State Department Awards $18.8M Overseas Construction Contract to Undisclosed Foreign Firm

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,858,545 ($18.9M)

Contractor: Foreign Awardees (undisclosed)

Awarding Agency: Department of State

Start Date: 2010-05-03

End Date: 2016-07-27

Contract Duration: 2,277 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: OVERSEAS CONTRACT

Plain-Language Summary

Department of State obligated $18.9 million to FOREIGN AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED) for work described as: OVERSEAS CONTRACT Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $18.8 million for overseas construction. 2. Competition is limited due to undisclosed foreign awardees. 3. Risk associated with lack of transparency in awardee selection. 4. Construction sector spending, with potential for cost overruns.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value is substantial, but without knowing the awardee or specific services, it's difficult to benchmark against similar contracts. The lack of disclosed awardee information hinders a proper value assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not available for competition, indicating a limited or sole-source approach. This lack of competition likely impacted price discovery and may have led to a higher cost for taxpayers.

Taxpayer Impact: The non-competitive nature of this award raises concerns about whether the government secured the best possible price for this overseas construction project.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may have overpaid due to lack of competition. Lack of transparency in foreign contract awards can obscure potential conflicts of interest. Overseas construction projects are critical but require rigorous oversight.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Undisclosed awardee
Potential for overpayment
Limited transparency

Positive Signals

Contract completed within duration

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the commercial and institutional building construction sector. Benchmarking is challenging due to the overseas nature and undisclosed awardee, but large construction projects typically involve significant investment and require careful cost management.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract did not involve small businesses, as the awardee is undisclosed and foreign. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for U.S. small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The limited competition and undisclosed awardee suggest potential gaps in oversight. Further investigation into the justification for the non-competitive award and the vetting process for the foreign entity is warranted.

Related Government Programs

Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
Department of State Contracting
Department of State Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
Undisclosed awardee
Potential for inflated pricing
Limited transparency in award process
Foreign awardee raises potential geopolitical or security concerns

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of State awarded $18.9 million to FOREIGN AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED). OVERSEAS CONTRACT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FOREIGN AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED).

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $18.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-05-03. End: 2016-07-27.

What was the justification for awarding this contract on a non-competitive basis, especially for a significant amount like $18.8 million?

The provided data states the contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION.' A thorough review would require accessing the contract file to understand the specific circumstances, such as unique requirements, urgent needs, or the unavailability of qualified domestic contractors, that led to this determination. Without this documentation, the rationale remains unclear.

How can the government ensure fair pricing and prevent waste when awarding large contracts to undisclosed foreign entities without competition?

Ensuring fair pricing and preventing waste with undisclosed foreign entities and no competition is challenging. Robust pre-award vetting, clear performance metrics, independent cost analysis, and post-award audits are crucial. Transparency in the award process, even for foreign entities, would significantly enhance accountability and allow for better price benchmarking.

What measures were in place to ensure the quality and timely completion of this overseas construction project given the lack of transparency?

While the contract duration was met, the lack of transparency regarding the awardee makes it difficult to assess the specific quality assurance measures. Typically, government contracts include detailed specifications, inspection protocols, and performance standards. However, without knowing the awardee, it's hard to confirm if these were adequately enforced or if the government had sufficient recourse in case of deficiencies.

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: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1800 F ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20405

Business Categories: Category Business, Foreign Owned, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $18,858,545

Exercised Options: $18,858,545

Current Obligation: $18,858,545

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: SERVICES PURSUANT TO FAR 12.102(G)

Timeline