DOT/FAA Awards $114K for UMAC Program Cables, Sole-Sourced to OPTO 22

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,400 ($11.4K)

Contractor: Opto 22

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2026-04-09

End Date: 2026-06-08

Contract Duration: 60 days

Daily Burn Rate: $190/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: PROCUREMENT OF GROOV I/O TERMINAL CABLES IN SUPPORT OF UNIVERSAL MONITORING AND CONTROL (UMAC) PROGRAM.

Place of Performance

Location: TEMECULA, RIVERSIDE County, CALIFORNIA, 92590

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $11,400 to OPTO 22 for work described as: PROCUREMENT OF GROOV I/O TERMINAL CABLES IN SUPPORT OF UNIVERSAL MONITORING AND CONTROL (UMAC) PROGRAM. Key points: 1. Spending on specialized I/O terminal cables for the UMAC program totals $114,000. 2. The contract was awarded sole-source to OPTO 22, indicating limited competition. 3. Potential risks include lack of competitive pricing and vendor lock-in. 4. The sector is IT hardware procurement for critical infrastructure monitoring.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The $114,000 award for printed circuit assemblies is difficult to benchmark without specific technical requirements. However, sole-source procurement often leads to higher prices than competitive bids.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This procurement was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially increases costs for taxpayers.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds may be less efficiently utilized due to the absence of competitive bidding.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operation of the Universal Monitoring and Control (UMAC) program. Supports critical infrastructure monitoring within the Federal Aviation Administration. Potential for higher costs due to sole-source award.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition.
Potential for overpayment without competitive pricing.
Short contract duration may indicate urgent need or limited scope.

Positive Signals

Supports a critical FAA program.
Clear end date for the contract.

Sector Analysis

This procurement falls within the IT hardware sector, specifically electronic assembly manufacturing. Spending benchmarks for specialized I/O cables are highly variable based on technical specifications and volume.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether small businesses were considered or involved in this sole-source procurement. Further analysis would be needed to determine small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

The award was made via a purchase order, which is a common method for acquiring goods. Oversight would focus on the justification for the sole-source award and the reasonableness of the price.

Related Government Programs

Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly) Manufacturing
Department of Transportation Contracting
Federal Aviation Administration Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for inflated pricing
Limited transparency on justification

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $11,400 to OPTO 22. PROCUREMENT OF GROOV I/O TERMINAL CABLES IN SUPPORT OF UNIVERSAL MONITORING AND CONTROL (UMAC) PROGRAM.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is OPTO 22.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11,400.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2026-04-09. End: 2026-06-08.

What is the justification for the sole-source award, and were alternative sources considered?

The justification for this sole-source award is not provided in the data. Typically, sole-source awards require a documented justification, such as a lack of competition or unique capabilities. Agencies must demonstrate that no other responsible source can meet the requirement. Without this justification, it's difficult to assess the necessity of bypassing competitive procedures.

How does the $114,000 price compare to market rates for similar I/O terminal cables?

Benchmarking the $114,000 price is challenging without detailed specifications. However, sole-source procurements often result in prices higher than those achieved through competitive bidding. A thorough price analysis, potentially involving independent cost estimates or comparisons to commercially available similar items, would be necessary to determine price reasonableness.

What is the long-term strategy for procuring these cables to ensure cost-effectiveness and availability?

The current sole-source award suggests a short-term solution. A long-term strategy should explore options for fostering competition, such as breaking down the requirement into smaller lots, seeking multiple vendors for future needs, or developing standardized specifications. This would help ensure better pricing and supply chain resilience for the UMAC program.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Semiconductor and Other Electronic Component Manufacturing › Printed Circuit Assembly (Electronic Assembly) Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC EQPT COMPNTS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 43044 BUSINESS PARK DR, TEMECULA, CA, 92590

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,400

Exercised Options: $11,400

Current Obligation: $11,400

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline