State Department's $61.8M construction contract for Brazzaville, Congo, awarded to BL Harbert International LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $61,854,651 ($61.9M)

Contractor: BL Harbert International LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2007-01-11

End Date: 2014-11-24

Contract Duration: 2,874 days

Daily Burn Rate: $21.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: NEC FOR BRAZZAVILLE, CONGO

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $61.9 million to BL HARBERT INTERNATIONAL LLC for work described as: NEC FOR BRAZZAVILLE, CONGO Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract duration of 2874 days (over 7 years) indicates a long-term infrastructure project. 3. Firm Fixed Price contract type helps manage cost certainty for the government. 4. The project involved commercial and institutional building construction, a significant undertaking for overseas operations. 5. Awarded by the Department of State, highlighting the importance of diplomatic infrastructure. 6. No small business set-aside was utilized, indicating the prime contractor was not a small business.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific project details or comparable overseas construction costs. The total award amount of $61.8 million over nearly 8 years suggests a substantial investment in diplomatic facilities. However, without knowing the scope of work, specific construction requirements, or prevailing labor and material costs in Brazzaville, it's difficult to definitively assess value for money. The firm fixed price contract offers some cost control, but the long duration could introduce risks if market conditions change significantly.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 3 bids indicates a degree of competition, though the exact number of interested parties or the rigor of the competition cannot be fully determined from the data alone. A competitive process is generally expected to yield better pricing and terms for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is the preferred method for maximizing taxpayer value by encouraging multiple bidders to offer their best pricing and technical solutions.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the U.S. Department of State and its personnel, who will utilize the constructed facilities. The contract delivered essential commercial and institutional building construction services. The geographic impact is localized to Brazzaville, Congo, supporting U.S. diplomatic presence. The project likely involved a significant workforce, including skilled construction labor, both local and potentially international.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long contract duration (nearly 8 years) can increase the risk of cost overruns due to inflation or unforeseen site conditions.
Overseas construction projects can face unique logistical challenges and political risks not present in domestic projects.
Limited information on the specific scope of work makes it difficult to assess if the final cost aligns with the delivered value.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, which typically drives better pricing.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The contractor, BL Harbert International LLC, is an established entity in large-scale construction projects.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the construction sector, specifically commercial and institutional building. The global construction market is vast, with significant government spending on infrastructure and facilities, particularly for overseas diplomatic missions. Such projects require specialized expertise in managing complex logistics, security, and adherence to international building standards. The value of this contract, over $61 million, places it in the category of major infrastructure development for a specific location.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the scale and complexity of the project were likely beyond the typical capacity of small businesses, or that the competition was structured in a way that favored larger, more experienced firms. There is no information provided on subcontracting plans, so the extent to which small businesses may have participated indirectly is unknown.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of State's contracting officers and potentially its Office of Inspector General. The firm fixed price nature of the contract and the long duration would necessitate regular monitoring of performance, adherence to specifications, and financial reporting. Transparency is generally maintained through contract awards databases, but detailed project-specific oversight mechanisms are internal to the agency.

Related Government Programs

Department of State Construction Projects
Overseas Building Operations
Federal Construction Contracts
International Infrastructure Development

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may increase exposure to market volatility and unforeseen issues.
Overseas projects inherently carry higher logistical and geopolitical risks.
Lack of detailed scope prevents a full value-for-money assessment.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $61.9 million to BL HARBERT INTERNATIONAL LLC. NEC FOR BRAZZAVILLE, CONGO

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BL HARBERT INTERNATIONAL LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of State (Department of State).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $61.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-01-11. End: 2014-11-24.

What was the specific scope of work for the commercial and institutional building construction in Brazzaville?

The provided data does not detail the specific scope of work for the construction project in Brazzaville, Congo. It broadly categorizes the work as 'Commercial and Institutional Building Construction' (NA: 236220). This typically includes the erection or renovation of buildings such as offices, government facilities, or public institutions. Without further documentation, it's impossible to know the exact size, features, or purpose of the facilities constructed under this $61.8 million contract. Understanding the detailed scope is crucial for a comprehensive value assessment and for comparing it to similar projects.

How does the per-square-foot construction cost compare to similar projects in Sub-Saharan Africa or for U.S. diplomatic facilities?

Calculating a precise per-square-foot cost is not possible with the given data, as the total square footage of the constructed facility is not provided. Furthermore, direct comparisons are difficult due to variations in construction materials, labor costs, security requirements, and logistical challenges inherent in overseas projects, especially in regions like Sub-Saharan Africa. U.S. diplomatic facilities often have stringent security and construction standards that can increase costs compared to purely commercial projects. Without specific cost breakdowns and project dimensions, benchmarking is speculative.

What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate BL Harbert International LLC's performance on this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate BL Harbert International LLC's performance. For a contract of this magnitude and duration, typical KPIs would likely include adherence to project timelines, quality of construction, compliance with safety standards, budget management (within the fixed price), and responsiveness to any change orders or unforeseen issues. The Department of State's contracting officer and project managers would have been responsible for monitoring these aspects throughout the contract's lifecycle.

Were there any significant cost changes or contract modifications throughout the 2874-day duration?

The provided summary data does not indicate whether there were significant cost changes or contract modifications. A contract duration of 2874 days (approximately 7.9 years) is substantial, and it is common for long-term projects to undergo modifications due to evolving requirements, unforeseen site conditions, or changes in material costs. However, without access to the contract's modification history, it's impossible to determine if such changes occurred or if they impacted the total award amount beyond the initial $61.8 million.

What is the historical spending pattern of the Department of State on similar overseas construction projects?

The provided data focuses on a single contract and does not offer insights into the Department of State's broader historical spending patterns on overseas construction. To analyze this, one would need to examine aggregated contract data over several fiscal years, looking at the number of awards, total spending, types of construction (e.g., embassies, consulates, support facilities), and geographic distribution. Such an analysis could reveal trends in investment, major contractors, and the average cost of similar projects, providing context for the Brazzaville contract's scale and cost.

What risks were identified during the bidding process for this contract, and how were they mitigated?

The provided data does not detail the specific risks identified during the bidding process or the mitigation strategies employed. For overseas construction projects, common risks include political instability, security threats, logistical challenges (transportation of materials and personnel), currency fluctuations, local labor availability and skill levels, and adherence to foreign building codes and regulations. A thorough risk assessment would have been part of the solicitation and evaluation process, with mitigation plans potentially incorporated into the contract terms or the contractor's proposed approach.

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: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: B.L. Harbert Holdings, L.L.C. (UEI: 147371236)

Address: 820 SHADES CREEK, BIRMINGHAM, AL, 35209

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $61,854,651

Exercised Options: $61,854,651

Current Obligation: $61,854,651

Timeline