FAA Awards $29.8M Surveillance and Broadcast Support Task Order to SAIC Under Full and Open Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $29,766,561 ($29.8M)
Contractor: Science Applications International Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation
Start Date: 2018-08-01
End Date: 2020-01-31
Contract Duration: 548 days
Daily Burn Rate: $54.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Other
Official Description: TASK ORDER FOR SURVEILLANCE AND BROADCAST SERVICES (SBS) SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: ANDOVER, ESSEX County, MASSACHUSETTS, 01810
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Transportation obligated $29.8 million to SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION for work described as: TASK ORDER FOR SURVEILLANCE AND BROADCAST SERVICES (SBS) SUPPORT Key points: 1. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) awarded a significant task order for Surveillance and Broadcast Services (SBS) support. 2. Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) secured the contract, indicating strong performance or competitive advantage. 3. The contract was awarded under a full and open competition, suggesting a robust price discovery process. 4. The Time and Materials pricing structure warrants scrutiny for potential cost overruns and value for money.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The Time and Materials (T&M) contract type can lead to higher costs if not managed closely. Without a fixed price or cap, the final cost is directly tied to labor hours and rates, making it difficult to benchmark against similar fixed-price contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, which generally promotes competitive pricing. However, the T&M pricing structure may limit the effectiveness of price discovery compared to fixed-price contracts.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of T&M pricing presents a risk to taxpayers if not rigorously monitored for efficiency and necessity of hours billed.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operation and enhancement of critical surveillance and broadcast systems for the FAA. Supports aviation safety and efficiency by maintaining essential communication and monitoring infrastructure. The large contract value highlights the significant investment in aviation technology and support services.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials pricing structure
- Lack of specific performance metrics in provided data
- Potential for scope creep with T&M contracts
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition
- Experienced contractor (SAIC)
- Supports critical FAA mission
Sector Analysis
Engineering Services (NAICS 541330) is a broad category. This specific task order focuses on specialized support for surveillance and broadcast systems, crucial for air traffic management. Benchmarks for similar specialized engineering support contracts would be needed for a precise comparison.
Small Business Impact
The provided data does not indicate any subcontracting to small businesses. Further investigation would be needed to determine if small business participation was a requirement or opportunity.
Oversight & Accountability
The effectiveness of oversight for this Time and Materials contract is crucial. Regular audits and performance reviews by the FAA are necessary to ensure the contractor is delivering value and controlling costs.
Related Government Programs
- Engineering Services
- Department of Transportation Contracting
- Federal Aviation Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Risk of cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing
- Potential for inefficient labor utilization
- Dependency on a single contractor for critical systems
- Lack of transparency on specific deliverables and performance metrics
Tags
engineering-services, department-of-transportation, ma, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Transportation awarded $29.8 million to SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. TASK ORDER FOR SURVEILLANCE AND BROADCAST SERVICES (SBS) SUPPORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $29.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-08-01. End: 2020-01-31.
What specific surveillance and broadcast capabilities does this task order cover, and how do they align with current FAA modernization efforts?
This task order likely covers the maintenance, upgrade, and potentially new implementation of systems critical for air traffic surveillance (e.g., radar, ADS-B) and broadcast communications (e.g., voice, data links). Its alignment with modernization efforts depends on the specific technologies supported and whether they are part of FAA's NextGen initiatives or legacy system sustainment.
How does SAIC's proposed labor mix and estimated hours compare to industry benchmarks for similar engineering support services?
Without detailed labor category breakdowns and estimated hours, a direct comparison is difficult. However, SAIC's extensive experience suggests they likely proposed a mix of senior and mid-level engineers. Benchmarking would require access to their proposal details and comparing them against aggregated data for similar FAA contracts or government-wide engineering service contracts.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this task order, and what are the penalties for non-performance?
The provided data does not specify KPIs or penalties. Typically, for T&M contracts supporting critical infrastructure, KPIs might include system uptime, response times for maintenance, successful software updates, and adherence to safety protocols. Penalties could involve reduced payment or contract termination for significant failures to meet agreed-upon service levels.
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: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 12010, SUNSET HILLS ROAD, RESTON, VA, 20190
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $29,766,561
Exercised Options: $29,766,561
Current Obligation: $29,766,561
Actual Outlays: $6,832,213
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 2
Total Subaward Amount: $689,176
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 693KA918D00010
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-08-01
Current End Date: 2020-01-31
Potential End Date: 2021-10-13 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-08-26
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