DOT's $31.8M Air Route Radar System Contract Awarded to AS AND D, LLC for Engineering Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $31,766,049 ($31.8M)

Contractor: AS and D, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2007-08-03

End Date: 2012-08-07

Contract Duration: 1,831 days

Daily Burn Rate: $17.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ESTABLISH AIR ROUTE RADAR SYSTEMS TASK, AJW-142 INCREMENTAL FUNDING

Place of Performance

Location: GREENBELT, PRINCE GEORGE'S County, MARYLAND, 20770, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $31.8 million to AS AND D, LLC for work described as: ESTABLISH AIR ROUTE RADAR SYSTEMS TASK, AJW-142 INCREMENTAL FUNDING Key points: 1. The contract value of $31.8 million represents a significant investment in air traffic control infrastructure. 2. The firm-fixed-price contract type suggests a clear scope and predictable costs for the government. 3. The duration of 1831 days indicates a long-term project requiring sustained engineering support. 4. The award was made under full and open competition, implying a robust bidding process. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541330 points to specialized engineering services. 6. The contract was awarded to AS AND D, LLC, with a base award of $17.3 million. 7. The contract was awarded in 2007 and completed in 2012, reflecting historical spending.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The total contract value of $31.8 million for establishing air route radar systems is difficult to benchmark without specific details on the scope of work and the complexity of the radar systems involved. The incremental funding approach suggests a phased development or deployment. Comparing this to similar large-scale air traffic control system upgrades would provide better context for value for money. The firm-fixed-price nature is generally positive for cost control, but the overall value depends heavily on the delivered system's performance and longevity.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition,' indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 3 bids suggests a moderate level of competition for this specialized engineering service. While competition is generally beneficial for price discovery, the specific number of bidders (3) might not represent the full market potential for such a critical infrastructure project.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is favorable for taxpayers as it typically drives down prices through market forces. However, with only three bidders, the potential for cost savings might be limited compared to scenarios with a larger number of competitive offers.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the flying public, through improved air traffic management and safety. The services delivered are critical for modernizing air route radar systems, enhancing navigation accuracy and capacity. The geographic impact is likely nationwide, as air route radar systems are fundamental to the national airspace system. The contract supports specialized engineering roles within the aerospace and defense sectors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if the scope of 'establishing air route radar systems' was not precisely defined, despite the firm-fixed-price structure.
Risk of vendor lock-in if the chosen system requires proprietary maintenance or upgrades.
Dependence on AS AND D, LLC's technical expertise for a critical national infrastructure component.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a fair and transparent procurement process.
Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
Long contract duration (1831 days) indicates a sustained commitment to a critical infrastructure need.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, specifically related to aerospace and defense infrastructure. The market for air traffic control systems is highly specialized, dominated by a few key players. Spending in this area is driven by the need for modernization, increased capacity, and enhanced safety in air travel. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve other large-scale procurements for radar, communication, or navigation systems within the aviation industry.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). The prime contractor, AS AND D, LLC, is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on small business set-asides is minimal. However, the potential for subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within the engineering and technical support domains exists, though not detailed here.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) contracting officers and program managers. The firm-fixed-price nature provides a degree of accountability for deliverables. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected during the contract's lifecycle.

Related Government Programs

Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen)
Air Traffic Control Modernization Programs
FAA Radar System Procurement
Aviation Safety and Security Initiatives

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep if not managed tightly.
Dependency on specific technology choices.
Long-term maintenance and upgrade costs not fully detailed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $31.8 million to AS AND D, LLC. ESTABLISH AIR ROUTE RADAR SYSTEMS TASK, AJW-142 INCREMENTAL FUNDING

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AS AND D, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $31.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2007-08-03. End: 2012-08-07.

What specific radar technologies were implemented under this contract, and how do they compare to contemporary standards at the time of award?

The provided data does not specify the exact radar technologies implemented. However, contracts for 'Air Route Radar Systems' typically involve primary surveillance radars (PSRs) and secondary surveillance radars (SSRs) to detect and track aircraft. At the time of award in 2007, advancements in solid-state transmitters, digital signal processing, and phased-array antennas were becoming more prevalent, offering improved reliability, accuracy, and weather penetration compared to older analog systems. The FAA's modernization efforts, including the transition towards NextGen, aimed to integrate these advanced technologies to enhance airspace capacity and safety. Without specific technical documentation for this contract, a precise comparison is not possible, but it's reasonable to assume the systems procured aimed to meet or exceed the evolving technological benchmarks of the late 2000s.

How did the final cost of $31.8 million compare to the initial estimated cost for establishing these air route radar systems?

The provided data does not include the initial estimated cost for this contract, only the awarded amount of $31,766,048.86. Therefore, a direct comparison between the final cost and the initial estimate cannot be made. The contract was awarded as a firm-fixed-price type, which generally aims to cap the government's liability at the agreed-upon price, assuming the scope of work remains consistent. Incremental funding suggests that funds were allocated in stages, which could be tied to milestones or budget cycles rather than reflecting an initial total cost estimate. Further analysis would require access to pre-award documentation or budget justifications.

What was the track record of AS AND D, LLC in performing similar large-scale federal engineering contracts prior to this award?

The provided data does not contain information on the prior track record of AS AND D, LLC. To assess their performance history, one would need to consult contract databases (like FPDS) for previous awards, performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), and any past issues or successes on similar projects. Given that this contract was awarded under full and open competition, it implies that the FAA assessed AS AND D, LLC's qualifications and capabilities as sufficient to meet the contract requirements. However, without specific historical data, it's impossible to definitively state their track record on similar large-scale federal engineering contracts.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of the air route radar systems established under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for air route radar systems, KPIs would focus on technical performance metrics such as radar detection range, accuracy (positional and velocity), reliability (Mean Time Between Failures - MTBF), availability (uptime percentage), weather clutter rejection capabilities, and the system's ability to handle target volume. Operational KPIs might include reduced air traffic delays attributable to improved radar data, enhanced safety incident rates, and successful integration with air traffic management systems. Contractual requirements would outline these specific metrics and the methods for their measurement and reporting.

How does the spending on this specific radar system contract compare to the overall FAA budget for air traffic control infrastructure during the contract period (2007-2012)?

The spending on this contract, totaling approximately $31.8 million over five years, represents a portion of the FAA's overall budget for air traffic control infrastructure during the 2007-2012 period. The FAA's budget for infrastructure modernization, including radar, communication, and navigation systems, typically runs into billions of dollars annually. For context, the FAA's total budget often exceeds $15 billion per year, with a significant portion allocated to capital investments. Therefore, while $31.8 million is a substantial amount for a single contract, it would likely represent a relatively small fraction of the FAA's total infrastructure spending during that timeframe, focusing on a specific, albeit critical, component.

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

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (UEI: 076637073)

Address: 3900 C STREET, STE-802, ANCHORAGE, AK, 99503

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $772,757,980

Exercised Options: $31,803,951

Current Obligation: $31,766,049

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: DTFAAC07D00048

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline