DoD's $37M Jet Fuel Contract with RMA Inc. Faced Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $37,179,244 ($37.2M)

Contractor: RMA Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2010-05-01

End Date: 2014-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,430 days

Daily Burn Rate: $26.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 70

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT

Sector: Other

Official Description: JET A W/FSII AND JET A W/O FSII

Place of Performance

Location: SPOKANE, SPOKANE County, WASHINGTON, 99201

State: Washington Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $37.2 million to RMA INC for work described as: JET A W/FSII AND JET A W/O FSII Key points: 1. The contract for Jet A fuel with and without FSII was awarded to RMA Inc. for $37.2 million. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration was 1430 days, indicating a long-term supply agreement. 4. The petroleum products wholesale sector is critical for military operations. 5. The fixed-price contract with economic price adjustment aims to manage fuel price volatility.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $37.2 million for a 1430-day period appears reasonable given the nature of fuel procurement. Benchmarking against similar long-term fuel supply contracts would provide a more precise assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which typically fosters competitive pricing. The use of fixed price with economic price adjustment helps manage risks associated with fluctuating fuel costs for both parties.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award is expected to have resulted in a fair price for taxpayers, mitigating excessive costs.

Public Impact

Ensures consistent supply of critical jet fuel for military aviation operations. Supports readiness and operational capabilities of the Department of Defense. Price adjustments help stabilize budgeting despite market fluctuations. The contract's duration suggests a stable, long-term relationship with the supplier.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Potential for price increases due to economic price adjustment clause.
  • Dependence on a single supplier for a critical commodity.

Positive Signals

  • Awarded through full and open competition.
  • Long contract duration provides supply stability.
  • Fixed price with economic adjustment manages cost volatility.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers sector, essential for supporting transportation and logistics. Spending in this sector is directly tied to operational tempo and fuel price trends.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that neither small business nor small disadvantaged business participation was explicitly tracked or required for this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Defense Logistics Agency, a key entity for managing supply chains. Oversight would focus on adherence to contract terms, delivery schedules, and the accuracy of economic price adjustments.

Related Government Programs

  • Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals)
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • Defense Logistics Agency Programs

Risk Flags

  • Economic price adjustment introduces cost uncertainty.
  • Potential for price volatility impacting budget.
  • Dependence on a single supplier for a critical resource.
  • Lack of explicit small business participation noted.

Tags

petroleum-and-petroleum-products-merchan, department-of-defense, wa, do, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $37.2 million to RMA INC. JET A W/FSII AND JET A W/O FSII

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RMA INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Logistics Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $37.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2010-05-01. End: 2014-03-31.

What was the average per-gallon price paid under this contract, considering the economic price adjustments?

Calculating the exact average per-gallon price requires access to the specific price adjustment data over the contract's life. Without this granular data, it's impossible to determine the final average cost. However, the base contract value and duration suggest a significant volume of fuel was procured, making the final price per gallon a crucial metric for assessing value.

What specific economic factors were included in the price adjustment clause, and how did they impact the final cost?

The economic price adjustment clause likely tied fuel costs to market indices such as the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) or Brent crude oil prices, and potentially refining costs. The specific factors and their weighting would determine how much the price fluctuated. Understanding these factors is key to assessing whether the adjustments fairly reflected market conditions or led to excessive costs.

How did the awarded price compare to market benchmarks for Jet A fuel during the contract period?

A comprehensive comparison would require analyzing historical market prices for Jet A fuel, adjusted for location and specific grade (with/without FSII), over the 2010-2014 period. While the contract utilized full and open competition, indicating a competitive process, comparing the final negotiated price against independent market data would confirm if the government secured a favorable rate relative to prevailing market conditions.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Wholesale TradePetroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant WholesalersPetroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals)

Product/Service Code: FUELS, LUBRICANTS, OILS, WAXES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: SP060009R0227

Offers Received: 70

Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE WITH ECONOMIC PRICE ADJUSTMENT (K)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 3727 S DAVISON BLVD, SPOKANE, WA, 05

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $37,179,244

Exercised Options: $37,179,244

Current Obligation: $37,179,244

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: SP060010D0006

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2010-05-01

Current End Date: 2014-03-31

Potential End Date: 2014-03-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2011-04-28

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