Clearwater Dam Cutoff Wall Project Exceeds $103M, Awarded to BENCOR-RECON Joint Venture

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $103,529,786 ($103.5M)

Contractor: Bencor-Recon, Joint Venture

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2008-09-25

End Date: 2014-12-03

Contract Duration: 2,260 days

Daily Burn Rate: $45.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: CONSTRUCTION OF CUTOFF WALL IN CLEARWATER DAM

Place of Performance

Location: PIEDMONT, WAYNE County, MISSOURI, 63957

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $103.5 million to BENCOR-RECON, JOINT VENTURE for work described as: CONSTRUCTION OF CUTOFF WALL IN CLEARWATER DAM Key points: 1. Project cost reached $103.5M, indicating significant investment in civil engineering. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The project spanned over six years, from 2008 to 2014. 4. The contract type was Firm Fixed Price, providing cost certainty. 5. No small business participation was reported.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The final cost of $103.5M for the cutoff wall construction is substantial. Benchmarking against similar large-scale civil engineering projects would be necessary to determine if this price was competitive and represented good value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, which typically fosters competitive pricing. The existence of four bids suggests a reasonable level of market interest and price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The $103.5M expenditure represents a significant allocation of taxpayer funds for critical infrastructure improvement.

Public Impact

Enhances dam integrity and water management capabilities for the Clearwater Dam. Long project duration may have implications for budget planning and resource allocation. The lack of small business involvement might be a missed opportunity for economic inclusion.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Long project duration (6 years)
  • No small business participation

Positive Signals

  • Firm Fixed Price contract
  • Full and open competition

Sector Analysis

This project falls under 'Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction,' a sector critical for infrastructure development. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on project scale and government priorities.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not awarded to any small businesses, nor does it appear to have included small business subcontracting goals. This suggests a lack of specific outreach or opportunity for small businesses in this large-scale construction project.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of the Army, indicating federal oversight. Further review of contract modifications, performance reports, and final cost audits would be needed to assess the effectiveness of oversight.

Related Government Programs

  • Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • Department of the Army Programs

Risk Flags

  • Long project duration
  • No small business participation
  • High contract value

Tags

other-heavy-and-civil-engineering-constr, department-of-defense, mo, definitive-contract, 100m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $103.5 million to BENCOR-RECON, JOINT VENTURE. CONSTRUCTION OF CUTOFF WALL IN CLEARWATER DAM

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BENCOR-RECON, JOINT VENTURE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $103.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-09-25. End: 2014-12-03.

What was the primary driver for the significant cost of the cutoff wall construction?

The primary driver for the $103.5M cost was likely the complex engineering requirements for constructing a cutoff wall in a dam environment. This involves specialized materials, labor, and equipment to ensure structural integrity and prevent water seepage. The long duration also suggests potential challenges or phased construction that contributed to the overall expense.

Were there any identified risks during the project that impacted cost or schedule?

While specific risk flags are not detailed in the provided data, projects of this scale and duration often encounter unforeseen geological conditions, material availability issues, or environmental challenges. The firm fixed price contract suggests the contractor bore the risk of cost overruns, but the long duration might indicate scope adjustments or delays were managed through contract modifications or change orders.

How effectively did the full and open competition ensure the best value for taxpayers?

Full and open competition is designed to maximize value by encouraging multiple bids. With four bids received, there was a degree of competition. However, assessing 'best value' requires comparing the winning bid against the others and considering factors beyond just price, such as technical approach and past performance, which are not detailed here.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: CONSTRUCT OF STRUCTURES/FACILITIESCONSTRUCT NONBUILDING FACILITIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: W9127S08R0002

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2315 SOUTHWELL RD, DALLAS, TX, 75229

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $112,001,747

Exercised Options: $112,001,747

Current Obligation: $103,529,786

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline

Start Date: 2008-09-25

Current End Date: 2014-12-03

Potential End Date: 2015-02-28 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2021-02-24

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