DoD's $40M Parwan Detention Facility Contract Awarded to Undisclosed Foreign Entities Under Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $40,170,186 ($40.2M)

Contractor: Foreign Awardees (undisclosed)

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2012-01-27

End Date: 2013-03-19

Contract Duration: 417 days

Daily Burn Rate: $96.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: DETENTION FACILITY IN PARWAN, AFGHANISTAN

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $40.2 million to FOREIGN AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED) for work described as: DETENTION FACILITY IN PARWAN, AFGHANISTAN Key points: 1. The contract for the Parwan Detention Facility in Afghanistan totaled over $40 million. 2. Competition was listed as 'Full and Open', but awardees are undisclosed foreign entities. 3. The contract type was Firm Fixed Price, indicating a defined scope and cost. 4. The sector is Commercial and Institutional Building Construction, with a significant price benchmark.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $40.17 million for a detention facility is substantial. Without knowing the specific scope and the nature of the foreign awardees, it's difficult to benchmark against similar domestic projects. The undisclosed nature of the awardees raises concerns about value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

Despite being listed as 'Full and Open Competition', the awardees are undisclosed foreign entities. This lack of transparency hinders a clear understanding of how price discovery was achieved and if the most competitive bids were truly secured.

Taxpayer Impact: The significant expenditure on a foreign facility, with opaque awardee details, raises questions about the efficient use of taxpayer funds and potential for cost overruns or suboptimal outcomes.

Public Impact

Taxpayers funded a major construction project in a foreign country. The lack of transparency regarding awardees makes it difficult to assess the fairness and effectiveness of the procurement process. The project's success and long-term impact are not clearly defined or communicated.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Undisclosed foreign awardees
Lack of transparency in competition
High contract value in a complex environment

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type
Full and Open Competition listed

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Commercial and Institutional Building Construction. The benchmark price of $96,331 for this type of project suggests a significant investment, especially considering the location and potential complexities of operating in Afghanistan.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to foreign entities, with no indication of small business participation. This suggests a focus on specialized international contractors rather than domestic small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The undisclosed nature of the foreign awardees presents a significant oversight challenge. Accountability for performance, cost control, and adherence to contract terms is difficult to ascertain without clear identification of the responsible parties.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

Undisclosed awardees
Lack of transparency in procurement
Potential for fraud or waste
High contract value
Foreign awardees in a complex environment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $40.2 million to FOREIGN AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED). DETENTION FACILITY IN PARWAN, AFGHANISTAN

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is FOREIGN AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED).

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $40.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-01-27. End: 2013-03-19.

What was the specific scope of work and justification for awarding this contract to undisclosed foreign entities under full and open competition?

The provided data does not detail the specific scope of work for the Parwan Detention Facility construction. The justification for awarding to undisclosed foreign entities under full and open competition is also unclear. Typically, full and open competition aims to maximize the pool of potential bidders, but the subsequent lack of transparency regarding the awardees themselves is unusual and warrants further investigation into the procurement process and national security considerations.

How was the 'Full and Open Competition' process managed to ensure fair pricing and prevent potential fraud or waste with undisclosed foreign awardees?

The management of the 'Full and Open Competition' process with undisclosed foreign awardees is a key area of concern. Without knowing the identities of the bidders and the evaluation criteria, it's impossible to verify if fair pricing was achieved or if robust measures were in place to prevent fraud and waste. The lack of transparency suggests potential weaknesses in oversight and accountability, making it difficult to ensure taxpayer funds were used effectively.

What is the long-term effectiveness and operational status of the Parwan Detention Facility, and how does its construction cost compare to similar international facilities?

The provided data focuses solely on the initial construction contract and does not offer insights into the long-term effectiveness or operational status of the Parwan Detention Facility. Benchmarking its construction cost against similar international facilities is challenging due to the undisclosed nature of the awardees and the unique geopolitical context of Afghanistan. Further research would be needed to assess its operational success and true value for money.

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: W912ER12R0005

Offers Received: 4

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: $40,170,186

Exercised Options: $40,170,186

Current Obligation: $40,170,186

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline