DOT awards $163M for engineering support, with ASRC Federal Advanced Research securing the contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,630,112 ($1.6M)

Contractor: Asrc Federal Advanced Research, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2026-04-01

End Date: 2031-03-18

Contract Duration: 1,812 days

Daily Burn Rate: $900/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SECOND LEVEL ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES FOR AJW-141

Place of Performance

Location: OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA County, OKLAHOMA, 73169

State: Oklahoma Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $1.6 million to ASRC FEDERAL ADVANCED RESEARCH, LLC for work described as: SECOND LEVEL ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES FOR AJW-141 Key points: 1. Contract value of $163 million over its period of performance. 2. ASRC Federal Advanced Research, LLC is the prime contractor. 3. The contract is for second-level engineering support services. 4. The period of performance spans from April 1, 2026, to March 18, 2031. 5. The contract type is Firm Fixed Price, indicating predictable costs. 6. The contract was awarded under Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources. 7. The contract is a Delivery Order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. 8. The contract is being performed in Oklahoma.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total contract value is $163,011,200. Without specific benchmarks for 'second level engineering support services' within the FAA or similar agencies, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. However, the firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides cost certainty for the government. Further analysis would require comparing the scope of services and the resulting cost per unit or per hour to similar contracts awarded by the FAA or other transportation-related agencies.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources.' This specific award type suggests that while the initial solicitation may have been open, certain sources were excluded, leading to a limited competition pool for this particular delivery order. The exact reasons for exclusion are not detailed, but it implies a more restricted bidding process than a standard full and open competition. The number of bidders is not specified, making it difficult to fully assess the impact on price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: Limited competition can potentially lead to higher prices for taxpayers compared to a fully open bidding process with numerous participants. The exclusion of sources may have reduced the competitive pressure to offer the lowest possible price.

Public Impact

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) benefits from continued engineering support services. The services provided are critical for maintaining and advancing aviation infrastructure and operations. The geographic impact is primarily centered in Oklahoma, where the contract is being performed. The contract supports a workforce of engineers and technical specialists.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition due to exclusion of sources may impact price competitiveness.
Lack of detailed scope of work for this specific delivery order makes it hard to benchmark value.
The 'after exclusion of sources' clause warrants further investigation into the rationale and impact on fairness.

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
Long-term contract (over 5 years) allows for stable planning and execution of services.
Award to ASRC Federal Advanced Research, LLC, a known entity in the federal contracting space.

Sector Analysis

Engineering services, particularly specialized support like second-level engineering, are a critical component of the federal government's infrastructure and operational maintenance. The Federal Aviation Administration relies heavily on such services to ensure the safety and efficiency of the national airspace system. This contract fits within the broader 'Engineering Services' sector (NAICS 541330), which encompasses a wide range of professional engineering activities. Benchmarking this contract's value would ideally involve comparing it to other large-scale engineering support contracts within the Department of Transportation or similar agencies managing complex technical systems.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates that small business participation (ss: false, sb: false) is not a primary focus for this specific award, as neither a small business set-aside nor subcontracting goals are explicitly mentioned. This suggests that the prime contractor, ASRC Federal Advanced Research, LLC, is not obligated to meet specific small business subcontracting targets under this delivery order. The impact on the small business ecosystem would be minimal unless the prime contractor voluntarily engages small businesses for support.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration. As a Firm Fixed Price contract, performance monitoring and adherence to the Statement of Work are key oversight mechanisms. Transparency is facilitated through federal contract databases where award details are published. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.

Related Government Programs

Federal Aviation Administration Engineering Services
Department of Transportation IT and Engineering Support
Second Level Engineering Support Contracts
ASRC Federal Advanced Research Contracts

Risk Flags

Limited competition due to exclusion of sources.
Potential for price not being fully optimized due to restricted competition.
Scope definition for delivery order needs careful monitoring.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $1.6 million to ASRC FEDERAL ADVANCED RESEARCH, LLC. SECOND LEVEL ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES FOR AJW-141

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ASRC FEDERAL ADVANCED RESEARCH, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $1.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-01. End: 2031-03-18.

What is the track record of ASRC Federal Advanced Research, LLC with the FAA and DOT?

ASRC Federal Advanced Research, LLC has a history of securing contracts with various federal agencies, including the Department of Transportation and its sub-agencies like the Federal Aviation Administration. Their portfolio often includes research, engineering, and technical support services. Analyzing their past performance on similar FAA contracts would involve reviewing contract performance reports (CPARS), any past performance issues or commendations, and their overall success rate in delivering on complex engineering and technical requirements. Specific to the FAA, their experience likely encompasses a range of aviation-related technical services, contributing to their ability to secure this new award.

How does the $163 million contract value compare to similar FAA engineering support contracts?

Benchmarking the $163 million value requires comparing it to contracts with similar scopes of 'second level engineering support services' within the FAA or other agencies managing complex technical systems like air traffic control or aviation safety. Without access to a detailed breakdown of the services included in this specific delivery order, a direct comparison is difficult. However, for large-scale, multi-year engineering support contracts within the FAA, this value falls within a common range for significant service requirements. A more precise comparison would involve analyzing the number of labor hours, skill sets required, and the duration of similar contracts awarded over the past few years.

What are the primary risks associated with this contract?

Key risks include potential cost overruns if the scope of work is not precisely defined or if unforeseen technical challenges arise, although the Firm Fixed Price (FFP) structure mitigates this for the government. Performance risk exists if the contractor fails to deliver the required engineering expertise or meets deadlines, potentially impacting FAA operations. There's also a risk related to the 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources' award method; if the exclusions were not justified or led to a lack of robust competition, it could result in suboptimal pricing or reduced innovation. Finally, reliance on a single contractor for critical support functions presents a dependency risk.

How effective is the 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources' method for this type of service?

The effectiveness of 'Full and Open Competition after Exclusion of Sources' is context-dependent. This method allows for competition among a broader range of potential offerors than a sole-source award but restricts it compared to a pure full and open competition. It can be effective when specific technical capabilities or past performance are critical, and only a subset of companies possess them, or when certain sources are excluded for documented reasons (e.g., national security, prior performance issues). However, if the exclusions are arbitrary or reduce the competitive pool significantly, it may lead to less favorable pricing and fewer innovative solutions for the government compared to a truly open competition.

What are the historical spending patterns for engineering support services at the FAA?

Historical spending patterns for engineering support services at the FAA typically show consistent, substantial investment due to the agency's mission-critical nature. The FAA regularly procures a wide array of engineering, technical, and operational support services to maintain and modernize the national airspace system. Spending often fluctuates based on major modernization programs, infrastructure upgrades, and evolving regulatory requirements. Analyzing past FAA budgets and contract awards for similar engineering services would reveal trends in contract values, durations, and the types of firms frequently engaged, providing a baseline for evaluating current spending.

What is the significance of the contract being a Delivery Order?

The designation of this award as a 'Delivery Order' indicates that it is likely issued under a broader Indefinite-Delivery/Indefinite-Quantity (IDIQ) contract vehicle. IDIQ contracts allow agencies to procure supplies or services over a set period, with specific quantities and delivery dates defined by individual delivery orders. This approach provides flexibility for the FAA to order services as needed, up to a certain ceiling amount. For this specific contract, it means the $163 million is the total potential value across all orders placed under this mechanism, and this particular order represents a specific task or set of tasks being executed.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 7000 MUIRKIRK MEADOWS DR STE 100, BELTSVILLE, MD, 20705

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,908,700

Exercised Options: $1,748,996

Current Obligation: $1,630,112

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 6973GH26D00022

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline