DoD's $21.2M Contract for Engineering Support Awarded to Johns Hopkins APL
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,264,500 ($21.3M)
Contractor: THE Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2013-01-01
End Date: 2013-09-30
Contract Duration: 272 days
Daily Burn Rate: $78.2K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: FORT BELVOIR, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22060
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $21.3 million to THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC for work described as: ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT Key points: 1. The contract value is $21.26 million. 2. The award went to The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC. 3. This is a sole-source award, raising questions about competition. 4. The sector is Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking is difficult without more specific details on the services provided.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in higher costs than if the contract had been competitively bid.
Public Impact
Missile Defense Agency receives critical engineering and technical support. The awardee, Johns Hopkins APL, is a well-established research institution. Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the sole-source nature of the award. The duration of the contract is 272 days.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition.
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can be prone to cost overruns.
Positive Signals
- Award to a reputable institution (JHU APL).
- Supports critical missile defense efforts.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the Research and Development sector, specifically R&D in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this area is crucial for technological advancement but requires careful oversight to ensure value.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award, which is common for highly specialized research and development contracts.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure the Missile Defense Agency received fair pricing and that competition was appropriately waived.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Missile Defense Agency Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition.
- Potential for cost overruns with CPFF.
- No small business participation indicated.
- Limited transparency on fee negotiation.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, va, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $21.3 million to THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC. ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Missile Defense Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $21.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2013-01-01. End: 2013-09-30.
What specific technical challenges or unique capabilities justified a sole-source award for this engineering and technical support?
Sole-source awards are typically justified when only one responsible source is available or capable of meeting the agency's needs. This could be due to unique intellectual property, specialized facilities, or prior experience with a specific system that makes transitioning to another contractor impractical or detrimental to mission success.
How was the 'fixed fee' component determined in this Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract to ensure a fair profit margin for the contractor without excessive taxpayer cost?
The fixed fee in a CPFF contract is negotiated upfront and represents the contractor's profit. It's determined based on factors like the complexity of the work, the contractor's experience, market rates, and the level of risk involved. Agencies aim to set a fee that is fair compensation for the contractor's effort and risk while remaining reasonable from a taxpayer perspective.
What metrics are used to assess the effectiveness and value of the engineering and technical support provided by Johns Hopkins APL under this contract?
Effectiveness is likely measured through milestones achieved, technical reports delivered, successful system integration or testing, and adherence to project timelines. Value is assessed by comparing the outcomes against the contract objectives and considering whether the support contributed to the overall mission goals of the Missile Defense Agency in a cost-effective manner.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › DEFENSE (OTHER) R&D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: HQ014712R0002
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: THE Johns Hopkins University
Address: 11100 JOHNS HOPKINS RD, LAUREL, MD, 20723
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $21,430,500
Exercised Options: $21,430,500
Current Obligation: $21,264,500
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HQ014712D0004
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2013-01-01
Current End Date: 2013-09-30
Potential End Date: 2013-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2022-04-01
More Contracts from THE Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC
- Dragonfly Extended Phase B Mission Under 80msfc20d0004 Aerospace Research, Development and Engineering Support (ardes) II — $1.3B (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- Aerospace Research, Design, and Development Tasks for Nasa — $1.1B (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- Solar Probe Plus (SPP) Phase a Activities the Contractor Shall Perform the Work That IS Designated in Task Orders Issued by the Contracting Officer. the Overall Scope of Work to BE Performed Will Support ALL of Nasa's Mission Directorates. These Efforts CAN BE Characterized AS Aerospace Research, Development, and Engineering Support (ardes). the General Nature of the Tasks to BE Developed Will BE to Conduct Supporting Research and Advanced Technology Development Designed to Make Contributions to Space Science and Space Exploration and Assist Nasa in the Formulation and Execution of ITS Programs by Providing Nasa With Technical Advice, Studies, and Reports of Investigations. Efforts Undertaken by the Contractor, in the Performance of the Assigned Tasks, Which Include Technology Transfer, Partnering and Commercialization Activities, Shall Seek to Enhance the Value and Contribution of Technology to the Nation S Technological Competitiveness, Prosperity, Quality of Life, and Other National Priorities. Individual Task Orders Will Fall Within ONE of TWO Broad Categories: 1) Essential Research Capability of Space Systems Engineering, and Related Work in the Supporting Essential Research Capabilities of Systems Test and Evaluation, Information Technology, and Simulation, Modeling and Operations Analysis. Task Orders Within the Category of Essential Research Capabilities ARE Intended to Preserve the Nation S Capabilities to Perform Robotic Space Missions Over the Full Mission Life Cycle From Concept Formulation Through Mission Operations and Data Analysis. Nasa IS Contracting for Support in Several KEY Research, Engineering and Development Competencies That ARE Fundamental to the Performance of These Missions. 2) Other Aerospace Research, Development, and Engineering Support. Task Orders Within the Category of Other Aerospace Research, Development and Engineering Support ARE Intended to Include a Broad Base of Scientific and Technical Capabilities Relevant to Nasa Program Responsibilities and Assignments. Regardless of Category, Task Orders MAY BE Issued Related to Autonomous Deep-Space and Earth-Orbiting Spacecraft or Major Subsystems, Experiments, Instruments or Other Devices That MAY BE Carried AS Payloads on the Space Shuttle or on Other Spacecraft. Task Assignments Will Explicitly Describe a Broad Range of Hardware, Software, Systems Engineering, Scientific Analysis, and Management Efforts Including Program and Project Management and Administration — $894.5M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- SUN Earth Connection Living With a Star Program Letter Contract — $522.1M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (imap) Phase CD — $400.0M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
View all THE Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC federal contracts →
Other Department of Defense Contracts
- Federal Contract — $51.3B (Humana Government Business Inc)
- Lrip LOT 12 Advance Acquisition Contract — $35.1B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- SSN 802 and 803 Long Lead Time Material — $34.7B (Electric Boat Corporation)
- 200204!008532!1700!AF600 !naval AIR Systems Command !N0001902C3002 !A!N! !N! !20011026!20120430!008016958!008016958!834951691!n!lockheed Martin Corporation !lockheed Blvd !fort Worth !tx!76108!27000!439!48!fort Worth !tarrant !texas !+000026000000!n!n!018981928201!ac15!rdte/Aircraft-Eng/Manuf Develop !a1a!airframes and Spares !2ama!jast/Jsf !336411!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !a!n!r!2!002!n!1a!a!n!z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !a!a!a!a!000!a!c!n! ! ! !Y! !N00019!0001! — $34.2B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- KC-X Modernization Program — $32.0B (THE Boeing Company)