DoD awards $21.5M contract for structural engineering services, raising questions about competition and value

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $21,529,771 ($21.5M)

Contractor: K.C.E. Structural Engineers, P.C

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2001-09-21

End Date: 2004-08-12

Contract Duration: 1,056 days

Daily Burn Rate: $20.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COMBINATION (TWO OR MORE)

Sector: Other

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22201

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $21.5 million to K.C.E. STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, P.C for work described as: Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $21.5 million awarded. 2. Lack of competition raises concerns about price discovery. 3. Potential for taxpayer savings through competitive bidding. 4. Services provided to the Department of Defense, a major spending sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $21.5 million for structural engineering services is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price represents fair market value compared to similar services procured through open competition.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source or limited competition award. This significantly limits price discovery and may lead to higher costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition means taxpayers may have paid a premium for these services, as there was no market pressure to drive down costs.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may have overpaid due to the lack of competitive bidding. The Department of Defense's reliance on non-competed contracts warrants scrutiny. Ensuring fair market value for government services is crucial for fiscal responsibility.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for overpayment
Limited transparency

Positive Signals

Essential services provided
Contract awarded to a specific firm

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the professional services sector, specifically engineering. Spending in this area is common across government agencies, but competitive procurement is key to ensuring value.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further investigation would be needed to assess small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The non-competed nature of this award suggests a potential gap in oversight or justification for sole-source procurement. Robust oversight is needed to ensure competitive practices are followed where possible.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense Contracting
Washington Headquarters Services Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of documented justification for non-competition
Potential for inflated pricing
Limited transparency in award process

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $21.5 million to K.C.E. STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, P.C. See the official description on USAspending.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is K.C.E. STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, P.C.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Washington Headquarters Services).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $21.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2001-09-21. End: 2004-08-12.

What was the justification for not competing this significant contract, and was it adequately documented?

The justification for not competing this $21.5 million contract is not provided in the data. Typically, sole-source awards require detailed documentation demonstrating why competition was not feasible or would not be in the government's best interest, such as unique capabilities or urgent needs.

How does the awarded price compare to industry benchmarks for similar structural engineering services procured competitively?

Without competitive bidding data, a direct comparison is challenging. However, the absence of competition raises a red flag. A thorough review would involve benchmarking against publicly available data for similar government or private sector contracts awarded through competitive processes to identify potential cost discrepancies.

What mechanisms are in place to ensure accountability and prevent future non-competed awards without proper justification?

Accountability for non-competed awards relies on agency procurement regulations, oversight bodies like the Government Accountability Office (GAO), and internal agency review processes. Agencies should have clear policies and training to ensure justifications for sole-source awards are robust and that competition is pursued whenever feasible.

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COMBINATION (TWO OR MORE) (2)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1818 JEFFERSON PLACE, NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 98

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline