VA Awards $12.2M for Seismic Retrofit Design at Long Beach Medical Center

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,204,590 ($12.2M)

Contractor: LEE, Burkhart, LIU, Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Veterans Affairs

Start Date: 2005-08-18

End Date: 2011-05-20

Contract Duration: 2,101 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: PROCEED WITH SCHEMATICS AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT FOR SEISMIC CORRECTIONS TO BUILDINGS 7 AND 126 AT THE VA MEDICAL CENTER, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

Place of Performance

Location: LONG BEACH, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 90822

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Veterans Affairs obligated $12.2 million to LEE, BURKHART, LIU, INC for work described as: PROCEED WITH SCHEMATICS AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT FOR SEISMIC CORRECTIONS TO BUILDINGS 7 AND 126 AT THE VA MEDICAL CENTER, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Lee, Burkhart, Liu, Inc. for architectural services. 2. Project focuses on seismic corrections for Buildings 7 and 126. 3. Full and open competition was utilized for this award. 4. The contract duration is 2101 days, indicating a significant project scope.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $12.2 million for architectural services appears reasonable given the scope of seismic retrofitting for two major buildings. Benchmarking against similar large-scale architectural design contracts for federal facilities would provide further context.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The use of full and open competition suggests a robust process for selecting the contractor, likely leading to competitive pricing. The award was made under a firm fixed-price contract, which shifts risk to the contractor and provides cost certainty.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential infrastructure upgrades to ensure the safety and operational continuity of a VA medical facility.

Public Impact

Ensures the structural integrity and safety of a critical VA medical facility. Supports the long-term operational capabilities of the Long Beach VA Medical Center. Invests in infrastructure modernization to meet seismic safety standards.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 58 / 10

Warning Flags

Long project duration (2101 days) may indicate potential for cost overruns or delays.
Firm Fixed Price contract, while providing certainty, could lead to contractor seeking change orders if scope is not perfectly defined.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
Focus on seismic retrofitting addresses critical safety and infrastructure needs.
Contract awarded to a firm with relevant architectural services experience.

Sector Analysis

Architectural services for federal buildings, particularly those requiring specialized structural work like seismic retrofitting, represent a significant segment of the construction and engineering sector. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on project complexity and location.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate if small businesses were involved as subcontractors. Future analysis should explore opportunities for small business participation in such projects.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, suggesting internal oversight mechanisms are in place. Further review of project milestones and performance reports would be necessary to assess accountability.

Related Government Programs

Architectural Services
Department of Veterans Affairs Contracting
Department of Veterans Affairs Programs

Risk Flags

Long contract duration may lead to cost escalation or delays.
Potential for scope creep in a complex, multi-year design project.
Need for detailed oversight to ensure adherence to fixed-price terms.
Lack of specific seismic risk details in the award data.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Veterans Affairs awarded $12.2 million to LEE, BURKHART, LIU, INC. PROCEED WITH SCHEMATICS AND DESIGN DEVELOPMENT FOR SEISMIC CORRECTIONS TO BUILDINGS 7 AND 126 AT THE VA MEDICAL CENTER, LONG BEACH, CALIFORNIA.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LEE, BURKHART, LIU, INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Veterans Affairs (Department of Veterans Affairs).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-08-18. End: 2011-05-20.

What is the estimated cost per square foot for the seismic retrofitting design services compared to industry averages for similar federal projects?

Without specific square footage data for Buildings 7 and 126, a precise per-square-foot cost comparison is not possible. However, the total award of $12.2 million for architectural design over a 2101-day period suggests a substantial investment. Industry averages for complex federal seismic retrofitting design can range significantly, but this figure warrants further investigation against comparable projects to ensure value.

What are the specific seismic risks identified for Buildings 7 and 126 that necessitate this extensive design and correction effort?

The specific seismic risks are not detailed in the provided data. However, the designation of 'seismic corrections' implies that the buildings have been assessed and found to be vulnerable to earthquake damage based on current building codes and seismic zone classifications for Long Beach, California. A thorough risk assessment would have been conducted prior to this design phase.

How effectively will the firm fixed price contract ensure cost control throughout the 2101-day design and schematic development period?

A firm fixed-price contract is designed to provide cost certainty by establishing a set price regardless of the contractor's actual costs. However, the long duration of 2101 days increases the risk of unforeseen issues or scope creep. Effective management by the VA will be crucial to prevent change orders that could inflate the final cost, ensuring the 'fixed price' remains largely intact.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Architectural Services

Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - CONSTRUCTION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ARCHITECT-ENGINEER FAR 6.102

Solicitation ID: 600PR2402

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 13335 MAXELLA AVE, MARINA DEL REY, CA, 36

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,204,601

Exercised Options: $12,204,601

Current Obligation: $12,204,590

Timeline