GSA Awards $34M for Joint Threat Warning System Maintenance to Scientific Research Corporation

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $34,015,726 ($34.0M)

Contractor: Scientific Research Corporation

Awarding Agency: General Services Administration

Start Date: 2020-05-15

End Date: 2025-11-14

Contract Duration: 2,009 days

Daily Burn Rate: $16.9K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: JOINT THREAT WARNING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE SUPPORT

Place of Performance

Location: HURLBURT FIELD, OKALOOSA County, FLORIDA, 32544

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

General Services Administration obligated $34.0 million to SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CORPORATION for work described as: JOINT THREAT WARNING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single firm, Scientific Research Corporation. 2. The contract is for maintenance support of the Joint Threat Warning System. 3. Spending is concentrated in Florida, indicating potential regional focus. 4. The contract duration extends over five years, suggesting long-term support needs.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $34 million over five years appears reasonable for specialized system maintenance. Benchmarking against similar complex system support contracts would be necessary for a definitive assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and potentially better value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently for essential system maintenance.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operational capability of critical threat warning systems. Supports national security by maintaining advanced defense technology. Potential economic impact in Florida through contract employment and services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics provided.
Potential for cost overruns if system complexity increases.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical system maintenance.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition.
Firm fixed price contract limits cost uncertainty.
Long-term contract provides stability for system support.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within Engineering Services (NAICS 541330), a sector critical for defense and national security infrastructure. Spending benchmarks for similar maintenance contracts are highly variable based on system complexity and criticality.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The General Services Administration (GSA) managed the award. Oversight would focus on contract performance, adherence to the firm fixed price, and timely delivery of maintenance services.

Related Government Programs

Engineering Services
General Services Administration Contracting
Federal Acquisition Service Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in due to specialized system knowledge.
Lack of detailed performance metrics.
Concentration of spending in one state may limit broader economic benefits.
Long contract duration could mask inefficiencies over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

General Services Administration awarded $34.0 million to SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CORPORATION. JOINT THREAT WARNING SYSTEM MAINTENANCE SUPPORT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: General Services Administration (Federal Acquisition Service).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $34.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-05-15. End: 2025-11-14.

What is the specific nature of the Joint Threat Warning System and its criticality to national security?

The Joint Threat Warning System is likely a sophisticated technological infrastructure designed to detect, analyze, and disseminate critical threat information across multiple military branches. Its criticality stems from providing timely intelligence to prevent or mitigate attacks, ensuring force protection and operational effectiveness. Understanding its specific functions and the consequences of its failure is key to assessing the value of its maintenance.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this maintenance contract and how is performance being measured?

The provided data lacks specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Effective oversight requires clearly defined metrics such as system uptime, response times for maintenance requests, successful threat detection rates, and adherence to maintenance schedules. Without these, assessing the contractor's performance and the true value delivered to the government is challenging.

Are there any contingency plans or alternative support mechanisms in place if Scientific Research Corporation fails to meet its contractual obligations?

The data does not specify contingency plans. Given the critical nature of a threat warning system, the government should have pre-defined alternative support mechanisms or the ability to quickly transition support to another qualified vendor. This mitigates the risk associated with sole-source reliance, even if the initial award was competitive, ensuring continuous operational capability.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: ID04190108

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 2300 WINDY RIDGE PKWY, ATLANTA, GA, 30339

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $39,809,488

Exercised Options: $38,080,356

Current Obligation: $34,015,726

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 9

Total Subaward Amount: $555,389

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS00Q14OADU131

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline