Army Corps of Engineers awards $8.7M for facility maintenance, facing limited competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,194,944 ($12.2M)

Contractor: Northland Constructors of Duluth, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2004-05-02

End Date: 2009-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,977 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.2K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: 200608!600210!96CE!W911XK!USA ENGINEER DISTRICT DETROIT !W911XK04C0021 !A!N! !N! !P00008!20060502!20061005!079734448!079734448!874908390!N!NORTHLAND CONSTRUCTORS OF DULU!4843 RICE LAKE RD !DULUTH !MN!55803!17000!137!27!DULUTH !ST. LOUIS !MINNESOTA !+000004401583!N!N!000000000000!Z299!MAINT/ALL OTHER NON-BUILDING FACILITIES !C2 !CONSTRUCTION !000 !NOT DISCERNABLE !237990!E! !3! ! !D! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !A!U!J!2!004!A! !D!N!C! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !C!C!A!A!000!A!C!Y! !N! ! ! ! !0001! !

Place of Performance

Location: DULUTH, SAINT LOUIS County, MINNESOTA, 55803

State: Minnesota Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $12.2 million to NORTHLAND CONSTRUCTORS OF DULUTH, INC. for work described as: 200608!600210!96CE!W911XK!USA ENGINEER DISTRICT DETROIT !W911XK04C0021 !A!N! !N! !P00008!20060502!20061005!079734448!079734448!874908390!N!NORTHLAND CONSTRUCTORS OF DULU!4843 RICE LAKE RD !DULUTH !MN!55803!17000!137!27!DULUTH !ST. … Key points: 1. Contract awarded for facility maintenance services. 2. Limited competition may impact price discovery. 3. Risk of cost overruns due to fixed-price contract. 4. Construction sector spending benchmark is relevant.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $8.7 million for facility maintenance appears reasonable given the duration of 1977 days. However, without specific details on the scope of work, a precise comparison to similar contracts is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under limited competition, which could potentially lead to higher prices than if it were fully and openly competed. The impact on price discovery is uncertain without further details on the solicitation process.

Taxpayer Impact: The limited competition raises concerns about whether taxpayers received the best possible price for these facility maintenance services.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may have paid more due to limited competition. The long contract duration could lead to unforeseen costs. Essential facility maintenance ensures operational readiness.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 65 / 10

Warning Flags

Positive Signals

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction sector. Spending in this sector can vary significantly based on infrastructure needs and government priorities.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses had an opportunity to compete.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of the Army, USA Engineer District Detroit. Oversight mechanisms should ensure proper execution and accountability for the funds expended.

Related Government Programs

Risk Flags

Tags

other-heavy-and-civil-engineering-constr, department-of-defense, mn, definitive-contract, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $12.2 million to NORTHLAND CONSTRUCTORS OF DULUTH, INC.. 200608!600210!96CE!W911XK!USA ENGINEER DISTRICT DETROIT !W911XK04C0021 !A!N! !N! !P00008!20060502!20061005!079734448!079734448!874908390!N!NORTHLAND CONSTRUCTORS OF DULU!4843 RICE LAKE RD !DULUTH !MN!55803!17000!137!27!DULUTH !ST. LOUIS !MINNESOTA !+000004401583!N!N!000000000000!Z299!MAINT/ALL OTHER NON-BUILDING FACILITIES !C2 !CONSTRUCTION !000 !NOT DISCERNABLE !237990!E! !3! ! !D! ! !999

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NORTHLAND CONSTRUCTORS OF DULUTH, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2004-05-02. End: 2009-09-30.

What specific facility maintenance tasks are included in this contract?

The contract specifies 'MAINT/ALL OTHER NON-BUILDING FACILITIES'. This broad description suggests a range of upkeep and repair services for various non-building structures and infrastructure managed by the Detroit Engineer District. Detailed task orders would further define the scope.

What is the risk associated with the fixed-price contract type for this long-duration project?

A firm fixed-price contract for a nearly 6-year project carries the risk of cost overruns for the contractor if material or labor costs escalate significantly. Conversely, the government might overpay if costs decrease. This structure places the cost risk on the contractor.

How effective is limited competition in ensuring value for taxpayer money in construction contracts?

Limited competition generally reduces the pressure on contractors to offer the lowest possible price, potentially leading to higher costs for taxpayers. While sometimes necessary due to specialized requirements, it warrants scrutiny to ensure the selected contractor provides fair value.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ConstructionOther Heavy and Civil Engineering ConstructionOther Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, ALTER REAL PROPERTYMAINT, ALTER, REPAIR NONBUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SEALED BID

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Northland Group of Comapanies-Duluth Inc (UEI: 874908390)

Address: 4843 RICE LAKE RD, DULUTH, MN, 55803

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline

Start Date: 2004-05-02

Current End Date: 2009-09-30

Potential End Date: 2009-09-30 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2021-02-25

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