DoD's $18.3M Architectural Services Contract Awarded to Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees Under Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $18,358,187 ($18.4M)

Contractor: Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2009-04-23

End Date: 2021-12-30

Contract Duration: 4,634 days

Daily Burn Rate: $4.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: 7.1.2 SERVICES & SECONDARY SERVICES

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $18.4 million to MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES for work described as: 7.1.2 SERVICES & SECONDARY SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract spans over 8 years, indicating a long-term need for architectural services. 3. Services procured fall under architectural services, a critical component for infrastructure projects. 4. The awardee is categorized as 'Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees', raising questions about domestic economic impact. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, which typically offers cost certainty to the government. 6. The duration of the contract (4634 days) is substantial, requiring careful performance monitoring.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific service details and comparable foreign contracts. However, the duration and total value suggest a significant investment. The fixed-price nature provides some cost predictability, but the lack of specific performance metrics makes a definitive value assessment difficult. Further analysis would require understanding the scope of architectural services provided and comparing them to similar international contracts.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of two bids (no: 2) suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific award. While competition is present, a higher number of bidders would typically lead to more robust price discovery and potentially better value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally beneficial for taxpayers as it encourages multiple vendors to offer their best pricing and services, potentially driving down costs and improving quality.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are likely entities within the Department of Defense requiring architectural design and planning services for facilities or infrastructure. Services delivered include architectural design, planning, and potentially related consulting for various defense projects. The geographic impact is likely global, given the award to 'Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees,' suggesting projects may be located outside the United States. Workforce implications could involve foreign architectural firms and their employees, with limited direct impact on the U.S. domestic workforce unless subcontracting occurs.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Award to 'Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees' may limit visibility into domestic economic contribution and job creation.
The long contract duration (over 8 years) increases the risk of scope creep or evolving requirements not being adequately managed.
Limited competition (2 bidders) could mean less pressure on pricing and service innovation.
Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the true value and effectiveness of the architectural services.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, ensuring a broad range of potential bidders.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
The contract addresses a long-term need for architectural services, indicating strategic planning by the agency.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Architectural Services sector, a subset of the broader professional, scientific, and technical services industry. This sector is crucial for government infrastructure development and maintenance. Spending in this area can fluctuate based on defense needs, base realignments, and global security requirements. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing other large-scale architectural contracts awarded by defense agencies or similar government bodies for international projects.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (sb: false). There is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans or performance related to small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless the foreign awardees engage U.S. small businesses as subcontractors, which is not specified.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight mechanisms for this contract would typically involve the Department of Defense's contracting officers and potentially the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). Accountability measures would be tied to the terms of the Firm Fixed Price contract, focusing on delivery of specified architectural services. Transparency is dependent on the agency's reporting practices regarding foreign awards and contract performance.

Related Government Programs

Department of Defense Facilities and Infrastructure Projects
Global Military Construction Contracts
Foreign Military Sales Support Services
Architectural and Engineering Services Contracts

Risk Flags

Foreign Awardee Designation
Long Contract Duration
Limited Competition Data
Lack of Specific Service Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $18.4 million to MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES. 7.1.2 SERVICES & 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 $18.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-04-23. End: 2021-12-30.

What specific types of architectural services were rendered under this contract, and were they for new construction, renovation, or planning?

The contract broadly covers 'Architectural Services' (NAICS code 541310). Without further details, it's difficult to ascertain the exact nature of the services. These could range from initial feasibility studies and master planning for military bases or facilities, to detailed design blueprints for new construction or renovation projects. Given the long duration and foreign awardee designation, it might involve support for overseas installations, potentially encompassing a wide array of architectural needs from barracks and administrative buildings to specialized defense infrastructure.

How does the $18.3 million contract value compare to typical architectural services contracts awarded by the Department of the Army for similar durations?

Comparing this $18.3 million contract value to typical Department of the Army architectural services contracts requires access to a broader dataset of similar awards. However, for a contract spanning over 8 years (4634 days), this value averages approximately $2.3 million per year. This figure needs to be contextualized by the complexity and scale of the projects undertaken. If the services involved large-scale new construction designs for significant overseas facilities, the annual average might be considered reasonable. Conversely, if it was for more routine planning or smaller renovation projects, it could represent a higher cost per service.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding a significant architectural services contract to 'Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees'?

Awarding contracts to 'Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees' can introduce several risks. These include challenges in ensuring compliance with U.S. standards and regulations, potential difficulties in communication and coordination due to language barriers or time zone differences, and complexities in payment processing and currency exchange. There's also a risk related to intellectual property protection and ensuring the security of sensitive design information. Furthermore, it may limit opportunities for U.S. small businesses to participate through subcontracting, potentially impacting domestic economic benefits.

Given the 'Firm Fixed Price' contract type, what mechanisms are in place to ensure the contractor delivers quality architectural services and stays within the agreed scope?

The 'Firm Fixed Price' (FFP) contract type places the primary cost risk on the contractor. To ensure quality and adherence to scope, the government typically relies on robust contract administration and oversight. This includes defining clear performance standards and deliverables in the contract statement of work, conducting regular progress reviews, and potentially employing quality assurance personnel to inspect the work. Acceptance of deliverables would be contingent upon meeting these predefined quality and scope requirements. Any deviations or deficiencies could lead to non-payment or contract termination.

How has the Department of Defense's spending on architectural services evolved over the period this contract was active (2009-2021)?

The period from 2009 to 2021 was marked by significant global military operations and evolving security landscapes, which likely influenced the Department of Defense's (DoD) spending on architectural services. During this time, the DoD would have managed numerous construction, renovation, and infrastructure projects both domestically and internationally. Spending patterns would likely reflect periods of increased deployment, base consolidation or expansion, and modernization efforts. Analyzing aggregate DoD spending on architectural services (NAICS 541310) across these years would reveal trends, potentially showing peaks related to specific geopolitical events or budget allocations for infrastructure upgrades.

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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2011 CRYSTAL DR STE 911, ARLINGTON, VA, 08

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,217,109

Exercised Options: $23,217,109

Current Obligation: $18,358,187

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline