DoD Awards $21.5M for Afghan Construction, Lacking Small Business and Foreign Awardee Transparency

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $21,507,612 ($21.5M)

Contractor: Foreign Awardees (undisclosed)

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2008-06-10

End Date: 2010-10-30

Contract Duration: 872 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 17

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Construction

Official Description: ANP CONSTRUCTION WORKS FOR BP CO. HQ ACHEEN NANGAHAR (4 SITES)

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $21.5 million to FOREIGN AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED) for work described as: ANP CONSTRUCTION WORKS FOR BP CO. HQ ACHEEN NANGAHAR (4 SITES) Key points: 1. Significant contract value for construction services in Afghanistan. 2. Competition method was 'Full and Open', suggesting broad market access. 3. Lack of transparency regarding foreign awardees raises potential risk. 4. Construction sector spending, but specific benchmarks are unavailable.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $21.5M for construction services is substantial. Without specific details on the scope of work and comparable projects in the region, a precise pricing assessment is difficult. However, the firm fixed-price structure aims to control costs.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which generally promotes competitive pricing. However, the undisclosed foreign awardees obscure the true competitive landscape and potential price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The firm fixed-price contract aims to provide cost certainty for taxpayers. However, the lack of transparency on awardees could mask inefficiencies or inflated costs.

Public Impact

Taxpayers funded significant construction work in a high-risk environment. The project involved multiple sites, increasing logistical complexity. Lack of detail on foreign awardees hinders public understanding of who benefited.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Undisclosed foreign awardees
  • Limited small business participation
  • Construction in a complex operational environment

Positive Signals

  • Full and open competition
  • Firm fixed-price contract

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Commercial and Institutional Building Construction sector. Benchmarking is challenging due to the specific geographic location (Afghanistan) and the nature of the project, which likely involved security considerations.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates no specific small business set-aside or participation. This suggests that opportunities for small businesses may have been limited or not prioritized in this particular award.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of the Army, part of the Department of Defense. Oversight would typically involve contract management and performance monitoring to ensure successful completion and adherence to terms.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

  • Lack of transparency on foreign awardees
  • Potential for inflated costs due to undisclosed entities
  • Limited information on small business participation
  • Construction in a high-risk operational environment

Tags

commercial-and-institutional-building-co, department-of-defense, definitive-contract, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $21.5 million to FOREIGN AWARDEES (UNDISCLOSED). ANP CONSTRUCTION WORKS FOR BP CO. HQ ACHEEN NANGAHAR (4 SITES)

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 $21.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-06-10. End: 2010-10-30.

What was the specific scope of work for the construction at the four sites, and how does the $21.5M price compare to similar projects in Afghanistan during that period?

The specific scope of work is not detailed in the provided data. To assess value, a comparison with similar construction projects in Afghanistan between 2008 and 2010 would be necessary. Factors like site preparation, materials, labor costs, and security requirements would heavily influence pricing, making direct comparisons difficult without more granular information.

What are the potential risks associated with awarding contracts to undisclosed foreign entities for construction in a conflict zone?

Awarding contracts to undisclosed foreign entities in a conflict zone presents several risks. These include potential issues with vetting, accountability, adherence to ethical standards, and ensuring the security of personnel and materials. Lack of transparency can also obscure potential conflicts of interest or the diversion of funds, impacting overall project integrity and taxpayer value.

How effectively did the 'Full and Open Competition' process ensure competitive pricing given the undisclosed foreign awardees?

While 'Full and Open Competition' theoretically maximizes the pool of bidders, the undisclosed nature of the foreign awardees limits the assessment of its effectiveness in ensuring competitive pricing. It's unclear if the most competitive bids were truly identified and selected, or if the undisclosed entities had advantages not apparent to other bidders. Further investigation into the award decision process is needed.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ConstructionNonresidential Building ConstructionCommercial and Institutional Building Construction

Product/Service Code: CONSTRUCT OF STRUCTURES/FACILITIESCONSTRUCTION OF BUILDINGS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: W917PM08R0063

Offers Received: 17

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1800 F ST NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20405

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $21,507,612

Exercised Options: $21,507,612

Current Obligation: $21,507,612

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline

Start Date: 2008-06-10

Current End Date: 2010-10-30

Potential End Date: 2010-10-30 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2021-08-25

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