DoD's Army Spent $14.17M on Architectural Services via Sole Source Award

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $14,168,178 ($14.2M)

Contractor: Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2005-07-08

End Date: 2018-12-31

Contract Duration: 4,924 days

Daily Burn Rate: $2.9K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: SECONDARY SERVICES

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $14.2 million to MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES for work described as: SECONDARY SERVICES Key points: 1. The Department of Defense awarded $14.17 million for architectural services. 2. The contract was awarded to miscellaneous foreign awardees, raising questions about competition. 3. The contract spanned over 13 years, indicating potential for price escalation. 4. The lack of competition is a significant risk factor for taxpayer value.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $14.17 million for architectural services over 13 years is difficult to benchmark without specific scope details. However, the absence of competitive bidding suggests potential overpricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This severely limits price discovery and likely resulted in a higher price than a competitive process would yield.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition means taxpayers may have paid a premium for these architectural services, as there was no market pressure to drive down costs.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may have overpaid due to the absence of competitive bidding. The long duration of the contract (over 13 years) raises concerns about ongoing costs and potential inefficiencies. The award to 'miscellaneous foreign awardees' lacks transparency and makes oversight challenging.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Long contract duration
Lack of transparency in awardees
No small business participation

Positive Signals

Services were delivered
Firm fixed price contract

Sector Analysis

Architectural services are crucial for infrastructure development and maintenance within the Department of Defense. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on project complexity and location, but competitive bidding is standard practice to ensure value.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication of small business participation in this contract, which is a missed opportunity to support small businesses and potentially foster competition.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants further investigation into why competitive procedures were not followed. Oversight is needed to ensure the price paid was reasonable and that the services met requirements.

Related Government Programs

Architectural Services
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Army Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competition
Potential for overpricing due to no competition
Long contract duration may indicate inefficiencies
Lack of transparency regarding foreign awardees
No small business participation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $14.2 million to MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES. SECONDARY SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $14.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-07-08. End: 2018-12-31.

What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?

The provided data does not include the justification for the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source contracts are used when only one responsible source can provide the required services, or in cases of urgent need. Without this information, it's impossible to assess the validity of the procurement method.

How was the price determined for this sole-source contract?

The price for this sole-source contract was likely determined through negotiation between the Department of the Army and the selected awardees. However, without a competitive process, there's no market validation to ensure the price was the best achievable for the government and taxpayers.

What specific architectural services were provided under this contract?

The data indicates the contract was for 'Architectural Services' (NAICS 541310) but does not specify the exact nature of these services. Understanding the scope, such as design, planning, or consulting for specific military facilities, is crucial for evaluating the contract's value and necessity.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: CONSTRUCT OF STRUCTURES/FACILITIES › CONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2011 CRYSTAL DR STE 911, ARLINGTON, VA, 22202

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $16,521,075

Exercised Options: $16,520,075

Current Obligation: $14,168,178

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline