DoD Awards $160.5M Hurricane Florence Recovery Contract to Whiting-Turner for North Carolina Construction

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $160,550,042 ($160.6M)

Contractor: Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, the

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-08-12

End Date: 2025-08-12

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 11

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: HURRICANE FLORENCE RECOVERY MILCON PACKAGE 1, P162F, PP254F, P246F, P142F,&P130F.

Place of Performance

Location: HAVELOCK, CRAVEN County, NORTH CAROLINA, 28532

State: North Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $160.6 million to WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE for work described as: HURRICANE FLORENCE RECOVERY MILCON PACKAGE 1, P162F, PP254F, P246F, P142F,&P130F. Key points: 1. The contract is for hurricane recovery efforts in North Carolina, indicating a specific regional need. 2. Whiting-Turner Contracting Company is the sole awardee, raising questions about the breadth of competition. 3. The award is a definitive contract with a firm fixed price, providing cost certainty. 4. The project falls under Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, a significant sector for infrastructure. 5. The absence of small business participation is noted.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The $160.5 million award appears to be a substantial investment for hurricane recovery construction. Benchmarking against similar large-scale recovery projects would be necessary for a precise value assessment, but the scale suggests significant rebuilding needs.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting multiple bids were solicited. However, the award to a single entity, Whiting-Turner, warrants further examination to ensure the most competitive pricing was achieved.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being utilized for essential post-disaster infrastructure repair and rebuilding, aiming to restore critical facilities and support community recovery.

Public Impact

Direct impact on rebuilding infrastructure in North Carolina following Hurricane Florence. Potential for job creation and economic activity in the construction sector within the affected region. Ensures the restoration of essential government facilities and institutional buildings damaged by the hurricane. Highlights the government's commitment to disaster preparedness and recovery operations.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of small business participation
Single awardee despite full and open competition

Positive Signals

Firm fixed price contract for cost certainty
Focus on critical hurricane recovery efforts
Awarded under full and open competition

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, which is vital for public infrastructure and government facilities. Spending in this sector can fluctuate significantly based on disaster recovery needs and infrastructure investment cycles.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small businesses were not involved in this specific contract award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if opportunities were overlooked or if the project's scope inherently limited small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of the Navy, under the Department of Defense, is responsible for oversight. The use of a definitive contract with a set end date suggests a structured approach to managing the project and its associated costs.

Related Government Programs

Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Navy Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for limited competition despite 'full and open' designation.
Lack of small business participation.
Complexity of large-scale disaster recovery projects can lead to cost overruns.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical recovery efforts.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $160.6 million to WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE. HURRICANE FLORENCE RECOVERY MILCON PACKAGE 1, P162F, PP254F, P246F, P142F,&P130F.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Navy).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $160.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-08-12. End: 2025-08-12.

What specific types of facilities are included in this hurricane recovery package, and how do their estimated repair costs compare to industry benchmarks for similar structures?

The contract encompasses various facilities damaged by Hurricane Florence, likely including administrative buildings, barracks, and potentially specialized operational structures. A detailed breakdown of facility types and their individual repair scopes is needed to compare costs against industry benchmarks for commercial and institutional building construction. This would reveal if the $160.5 million allocation is reasonable for the scope of work.

Given the 'full and open competition' designation, why was the contract ultimately awarded to a single entity, and what measures were in place to ensure robust price discovery?

While designated 'full and open,' the award to a single entity, Whiting-Turner, suggests that either only one bid met all requirements, or the evaluation process favored a specific proposal significantly. Robust price discovery would typically involve multiple competitive bids and thorough cost analysis. Further review of the solicitation and evaluation criteria is necessary to understand the competitive landscape and confirm fair pricing.

What is the projected timeline for completion, and are there performance metrics to ensure the effectiveness and timely execution of the recovery efforts?

The contract's stated start and end dates are both August 12, 2025, suggesting a projected completion within approximately one year. While the firm fixed price offers cost control, specific performance metrics and milestones are crucial for ensuring the effectiveness and timeliness of the hurricane recovery work. These would typically be detailed in the contract's statement of work and performance clauses.

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: TWO STEP

Solicitation ID: N4008519R9251

Offers Received: 11

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 300 E JOPPA RD, BALTIMORE, MD, 21286

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $163,139,260

Exercised Options: $160,550,042

Current Obligation: $160,550,042

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline