DoD's $197M Contract for Scientific Research & Development Services Awarded to Scientific Research Corporation
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $13,287,329 ($13.3M)
Contractor: Scientific Research Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2000-08-30
End Date: 2004-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,492 days
Daily Burn Rate: $8.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: 200011!5700!000304!GM04 !AAC/PKZA BLDG 350 !F0863597D0017 !A!*!0036 !20000830!20041231!197138274!197138274!197138274!N!0D5A6!SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CORPORATIO!2300 WINDY RIDGE PARKWAY, !ATLANTA !GA!30339!37000!089!01!HUNTSVILLE !MADISON !ALABAMA !0001!+000000160964!N!N!000000000000!B513!FEASIBILITY STUDIES (NON-CONSTRUCTION) !C9E!ALL OTHER SUPPLIES AND EQUIPME!3000!NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED !8731!5!B!M!*!B!A!*!A !N!U!2!010!F!* !Z!N!Z!* !* !N!B!N!Z!*!B!A!A!A!* !*!N!A!B!N!*!*!*!*!*!
Place of Performance
Location: ALABAMA
State: Alabama Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $13.3 million to SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CORPORATION for work described as: 200011!5700!000304!GM04 !AAC/PKZA BLDG 350 !F0863597D0017 !A!*!0036 !20000830!20041231!197138274!197138274!197138274!N!0D5A6!SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CORPORATIO!2300 WINDY RIDGE PARKWAY, !ATLANTA !GA!30339!37000!089!01!HUNTSVILLE !MAD… Key points: 1. The contract, valued at $197,138,274, was awarded to Scientific Research Corporation for feasibility studies. 2. Awarded by the Department of the Air Force, this contract falls under the R&D sector. 3. The contract utilized full and open competition after exclusion of sources, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 4. The duration of the contract was 1492 days, indicating a long-term research and development effort.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $197,138,274 is substantial for feasibility studies. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts would be necessary to assess if this represents a fair price for the scope of work.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This method implies that while competition was sought, specific criteria or circumstances led to the exclusion of certain potential bidders, which could impact price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: The significant value of this contract means taxpayer funds are being allocated to scientific research. The effectiveness and necessity of these feasibility studies will determine the ultimate value for taxpayers.
Public Impact
Taxpayers are funding extensive research and development efforts through this contract. The contract supports scientific advancement within the Department of Defense, potentially leading to new technologies. The long duration suggests a sustained investment in specific research areas.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 70 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns in long-term R&D projects.
- Ensuring the 'feasibility studies' directly align with critical defense needs.
- Transparency in the 'exclusion of sources' process.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through a competitive process, indicating potential for value.
- Supports critical R&D for the Department of the Air Force.
- Long-term commitment allows for in-depth research.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically R&D in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (NAICS 541710). Spending in this sector is crucial for technological advancement but can be subject to long timelines and uncertain outcomes.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication from the provided data whether small businesses were involved as subcontractors or partners in this contract. Further investigation would be needed to determine small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically involve regular progress reports, milestone reviews, and financial audits to ensure the contractor is meeting objectives and managing funds appropriately. The Department of the Air Force is responsible for this oversight.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Air Force Programs
Risk Flags
- Significant contract value raises concerns about potential cost overruns.
- The 'exclusion of sources' aspect warrants scrutiny for fairness and transparency.
- Long-term R&D projects carry inherent risks of not achieving desired outcomes.
- Need for clear metrics to evaluate the success of 'feasibility studies'.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, al, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $13.3 million to SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CORPORATION. 200011!5700!000304!GM04 !AAC/PKZA BLDG 350 !F0863597D0017 !A!*!0036 !20000830!20041231!197138274!197138274!197138274!N!0D5A6!SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CORPORATIO!2300 WINDY RIDGE PARKWAY, !ATLANTA !GA!30339!37000!089!01!HUNTSVILLE !MADISON !ALABAMA !0001!+000000160964!N!N!000000000000!B513!FEASIBILITY STUDIES (NON-CONSTRUCTION) !C9E!ALL OTHER SUPPLIES AND EQUIPME!3000!NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED !8731!5!B!M!*!B!A!*!A !N!U!
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CORPORATION.
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 $13.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2000-08-30. End: 2004-09-30.
What specific scientific advancements or technological capabilities are expected to result from these feasibility studies, and how will their success be measured?
The success of these feasibility studies will be measured by their ability to definitively assess the viability of proposed scientific concepts or technologies for defense applications. Expected outcomes include detailed reports outlining technical challenges, potential benefits, cost-effectiveness, and recommendations for further development or abandonment of the research path. The specific metrics will depend on the nature of the studies, but could include factors like projected performance improvements, integration feasibility, and risk assessment.
How does the 'exclusion of sources' in the competition process ensure fair pricing and prevent potential anti-competitive outcomes?
The 'exclusion of sources' clause, while allowing for competition, implies that certain potential bidders were deemed ineligible for specific reasons. To ensure fair pricing, the contracting agency must have robust justification for these exclusions and demonstrate that the remaining competitive pool was sufficient to drive a reasonable price. Without transparency into the reasons for exclusion, it's difficult to fully assess if the price achieved truly reflects optimal market competition or if it was influenced by a narrowed bidder set.
What is the long-term strategic value of investing nearly $200 million in feasibility studies for the Department of the Air Force?
The long-term strategic value lies in potentially identifying and validating groundbreaking technologies that could provide a significant advantage to the Air Force. Investing in feasibility studies allows for early-stage exploration of high-risk, high-reward concepts without committing to full-scale development. This proactive approach can lead to future technological superiority, enhanced national security, and cost savings by avoiding investment in ultimately unworkable solutions.
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: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2300 WINDY RIDGE PKWY SE, ATLANTA, GA, 90
Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2000-08-30
Current End Date: 2004-09-30
Potential End Date: 2004-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2014-01-31
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