DoD's $68M HWIL Program Awarded to COLSA Corp for Missile Defense R&D
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $68,106,698 ($68.1M)
Contractor: Colsa Corp
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2008-08-14
End Date: 2017-04-30
Contract Duration: 3,181 days
Daily Burn Rate: $21.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: R&D
Official Description: DEPUTY FOR ENGINEERING MODELING AND SIMULATION (DES) HARDWARE-IN-THE-LOOP (HWIL) PROGRAM EFFORT
Place of Performance
Location: HUNTSVILLE, MADISON County, ALABAMA, 35806
State: Alabama Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $68.1 million to COLSA CORP for work described as: DEPUTY FOR ENGINEERING MODELING AND SIMULATION (DES) HARDWARE-IN-THE-LOOP (HWIL) PROGRAM EFFORT Key points: 1. Significant investment in advanced missile defense simulation technology. 2. COLSA Corp, a key defense contractor, secured this substantial award. 3. Potential risks include long-term sustainment and evolving threat landscapes. 4. Spending falls within the R&D sector, specifically engineering simulation.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The $68.1 million contract for HWIL program effort appears reasonable given the specialized nature of engineering modeling and simulation for missile defense. Benchmarking against similar complex R&D contracts is challenging due to unique technical requirements.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' indicating a limited competition. This approach may impact price discovery compared to broader solicitations, but could be justified by specific technical expertise required.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are supporting critical advancements in missile defense capabilities, aiming for enhanced national security through sophisticated simulation.
Public Impact
Enhances national security by improving missile defense system testing and validation. Supports technological advancement in complex engineering and simulation fields. Contributes to the development of future defense capabilities through hardware-in-the-loop testing.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition may not yield the best price.
- Long contract duration (2008-2017) could lead to cost overruns.
- Reliance on a single contractor for critical simulation technology.
Positive Signals
- Addresses a critical national security need.
- Utilizes advanced simulation for cost-effective system development.
- Supports specialized R&D in a high-tech sector.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is crucial for maintaining technological superiority but requires careful oversight due to its specialized and often long-term nature.
Small Business Impact
The contract data does not indicate any specific set-asides for small businesses. The prime contractor, COLSA Corp, is not identified as a small business, suggesting this was a large-scale prime contract.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded as a delivery order under a larger program, suggesting existing oversight mechanisms. However, the long duration and limited competition warrant continued scrutiny to ensure cost-effectiveness and adherence to program goals.
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
- Limited competition
- Long contract duration
- Potential for technological obsolescence
- Reliance on specific contractor expertise
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, al, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $68.1 million to COLSA CORP. DEPUTY FOR ENGINEERING MODELING AND SIMULATION (DES) HARDWARE-IN-THE-LOOP (HWIL) PROGRAM EFFORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is COLSA CORP.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Missile Defense Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $68.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2008-08-14. End: 2017-04-30.
What was the justification for excluding other sources in the competition?
The exclusion of sources likely stemmed from specific, highly specialized technical requirements for the Deputy for Engineering Modeling and Simulation's Hardware-in-the-Loop program. The Missile Defense Agency may have determined that only a limited number of contractors possessed the requisite expertise, facilities, or proprietary technology to fulfill the complex simulation needs for advanced missile defense systems.
How does the long duration of this contract impact its overall risk profile?
A contract spanning nearly nine years (2008-2017) inherently carries risks of scope creep, technological obsolescence, and escalating costs due to inflation or changing requirements. Managing such a long-term R&D effort requires robust change control processes and continuous re-evaluation to ensure the program remains aligned with evolving defense needs and budget realities.
What is the long-term effectiveness of investing in this specific HWIL program for missile defense?
The long-term effectiveness hinges on the program's ability to accurately simulate complex missile defense scenarios, thereby reducing the need for costly and potentially dangerous live-fire tests. If the HWIL system successfully validates system designs and identifies vulnerabilities early, it can significantly improve the reliability and cost-efficiency of missile defense systems, contributing to national security.
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 › C – National Defense R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: HQ014707R0001
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 6726 ODYSSEY DR, HUNTSVILLE, AL, 35806
Business Categories: Category Business, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $68,110,636
Exercised Options: $68,110,636
Current Obligation: $68,106,698
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HQ014707D0002
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2008-08-14
Current End Date: 2017-04-30
Potential End Date: 2017-04-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2020-04-13
More Contracts from Colsa Corp
- Scat 1 Engineering, Professional, and Administrative Support Services (epass) for AIR Force Life Cycle Management Center Mobility and Training Aircraft, Presidential and Executive Airlift, and Tanker Directorates (aflcmc/Wl, WV, WK) — $431.7M (Department of Defense)
- Task Order Award — $325.7M (Department of Defense)
- C4isr Task Order — $313.2M (Department of Defense)
- 199904!2100!0337!SG60 !USA Space and Strategic DEF CDR !dasg6098c0047 !A!*!* !19990108!20020216!102067378!102067378!102067378!n!4u825!colsa Corporation !6726 Odyssey DR NW !huntsville !al!35806!37000!089!01!huntsville !madison !alabama !0001!+000002938200!n!n!000000000000!ac23!rdte/Missile and Space Systems-Adv Tech DEV !A2 !missile and Space Systems !1caa!ballistic Missile Defense SYS !8731!3!*!*!*!B!A!*!A !N!R!2!002!K!* !Z!Y!Z!* !* !n!b!*!z!*!b!a!a!*!* !*!n!a!b!n!*!*!*!*!*! — $211.8M (Department of Defense)
- THE Huntsville Operations Support Center (hosc) Contract Specifies Technical, Managerial, and Administrative Work Needed to Ensure the Availability, Integrity, and Reliability of Mission Ground System Development and Operations in Support of National Aeronautics and Space Administration (nasa) Space Programs. This Contract Provides Single or Multi-Program Unique Facilities, Systems, and Services, Both Local and Remote to Msfc, Supporting Nasa Spacecraft, Payload, Satellite, and Propulsion Systems Operations. the Contract Provides Cross Utilization of Resources Across Programs and Seamless Operations Support for Multiple Programs — $192.7M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
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)