Department of the Army awards $27.2M contract for Baton Rouge rock chute construction to Rigid Constructors LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $27,233,459 ($27.2M)

Contractor: Rigid Constructors LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-05-08

End Date: 2028-05-01

Contract Duration: 1,089 days

Daily Burn Rate: $25.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: COMITE, BATON ROUGE ROCK CHUTE (ED-20-001)

Place of Performance

Location: BATON ROUGE, EAST BATON ROUGE County, LOUISIANA, 70804

State: Louisiana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $27.2 million to RIGID CONSTRUCTORS LLC for work described as: COMITE, BATON ROUGE ROCK CHUTE (ED-20-001) Key points: 1. Contract value of $27.2 million for a 3-year project. 2. Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract type is a definitive contract with a firm fixed price. 4. Project duration is approximately 3 years, ending May 2028. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code is 237990, covering other heavy and civil engineering construction. 6. The contractor, Rigid Constructors LLC, is based in Louisiana, the project location. 7. The contract was awarded by the Department of the Army, with the specific service being the Department of the Army. 8. The project involves the construction of a rock chute.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $27.2 million for a 3-year construction project appears to be within a reasonable range for heavy civil engineering work. Benchmarking against similar Army Corps of Engineers projects for flood control or infrastructure repair in the Gulf Coast region would provide a more precise value-for-money assessment. The firm fixed-price structure shifts risk to the contractor, which can be beneficial for the government if the contractor manages costs effectively. However, without detailed cost breakdowns or comparisons to independent cost estimates, a definitive assessment of pricing efficiency is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, meaning all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The solicitation received 6 bids, indicating a healthy level of competition for this project. A competitive process like this generally leads to better price discovery and can result in more favorable pricing for the government compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.

Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition suggests that taxpayers are likely to benefit from a more competitive price, as multiple companies vied for the contract, driving down costs through market forces.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of the Army and potentially local communities in Louisiana that rely on the infrastructure being improved by this rock chute. The service delivered is the construction of a rock chute, likely for flood control, erosion prevention, or waterway management. The geographic impact is localized to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and surrounding areas that may be affected by the waterway or flood risks. Workforce implications include job creation for construction workers, engineers, and support staff in the Louisiana region during the project's duration.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen site conditions arise, despite the firm fixed-price contract.
Dependence on the contractor's ability to manage complex construction logistics in the specified location.
Risk of schedule delays due to weather, material availability, or labor issues common in large construction projects.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract incentivizes contractor efficiency and cost control.
Full and open competition suggests a robust bidding process leading to potentially optimal pricing.
Award to a contractor located in the project state (Louisiana) may indicate familiarity with local conditions and workforce.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the heavy and civil engineering construction sector, specifically related to water infrastructure. The market for such projects is often driven by government funding for public works, flood control, and environmental protection. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other Army Corps of Engineers projects for similar types of construction, such as levees, dams, or waterway improvements, in the Gulf Coast region. The size of this contract ($27.2 million) positions it as a significant, but not exceptionally large, infrastructure project within this sector.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting requirements mandated by a small business set-aside. The prime contractor, Rigid Constructors LLC, will likely engage subcontractors based on project needs and their own business strategy. The absence of a set-aside means that larger, established firms were the primary focus of the competition, and the direct impact on the small business ecosystem through this specific award is limited unless they are part of the prime's subcontracting plan.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Department of the Army, potentially through the Army Corps of Engineers, which is responsible for civil works projects. Accountability measures are embedded in the firm fixed-price contract terms, requiring the contractor to deliver the specified work within the agreed-upon price. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and public reporting mechanisms. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works Programs
Flood Control Projects
Waterway and Harbor Construction
Infrastructure Modernization Projects
Louisiana State Infrastructure Projects

Risk Flags

Potential for unforeseen site conditions impacting cost and schedule.
Contractor's past performance on similar large-scale civil engineering projects.
Environmental compliance during construction.
Weather-related delays impacting project timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $27.2 million to RIGID CONSTRUCTORS LLC. COMITE, BATON ROUGE ROCK CHUTE (ED-20-001)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RIGID CONSTRUCTORS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $27.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-05-08. End: 2028-05-01.

What is the track record of Rigid Constructors LLC in performing similar Army Corps of Engineers projects?

Assessing the track record of Rigid Constructors LLC requires accessing historical contract data and performance reviews. While this award indicates they were deemed capable, a deeper dive into their past performance on comparable projects, particularly those involving rock chutes or similar hydraulic/civil engineering structures for federal agencies, would be beneficial. Information on past project completion times, adherence to budget, and quality of work would provide context for their reliability on this $27.2 million contract. Without specific past performance data readily available in this summary, it's assumed the Army conducted due diligence during the procurement process.

How does the awarded price of $27.2 million compare to similar rock chute construction projects by the Army Corps of Engineers?

A direct comparison of the $27.2 million award to similar rock chute projects by the Army Corps of Engineers is difficult without access to a comprehensive database of historical contract values for precisely matched projects. Factors such as project scale, complexity, location-specific construction costs (e.g., soil conditions, environmental regulations), and the specific year of award significantly influence pricing. However, the fact that this contract was awarded under full and open competition with 6 bids suggests that the price achieved is likely competitive within the market for such specialized civil engineering work. Further analysis would involve identifying comparable projects and adjusting for scale and regional cost differences.

What are the primary risks associated with the construction of this rock chute, and how are they mitigated by the contract terms?

Key risks in constructing a rock chute include unforeseen geological conditions, environmental compliance challenges, weather-related delays, and potential material or labor shortages. The firm fixed-price (FFP) contract structure is a primary mitigation tool, placing the financial risk of cost overruns primarily on the contractor, Rigid Constructors LLC. This incentivizes the contractor to meticulously plan, manage resources efficiently, and proactively address potential issues. The Army's role would involve diligent oversight, ensuring compliance with specifications and environmental regulations, and potentially managing external factors like permitting. The contractor's experience and the competitive bidding process also serve as risk mitigators, as they likely factored potential risks into their bid.

What is the expected effectiveness and long-term impact of this rock chute project on flood control or waterway management in Baton Rouge?

The effectiveness and long-term impact of the rock chute project hinge on its specific design and intended purpose, which are not detailed here beyond 'construction of a rock chute.' Typically, such structures are designed to manage water flow, prevent erosion, or stabilize riverbanks and channels. If intended for flood control, its success will be measured by its ability to mitigate flood damage during high-water events. For waterway management, it could improve navigation or ecological stability. The long-term impact depends on the quality of construction, ongoing maintenance (if any), and the changing environmental conditions it is designed to address. A thorough assessment would require reviewing the project's engineering specifications and its role within the broader regional water management strategy.

How has federal spending on similar heavy and civil engineering construction projects in Louisiana trended over the past five years?

Analyzing federal spending trends on similar heavy and civil engineering construction projects in Louisiana over the past five years would require accessing federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) and filtering for relevant NAICS codes (e.g., 237990) and geographic location. Generally, federal spending in this sector can fluctuate based on infrastructure priorities, disaster recovery needs (especially relevant for Louisiana due to hurricane activity), and the allocation of funds through agencies like the Army Corps of Engineers, DOT, or FEMA. Louisiana often sees significant federal investment in coastal restoration, hurricane protection, and waterway improvements, suggesting a potentially robust but variable spending pattern in this category.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Construction › Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction › Other Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SEALED BID

Solicitation ID: W912P825B0036

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7616 JOHNSTON ST, MAURICE, LA, 70555

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $27,602,359

Exercised Options: $27,233,459

Current Obligation: $27,233,459

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline