Air Force Awards $17.8M R&D Contract to RHINOCORPS LTD. for Weapons Development

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $17,826,490 ($17.8M)

Contractor: Rhinocorps Ltd. CO.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2003-05-30

End Date: 2008-05-29

Contract Duration: 1,826 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: 200308!000452!5700!GS05 !DET 8 AFRL/PK (SUPPORTS VS) !F2960103C0203 !A!N! !N! !20030530!20050529!041575247!041575247!041575247!N!RHINOCORPS, LTD !10801 LOMAS BLVD NE SUITE !ALBUQUERQUE !NM!87112!02000!001!35!ALBUQUERQUE !BERNALILLO !NEW MEXICO!+000000400000!N!N!000005658069!AC55!RDTE/WEAPONS-ENG/MANUF DEVELOP !A5 !WEAPONS !3000!NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !A!N!U!2!006!K! !Z!Y!Z! ! !N!B!N!N! ! !Z! !B!A!000!A!B!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! !

Place of Performance

Location: ALBUQUERQUE, BERNALILLO County, NEW MEXICO, 87110

State: New Mexico Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $17.8 million to RHINOCORPS LTD. CO. for work described as: 200308!000452!5700!GS05 !DET 8 AFRL/PK (SUPPORTS VS) !F2960103C0203 !A!N! !N! !20030530!20050529!041575247!041575247!041575247!N!RHINOCORPS, LTD !10801 LOMAS BLVD NE SUITE !ALBUQUERQUE !NM!87112!02000!001!35!ALBUQUERQUE !BERNA… Key points: 1. The contract is for Research and Development in Weapons Engineering and Manufacturing. 2. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources, suggesting a specific justification. 3. The contract duration is 1826 days, indicating a long-term project. 4. The sector is primarily R&D, with a focus on defense applications.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $17.8M over approximately 5 years is substantial for R&D. Without specific benchmarks for similar weapons development contracts, a precise value assessment is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This suggests that while competition was sought, specific criteria or circumstances led to excluding certain potential bidders, which could impact price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The significant value of this contract represents a considerable investment of taxpayer funds into advanced weapons research and development.

Public Impact

Taxpayers are funding advanced weapons research and development, potentially leading to future military capabilities. The contract supports a specific company, RHINOCORPS LTD., and its operations in New Mexico. The long duration suggests a sustained commitment to the project's objectives.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Competition method 'after exclusion of sources' warrants further scrutiny.
Lack of detailed product/service description ('NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED').

Positive Signals

Contract awarded through a competitive process.
Supports R&D in a critical defense area.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on weapons engineering and manufacturing. Defense R&D spending can vary significantly based on geopolitical factors and technological advancements.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business, as 'sb' is false. The focus is on a larger entity for specialized R&D services.

Oversight & Accountability

The 'exclusion of sources' clause in the competition method requires careful oversight to ensure fairness and prevent potential impropriety. The long duration also necessitates ongoing monitoring of performance and costs.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Air Force Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of transparency regarding specific deliverables.
Potential for cost overruns inherent in CPFF contracts.
Justification for 'exclusion of sources' is unclear.
Long contract duration may increase risk of scope creep or obsolescence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $17.8 million to RHINOCORPS LTD. CO.. 200308!000452!5700!GS05 !DET 8 AFRL/PK (SUPPORTS VS) !F2960103C0203 !A!N! !N! !20030530!20050529!041575247!041575247!041575247!N!RHINOCORPS, LTD !10801 LOMAS BLVD NE SUITE !ALBUQUERQUE !NM!87112!02000!001!35!ALBUQUERQUE !BERNALILLO !NEW MEXICO!+000000400000!N!N!000005658069!AC55!RDTE/WEAPONS-ENG/MANUF DEVELOP !A5 !WEAPONS !3000!NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is RHINOCORPS LTD. CO..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $17.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-05-30. End: 2008-05-29.

What specific technologies or capabilities are being developed under this contract, and how do they align with current defense priorities?

The contract's description is 'NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED,' making it impossible to determine the specific technologies or capabilities being developed. While the PSC code points to weapons development, the lack of transparency hinders an assessment of alignment with current defense priorities. Further declassification or a more detailed public justification would be needed.

What was the justification for excluding sources in the 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' award method?

The justification for excluding sources is not provided in the data. This method typically implies that while the opportunity was broadly advertised, only specific entities met stringent pre-qualification criteria or were deemed capable of fulfilling unique requirements. Understanding this rationale is crucial for assessing the fairness of the competition and potential price impacts.

How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type impact cost control and value for taxpayer money in this R&D context?

Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts allow the contractor to recover all allowable costs plus a fixed fee representing profit. While suitable for R&D where costs can be uncertain, it places the onus on the government to rigorously audit costs. This structure can incentivize cost overruns if not managed tightly, potentially impacting the overall value for taxpayer funds.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › C – National Defense R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Offers Received: 6

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Contractor Details

Address: 10801 LOMAS BLVD NE SUITE, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 87112

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline