DoD's $15.4M IDM 304B First Articles Contract Awarded to Symetrics Industries, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $15,412,256 ($15.4M)

Contractor: Symetrics Industries, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2009-09-29

End Date: 2013-01-31

Contract Duration: 1,220 days

Daily Burn Rate: $12.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IDM 304B FIRST ARTICLES, PRODUCTION QUANTITY, SOFTWARE VERSION 9.2

Place of Performance

Location: MELBOURNE, BREVARD County, FLORIDA, 32901

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $15.4 million to SYMETRICS INDUSTRIES, LLC for work described as: IDM 304B FIRST ARTICLES, PRODUCTION QUANTITY, SOFTWARE VERSION 9.2 Key points: 1. The contract, valued at $15.4 million, was awarded for IDM 304B First Articles and production quantity with software version 9.2. 2. Symetrics Industries, LLC secured this award, contributing to the 'Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing' sector. 3. The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The duration of the contract was 1220 days, ending in January 2013.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $15.4 million for 'Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing' needs further benchmarking against similar production runs and software versions. Without specific unit details, a precise per-unit cost comparison is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The award was made under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award suggests that taxpayers likely received a fair price, though the exact savings compared to a sole-source procurement are unknown.

Public Impact

This contract supported the Department of the Army's communication equipment needs. The procurement involved first articles and production quantities, indicating a transition from development to operational use. The contract's duration and value suggest a significant investment in this specific communication technology.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific details on the 'IDM 304B' system and its capabilities.
The contract ended in 2013, making current relevance and pricing benchmarks potentially outdated.
No information on small business participation.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition.
Firm fixed price contract type, providing cost certainty.

Sector Analysis

The 'Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing' sector is broad, encompassing a wide range of products. Benchmarking this $15.4 million contract requires detailed comparison with similar production runs of specialized communication hardware and software.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication of small business participation in this contract award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if opportunities were missed or if the nature of the requirement precluded small business involvement.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which inherently provides a level of oversight through the bidding process. However, specific details on post-award oversight and performance monitoring are not provided.

Related Government Programs

Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Army Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of detailed system information.
Contract completed in 2013, limiting current relevance.
No small business participation noted.
Limited insight into post-award performance and oversight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $15.4 million to SYMETRICS INDUSTRIES, LLC. IDM 304B FIRST ARTICLES, PRODUCTION QUANTITY, SOFTWARE VERSION 9.2

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SYMETRICS INDUSTRIES, 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 $15.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2009-09-29. End: 2013-01-31.

What was the specific nature and function of the IDM 304B system, and how critical was it to the Department of the Army's operations?

The provided data does not specify the exact function or criticality of the IDM 304B system. As 'Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing,' it likely pertains to specialized hardware for transmitting or receiving information. Understanding its role would clarify the strategic importance of this $15.4 million investment and the potential impact of any performance issues or delays.

Were there any performance issues or contract modifications during the 1220-day period that might indicate underlying risks or challenges?

The data does not detail any performance issues, contract modifications, or overruns. The contract was a firm fixed price award, suggesting a commitment to a set price. However, the absence of such information could also mean it's not readily available or that the contract proceeded without significant deviations, which would be a positive indicator.

How does the $15.4 million expenditure for this production quantity compare to the lifecycle cost or total program cost for the IDM 304B system?

Without information on the total program cost or lifecycle cost of the IDM 304B system, it's impossible to assess the $15.4 million expenditure in that context. This figure represents a significant investment for first articles and production, but its proportion within a larger acquisition program remains unknown, making it difficult to judge overall value for money.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Communications Equipment Manufacturing › Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: COMM/DETECT/COHERENT RADIATION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Transdigm Group Incorporated (UEI: 135472285)

Address: 1615 W NASA BLVD, MELBOURNE, FL, 32901

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Manufacturer of Goods, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $15,412,256

Exercised Options: $15,412,256

Current Obligation: $15,412,256

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W58RGZ09D0206

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline