NASA Awards $20.3M Contract for Emergency Operations Center Construction to Starks Contracting Company
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $20,335,597 ($20.3M)
Contractor: Starks Contracting Company, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2006-11-17
End Date: 2009-06-13
Contract Duration: 939 days
Daily Burn Rate: $21.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Construction
Official Description: CONSTRUCTION OF THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER
Place of Performance
Location: STENNIS SPACE CENTER, HANCOCK County, MISSISSIPPI, 39529
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $20.3 million to STARKS CONTRACTING COMPANY, INC. for work described as: CONSTRUCTION OF THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER Key points: 1. The contract value of $20.3 million falls within a typical range for large-scale construction projects. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The project duration of 939 days indicates a significant undertaking. 4. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which transfers cost overrun risk to the contractor.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $20.3 million appears reasonable for the construction of an emergency operations center, a specialized facility. Benchmarking against similar government construction projects of this scale would provide further validation.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified contractors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and ensures the government receives the best value.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition is expected to yield a fair price for taxpayers by leveraging market forces.
Public Impact
Ensures critical infrastructure for emergency response is established. Supports local economy through construction jobs and contractor engagement. Provides a secure and functional facility for NASA's operational needs.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for schedule delays in large construction projects.
- Ensuring the facility meets all specialized operational requirements.
Positive Signals
- Firm Fixed Price contract limits cost escalation risk for the government.
- Full and open competition likely resulted in a competitive price.
- Project located in Mississippi, potentially supporting regional economic development.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under industrial building construction, a sector critical for government infrastructure. Spending in this sector can vary significantly based on agency needs and economic conditions. NASA's investment in an EOC highlights its commitment to operational resilience.
Small Business Impact
While the prime contractor is Starks Contracting Company, Inc., the data does not specify the extent of small business participation through subcontracting. Further analysis would be needed to determine the impact on small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
The award process under full and open competition suggests a structured procurement. Oversight during construction will be crucial to ensure quality, adherence to schedule, and budget compliance.
Related Government Programs
- Industrial Building Construction
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for construction delays.
- Ensuring specialized facility requirements are met.
- Need for detailed oversight during the long construction period.
- Lack of explicit small business subcontracting data.
Tags
industrial-building-construction, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ms, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $20.3 million to STARKS CONTRACTING COMPANY, INC.. CONSTRUCTION OF THE EMERGENCY OPERATION CENTER
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is STARKS CONTRACTING COMPANY, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $20.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2006-11-17. End: 2009-06-13.
What is the benchmark cost per square foot for similar emergency operations centers in the region?
Benchmarking the cost per square foot for similar emergency operations centers in Mississippi or comparable regions is essential. Without specific project details like square footage and specialized equipment, a precise comparison is difficult. However, typical government construction costs for specialized facilities can range widely, and this $20.3 million contract would need to be evaluated against known cost data for similar scope and complexity to ensure value.
What are the key performance indicators and potential risks associated with the 939-day construction timeline?
The 939-day timeline for constructing an Emergency Operations Center presents several potential risks, including weather delays, material shortages, labor availability, and unforeseen site conditions. Key performance indicators should focus on milestone completion, adherence to budget, quality control, and safety compliance. NASA's oversight will be critical in monitoring progress and mitigating risks to ensure the facility is delivered functional and on time.
How effectively does the Firm Fixed Price contract protect NASA from cost overruns given the project's complexity?
A Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contract effectively transfers the risk of cost overruns to the contractor, Starks Contracting Company, Inc. This means NASA is obligated to pay the agreed-upon price regardless of the contractor's actual costs. While FFP is beneficial for budget certainty, NASA must ensure the initial scope and specifications were comprehensive to avoid change orders that could increase the total cost, and maintain rigorous oversight to ensure quality.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Construction › Nonresidential Building Construction › Industrial 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
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1538 POPPS FERRY RD, BILOXI, MS, 04
Business Categories: Category Business, Emerging Small Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $20,335,597
Exercised Options: $20,335,597
Current Obligation: $20,335,597
Timeline
Start Date: 2006-11-17
Current End Date: 2009-06-13
Potential End Date: 2009-06-13 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2011-05-23
Other National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracts
- International Space Station — $22.4B (THE Boeing Company)
- TAS::80 0124::TAS Design, Development, Test&evaluation of Project Orion — $15.5B (Lockheed Martin Corp)
- Provide Developmental Hardware and Test Articles, and Manufacture and Assemble Ares I Upper Stages. the Upper Stage (US) Element IS an Integral Part of the Ares I Launch Vehicle and Provides the Second Stage of Flight. the US Element IS Responsible for the Roll Control During the First Stage Burn and Separation; and Will Provide the Guidance and Navigation, Command and Data Handling, and Other Avionics Functions for the Ares I During ALL Phases of the Ascent Flight. the US Element IS a NEW Design That Emphasizes Safety, Operability, and Minimum Life Cycle Cost. the Overall Design, Development, Test and Evaluation (ddt&e), Production, and Sustaining Engineering Efforts Include Activities Performed by Three Organizations; the Nasa Design Team (NDT), the Upper Stage Production Contractor (uspc) and the Instrument Unit Production Contractor (iupc). for Clarity, the Uspc Will BE Referred to AS the Contractor Throughout This Document. Nasa IS Responsible for the Integration of the Primary Elements of the Ares I Launch Vehicle Including: the First Stage, US Including Instrument Unit (IU), and US Engine; and Will Also Integrate the Ares I Launch Vehicle AT the Launch Site. Nasa IS Responsible for the Ddt&e, Including Technical and Programmatic Integration of the US Subsystems and Government-Furnished Property. Nasa Will Lead the Effort to Develop the Requirements and Specifications of the US Element, the Development Plan and Testing Requirements, and ALL Design Documentation, Initial Manufacturing and Assembly Process Planning, Logistics Planning, and Operations Support Planning. Development, Qualification, and Acceptance Testing Will BE Conducted by Nasa and the Contractor to Satisfy Requirements and for Risk Mitigation. Nasa IS Responsible for the Overall Upper Stage Verification and Validation Process and Will Require Support From the Contractor. the Contractor IS Responsible for the Manufacture and Assembly of the Upper Stage Test Flight and Operational Upper Stage Units Including the Installation of Upper Stage Instrument Unit, the Government-Furnished US Engine, Booster Separation Motors, and Other Government-Furnished Property. a Description of the Nasa Managed and Performed Efforts IS Contained in the US Work Packages and Will BE Made Available to the Contractor to Ensure Their Understanding of the Roles and Responsibilities of the NDT, Iupc, and Contractor During the Design, Development, and Operation of the US Element. the US Conceptual Design Described in the Uso-Clv-Se-25704 US Design Definition Document (DDD) IS the Baseline Design for This Contract. the Contractors Early Role Will BE to Provide Producibility Engineering Support to Nasa VIA the Established US Office Structure and to Provide Inputs Into the Final Design Configuration, Specifications, and Standards. Nasa Will Transition the Manufacturing and Assembly, Logistics Support Infrastructure, Configuration Management, and the Sustaining Engineering Functions to the Contractor AT the KEY Points During the Development and Implementation of the Program Currently Planned to Occur NO Later Than 90 Days After the Completion of the Following Major Milestones: Manufacturing and Assembly US Preliminary Design Review (PDR) Logistics Support Infrastructure US PDR Configuration Management US Critical Design Review CDR) Sustaining Engineering US Design Certification Review (DCR) After the Completion of an Orderly Transition of Roles and Responsibilities to the Contractor, Nasa Will Assume an Insight Role Into the Contractors Production, Sustaining Engineering, and Operations Support of the Ares I US Test Program and Flight Hardware. After DCR, the Contractor Will BE Responsible for Sustaining Engineering PER SOW Section 4.7, AS Necessary to Maintain and Support the US Configuration and for Production and Operations Support — $10.5B (THE Boeing Company)
- Space Program Operations Contract (spoc) — $8.5B (United Space Alliance, LLC)
- Joint Us/Russian Human Space Flight Activities — $4.7B (Russia Space Agency)
View all National Aeronautics and Space Administration contracts →