DoD Awards Raytheon $72.1M for F/A-18 E/F Aircraft Parts, Lacking Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $72,149,450 ($72.1M)

Contractor: Raytheon Company

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2007-12-28

End Date: 2011-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,189 days

Daily Burn Rate: $60.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: FY 08 LAU-115D/A AND LAU-116B/A FOR RAAF F/A-18 E/F

Place of Performance

Location: INDIANAPOLIS, MARION County, INDIANA, 46201

State: Indiana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $72.1 million to RAYTHEON COMPANY for work described as: FY 08 LAU-115D/A AND LAU-116B/A FOR RAAF F/A-18 E/F Key points: 1. Significant award to Raytheon for critical aircraft components. 2. Sole-source award raises concerns about price discovery and competition. 3. Long contract duration (nearly 4 years) may impact cost-effectiveness. 4. Awarded under Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The award amount of $72.1M for 1189 days suggests a potential for overpayment due to the lack of competitive bidding. Without market comparison, it's difficult to ascertain if the firm fixed price is optimal.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award to Raytheon Company. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition likely resulted in a higher price than could have been achieved through a competitive process, impacting taxpayer funds.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may have paid a premium for aircraft parts due to the sole-source nature of the contract. The long performance period could mean the government is locked into potentially suboptimal pricing. Lack of transparency in the procurement process hinders public understanding of defense spending efficiency.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole-source award
  • Lack of competition
  • Long contract duration

Positive Signals

  • Firm fixed price contract type
  • Awarded to established contractor

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the 'Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing' sector. Spending in this area is crucial for maintaining military readiness, but competitive procurement is vital for cost efficiency.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to Raytheon Company, a large business. There is no indication that small businesses were involved as subcontractors or partners in this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants further scrutiny by oversight bodies to ensure the price paid was fair and reasonable, and to understand why competition was not pursued.

Related Government Programs

  • Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • Department of the Navy Programs

Risk Flags

  • Sole-source award limits price competition.
  • Potential for inflated costs due to lack of competitive bidding.
  • Long contract duration may not reflect current market conditions.
  • Lack of transparency regarding procurement justification.
  • No indication of small business participation.

Tags

other-aircraft-parts-and-auxiliary-equip, department-of-defense, in, do, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $72.1 million to RAYTHEON COMPANY. FY 08 LAU-115D/A AND LAU-116B/A FOR RAAF F/A-18 E/F

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RAYTHEON COMPANY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Navy).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $72.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-12-28. End: 2011-03-31.

What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive strategies considered?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED'. A thorough review would be needed to understand the specific justification, such as a critical need, lack of qualified sources, or urgency. Without this information, it's impossible to assess if alternative competitive strategies were viable or if the sole-source decision was truly necessary and cost-effective.

How does the awarded price compare to market benchmarks for similar aircraft parts, considering the lack of competition?

Without competitive bids, establishing a precise market benchmark is challenging. However, the absence of competition inherently raises concerns about price reasonableness. An independent cost analysis or comparison with historical pricing for similar components, adjusted for inflation and contract terms, would be necessary to assess if the $72.1M award represents fair value.

What measures are in place to ensure the effectiveness and quality of the LAU-115D/A and LAU-116B/A parts delivered under this long-term contract?

While the contract type is 'FIRM FIXED PRICE', which shifts some cost risk to the contractor, the effectiveness and quality depend on the government's contract administration and inspection processes. Robust quality assurance surveillance plans and acceptance testing protocols are crucial to ensure the delivered parts meet stringent military specifications throughout the contract's duration.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ManufacturingAerospace Product and Parts ManufacturingOther Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: GUIDED MISSLES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6125 E 21ST ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN, 07

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $72,149,450

Exercised Options: $72,149,450

Current Obligation: $72,149,450

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: N0001905G0008

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2007-12-28

Current End Date: 2011-03-31

Potential End Date: 2011-03-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2012-02-24

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