DoD's $11.9M ROSA contract awarded to Pacific Defense Solutions for R&D in optical surveillance

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,929,197 ($11.9M)

Contractor: Pacific Defense Solutions LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2008-05-12

End Date: 2013-01-31

Contract Duration: 1,725 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: REAL-TIME OPTICAL SURVEILLANCE APPLICATIONS (ROSA)

Place of Performance

Location: KIHEI, MAUI County, HAWAII, 96753

State: Hawaii Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $11.9 million to PACIFIC DEFENSE SOLUTIONS LLC for work described as: REAL-TIME OPTICAL SURVEILLANCE APPLICATIONS (ROSA) Key points: 1. Contract awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can incentivize cost overruns. 3. Awarded in 2008 and completed in 2013, this represents a historical investment in surveillance technology. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541710 indicates a focus on research and development. 5. The contract duration of 1725 days suggests a substantial R&D effort. 6. The base award amount of $6.9M was potentially modified over the contract's life.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

Benchmarking the value of this specific R&D contract is challenging without more detailed cost breakdowns and performance metrics. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type, while common for R&D, carries inherent risks of cost escalation if not closely managed. The base award of $6.9 million and a total value of $11.9 million over its lifespan indicate a significant investment, but its true value-for-money depends on the successful development and eventual deployment of the optical surveillance applications.

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 bids. With two bidders identified, this suggests a moderate level of competition. While more than one bidder is positive, the exact number and the nature of the proposals would be needed to fully assess the competitive dynamics and their impact on price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging lower prices and better value, though the specific cost savings from this competition are not detailed.

Public Impact

The Department of Defense, specifically the Air Force, is the primary beneficiary, seeking advancements in optical surveillance capabilities. The contract aimed to deliver research and development for real-time optical surveillance applications. The geographic impact is likely focused on military installations and operational theaters where advanced surveillance is required. Workforce implications would include specialized R&D personnel, engineers, and scientists employed by the contractor.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts can lead to higher final costs than fixed-price agreements if not managed diligently.
The R&D nature of the contract means outcomes are not guaranteed, posing a risk of investment without tangible results.
Limited public information on performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the success of the R&D effort.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust and fair selection process.
The contract duration of over 1700 days allowed for extensive research and development.
The specific focus on 'real-time optical surveillance' addresses a critical defense need.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on advanced physical and engineering sciences related to defense applications. The market for defense R&D is characterized by significant government investment, long development cycles, and specialized contractors. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve other DoD contracts for sensor technology, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems, and advanced optics.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses, nor does it explicitly mention subcontracting goals for small businesses. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is likely minimal unless Pacific Defense Solutions voluntarily engaged small businesses as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this Department of Defense contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program managers within the Air Force. Accountability measures would be tied to the CPFF contract terms, requiring detailed cost reporting and progress reviews. Transparency is often limited for defense R&D contracts due to national security considerations, but contract awards and basic details are generally publicly available through federal procurement databases.

Related Government Programs

Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Systems
Advanced Sensor Technology Development
Department of Defense Research and Development Programs
Optical and Electro-Optical Systems

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type carries inherent risk of cost overruns.
R&D contracts have uncertain outcomes, potentially leading to investment without tangible results.
Limited public data on performance metrics hinders assessment of value and success.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $11.9 million to PACIFIC DEFENSE SOLUTIONS LLC. REAL-TIME OPTICAL SURVEILLANCE APPLICATIONS (ROSA)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PACIFIC DEFENSE SOLUTIONS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2008-05-12. End: 2013-01-31.

What was the specific technological advancement achieved by the ROSA contract?

The provided data does not detail the specific technological advancements achieved by the REAL-TIME OPTICAL SURVEILLANCE APPLICATIONS (ROSA) contract. As a research and development contract under NAICS code 541710, its primary objective was to explore and develop new capabilities in optical surveillance. Without access to project reports, technical documentation, or performance evaluations, it is impossible to ascertain the precise outcomes, such as the development of new algorithms, hardware prototypes, or enhanced surveillance methodologies. The success of such R&D efforts is often measured by the transition of developed technologies into operational systems, which is not indicated in the award data.

How did the final cost compare to the initial estimated cost for this contract?

The available data shows a base award amount of $6,915,000 and a total obligation of $11,929,197 for the ROSA contract. This indicates that the final cost exceeded the initial base award by approximately $5.01 million, or about 72%. This increase could be attributed to various factors inherent in a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) R&D contract, such as evolving research requirements, unforeseen technical challenges, or expanded scope. A detailed cost breakdown and justification for the increase would be necessary to fully assess whether this cost growth was reasonable and justified by the progress made during the contract's performance period.

What is the track record of Pacific Defense Solutions LLC with DoD contracts?

The provided data snippet focuses on a single contract awarded to Pacific Defense Solutions LLC by the Department of the Air Force. To assess their overall track record with the DoD, a broader analysis of their contract history would be required. This would involve examining the number of contracts awarded, their value, the agencies involved, contract types, performance ratings (if available), and any history of protests or disputes. Without this comprehensive view, it's difficult to generalize their performance or reliability based solely on this one R&D award.

Were there any performance issues or contract disputes associated with this ROSA contract?

The provided data does not contain information regarding performance issues or contract disputes related to the REAL-TIME OPTICAL SURVEILLANCE APPLICATIONS (ROSA) contract awarded to Pacific Defense Solutions LLC. Typically, such information would be found in contract performance reports, termination notices, or legal filings, none of which are included in the basic award data. The absence of explicit flags for disputes does not guarantee flawless performance, but it suggests that no major contractual conflicts were publicly recorded or led to significant adverse actions.

How does the $11.9M total spending on this contract compare to similar R&D efforts in optical surveillance?

Comparing the $11.9 million total spending on this specific ROSA contract to other R&D efforts in optical surveillance requires access to a broader dataset of similar contracts. The market for defense R&D is diverse, with contract values varying significantly based on the scope, duration, technological complexity, and specific agency funding priorities. This contract, awarded over a period of approximately 4.7 years (1725 days), represents a moderate investment for a focused R&D project. Larger, more complex programs involving hardware development or system integration could easily reach tens or hundreds of millions of dollars, while smaller exploratory research might be funded with less.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › C – National Defense R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SEALED BID

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 10 WAILEA EKOLU, UNIT 708, KIHEI, HI, 02

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,356,006

Exercised Options: $12,356,006

Current Obligation: $11,929,197

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA945107D0203

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline