DOD's $64.7M CBRNE HQ Facility Contract Awarded to Whiting-Turner Under Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $64,678,260 ($64.7M)

Contractor: Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, the

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2015-12-23

End Date: 2019-06-14

Contract Duration: 1,269 days

Daily Burn Rate: $51.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF 20TH CBRNE HQ FACILITY

Place of Performance

Location: ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, HARFORD County, MARYLAND, 21005

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $64.7 million to WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF 20TH CBRNE HQ FACILITY Key points: 1. The contract awarded to Whiting-Turner Contracting Company for $64.7 million represents a significant investment in specialized facility construction. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a robust market for this type of construction and potential for competitive pricing. 3. The project's focus on CBRNE (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives) capabilities indicates a high-risk, high-security sector. 4. Construction spending in this specialized area can be benchmarked against similar large-scale government facility projects.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract's firm fixed price structure suggests a clear understanding of project scope and cost expectations. Benchmarking against similar large-scale government construction projects would provide further insight into the pricing's competitiveness.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The use of full and open competition indicates that multiple bidders were likely considered, fostering price discovery and potentially leading to a more favorable price for the government. The award to Whiting-Turner suggests they offered the best value under the competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive bidding process likely ensured taxpayer funds were used efficiently for this critical facility.

Public Impact

Enhances national security capabilities by providing a dedicated facility for CBRNE response and operations. Supports the local economy through construction jobs and related services in Maryland. The specialized nature of the facility may lead to future contracts for maintenance, upgrades, or similar specialized construction projects.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen construction challenges arise in specialized CBRNE environments.
Long-term operational and maintenance costs for a highly specialized facility may be substantial.
Dependence on a single prime contractor for a large, complex project carries inherent risks.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed price contract provides cost certainty.
Full and open competition suggests a competitive award.
Project addresses a critical national security need.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector, specifically for a specialized government facility. Large-scale government construction projects often involve complex requirements and significant budgets, with benchmarks varying widely based on project type and location.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that neither small business participation nor set-asides were explicitly mentioned for this contract. Further investigation would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors or if opportunities were missed.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of the Army, a component of the Department of Defense. Standard government oversight mechanisms for large construction projects would apply, including contract management, quality assurance, and financial monitoring.

Related Government Programs

Commercial and Institutional Building Construction
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Army Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for cost overruns due to specialized nature of CBRNE facility.
Lack of explicit small business participation data.
Long-term operational and maintenance costs are not detailed.
Dependence on a single contractor for a large-scale project.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $64.7 million to WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE. IGF::OT::IGF 20TH CBRNE HQ FACILITY

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is WHITING-TURNER CONTRACTING COMPANY, THE.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $64.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2015-12-23. End: 2019-06-14.

What was the specific rationale for selecting Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, and how did their proposal compare to other bids in terms of technical merit and price?

While the data confirms full and open competition, the specific rationale for selecting Whiting-Turner is not detailed. Typically, award decisions in such procurements are based on a combination of factors, including technical approach, past performance, management capability, and price. The government likely evaluated proposals against pre-defined criteria to determine the best value offering.

What are the projected long-term operational and maintenance costs associated with this specialized CBRNE facility, and how do they compare to similar facilities?

The provided data focuses solely on the initial construction contract and does not include information on long-term operational and maintenance (O&M) costs. These costs can be significant for specialized facilities like CBRNE headquarters due to unique equipment, security requirements, and environmental controls. Benchmarking O&M costs would require data from comparable facilities.

Were there any significant challenges or delays encountered during the construction phase, and how were they addressed by the contractor and the contracting officer?

The contract duration was 1269 days, suggesting a substantial construction timeline. While no specific challenges are listed, large government construction projects, especially those involving specialized requirements like CBRNE facilities, often face unforeseen issues such as site conditions, material availability, or design modifications. The contracting officer would typically manage change orders and ensure adherence to contract terms.

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

Solicitation ID: W912DR15R0035

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 300 E JOPPA RD, BALTIMORE, MD, 21286

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $64,678,260

Exercised Options: $64,678,260

Current Obligation: $64,678,260

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline