.3M)

Contractor: Shalom Baranes Associates, P.C.

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2003-12-17

End Date: 2015-12-31

Contract Duration: 4,397 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: PROVIDE THE NECESSARY LABOR, MATERIAL, AND EQUIPMENT TO PROFORM THE FOLLOWING WORK:

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20405

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $23.3 million to SHALOM BARANES ASSOCIATES, P.C. for work described as: PROVIDE THE NECESSARY LABOR, MATERIAL, AND EQUIPMENT TO PROFORM THE FOLLOWING WORK: Key points: 1. Contract awarded for architectural services, indicating a need for design and planning expertise. 2. The awardee, Shalom Baranes Associates, P.C., is a specialized firm in this domain. 3. A significant contract value of $23.3 million suggests a large-scale or complex project. 4. The use of 'Full and Open Competition' implies a robust bidding process.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $23.3 million for architectural services appears reasonable given the duration and the nature of the work. Benchmarking against similar large-scale public building projects would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting multiple bidders participated. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and allows the government to select the best value offer.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive bidding process likely resulted in a fair market price, maximizing the value of taxpayer dollars spent on essential architectural services.

Public Impact

Public buildings will benefit from professional architectural design and planning. The contract supports the modernization or construction of federal facilities. Taxpayers can expect improved infrastructure through well-designed public spaces.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Contract duration is exceptionally long (over 12 years).
No small business participation noted.

Positive Signals

Awarded via full and open competition.
Firm fixed price contract type.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Architectural Services sector, which is crucial for public infrastructure development. Spending in this sector is driven by government needs for facility design, renovation, and construction.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small businesses were not involved in this contract, as the 'sb' field is false. Future contracts could explore opportunities for small business participation in architectural services.

Oversight & Accountability

The use of 'Full and Open Competition' and a 'Firm Fixed Price' contract type suggests established oversight mechanisms. However, the long contract duration warrants scrutiny to ensure continued value and performance.

Related Government Programs

Architectural Services
General Services Administration Contracting
Public Buildings Service Programs

Risk Flags

Unusually long contract duration (12+ years).
No indication of small business participation.
Lack of specific project details.
Potential for price drift over extended period.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $23.3 million to SHALOM BARANES ASSOCIATES, P.C.. PROVIDE THE NECESSARY LABOR, MATERIAL, AND EQUIPMENT TO PROFORM THE FOLLOWING WORK:

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SHALOM BARANES ASSOCIATES, P.C..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $23.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-12-17. End: 2015-12-31.

What specific architectural projects were undertaken under this contract, and did they meet the initial objectives?

The provided data does not detail the specific projects. Further investigation into contract modifications, performance reports, and project completion records would be necessary to assess if the architectural services delivered met the initial objectives and requirements set forth by the General Services Administration.

Given the 12-year duration, were there mechanisms to re-evaluate pricing or scope to ensure continued cost-effectiveness?

The contract's firm fixed price structure suggests pricing was set at the outset. However, the exceptionally long duration (2003-2015) raises questions about potential price escalations or the need for scope adjustments. Oversight should confirm if any formal review or modification processes were employed to maintain cost-effectiveness over such an extended period.

How did the 'Full and Open Competition' process ensure the selection of the most qualified firm for these long-term architectural needs?

Full and open competition typically involves a rigorous evaluation of proposals based on technical qualifications, past performance, and price. For a long-term contract, the selection process likely emphasized the firm's capacity to handle sustained, complex architectural work and its ability to adapt to evolving project needs over the contract's lifespan.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Architectural Services

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Contractor Details

Address: 3299 K ST NW STE 400, WASHINGTON, DC, 20007

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,674,951

Exercised Options: $23,674,951

Current Obligation: $23,275,314

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline