The Trump administration awarded a no-bid federal contract to Clark Construction for a project near the White House, substantially increasing its value from the original estimate. The contract, for the repair of two fountains in Lafayette Park, was granted without public disclosure and saw its cost balloon from $3.3 million to over $17.4 million. Officials cited “urgency” and inflation to bypass competitive bidding and justify the inflated price, measures deemed arbitrary by the original cost estimator.
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It appears that a company, Clark Construction, which was instrumental in building President Trump’s much-discussed ballroom, has also been awarded a no-bid contract for a nearby project under somewhat opaque circumstances. This contract, for the repair of two ornamental fountains in Lafayette Park, located directly across from the White House, has raised eyebrows due to its significant cost and the unusual bidding process.
The National Park Service, which oversees Lafayette Park, had initially estimated the fountain repairs would cost around $3.3 million back in 2022, under the Biden administration. However, by January of this year, the Trump administration agreed to a contract with Clark Construction for a staggering $11.9 million.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood