DoD's $14.5M Wargaming Contract Awarded to Frontier Technology Inc. Raises Competition Concerns
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $14,528,915 ($14.5M)
Contractor: Frontier Technology Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2023-09-30
End Date: 2026-03-31
Contract Duration: 913 days
Daily Burn Rate: $15.9K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: IT
Official Description: WARGAMING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING
Place of Performance
Location: DAYTON, GREENE County, OHIO, 45433
State: Ohio Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $14.5 million to FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY INC for work described as: WARGAMING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING Key points: 1. Contract awarded for wargaming and strategic planning services. 2. Significant value of $14.5 million over its period of performance. 3. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and potential price discovery. 4. Services fall under custom computer programming, a sector with diverse capabilities.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract is a Cost Plus Fixed Fee type, which can lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the fixed fee represents a fair price for the services rendered.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for taxpayers compared to a competitive process.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a $14.5 million contract means taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible value.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the absence of competitive bidding. Limited transparency into the justification for a sole-source award. Potential for reduced innovation if alternative solutions were not explored.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Cost-plus contract type
- Lack of transparency in justification
Positive Signals
- Supports critical DoD wargaming and strategic planning needs.
Sector Analysis
The IT services sector, particularly custom computer programming, is vast. Benchmarking this specific wargaming and strategic planning service is challenging without more detail on deliverables, but the contract value is substantial for a single award.
Small Business Impact
The contract data does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses, suggesting this award did not directly benefit the small business sector.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants closer oversight to ensure the fixed fee is reasonable and the services provided align with the stated objectives.
Related Government Programs
- Custom Computer Programming Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Air Force Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition may lead to inflated costs.
- Potential for reduced innovation due to sole-source award.
- Cost-plus contract type carries inherent cost overrun risk.
- Limited transparency regarding the sole-source justification.
Tags
custom-computer-programming-services, department-of-defense, oh, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $14.5 million to FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY INC. WARGAMING AND STRATEGIC PLANNING
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY INC.
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 $14.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-09-30. End: 2026-03-31.
What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were any market research efforts conducted to identify potential competitors?
The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED,' suggesting a sole-source award. A thorough review would require access to the contract file to understand the specific justification, such as urgency, unique capabilities, or lack of market availability. Without this information, it's impossible to definitively assess the rationale or the extent of market research performed.
How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure ensure cost control and value for money in this wargaming and strategic planning contract?
Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts aim to provide a degree of cost control by establishing a fixed fee for the contractor's profit, independent of the final cost. However, the government bears the risk of cost overruns. Effective oversight is crucial to ensure the contractor manages costs efficiently and that the fixed fee remains appropriate for the scope of work.
What specific wargaming and strategic planning capabilities does Frontier Technology Inc. possess that made them the sole choice for this Department of Defense requirement?
The data does not specify the unique capabilities of Frontier Technology Inc. that led to this sole-source award. Typically, such justifications would cite proprietary technology, specialized expertise, or a critical need that only one vendor could fulfill. Further investigation into the contract's justification documentation would be necessary to understand the specific reasons.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4141 COLONEL GLENN HWY STE 140, BEAVERCREEK, OH, 45431
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $14,528,915
Exercised Options: $14,528,915
Current Obligation: $14,528,915
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA239622D0008
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-09-30
Current End Date: 2026-03-31
Potential End Date: 2026-03-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-12-22
More Contracts from Frontier Technology Inc
- This IS a Sbir III Contract in Support of the DOD, Stemming From Previous Sbir Phase I & II Topics Including AF06-016, MDA09-021, N05-039, N07-010, A06-035 and Osd07-Cr4. PSC Code AC62 Ended PER PSC Manual Effective OCT 2020. Replacing With PSC AC32 — $267.7M (General Services Administration)
- Life Cycle Decision Support Analysis Tools — $180.7M (Department of Defense)
- Satisfies the Minimum Guarantee — $60.2M (Department of Defense)
- Usaf Space and Missile Center (SMC) Engineering Directorate (EN) Systems Engineering and Life Cycle Decision Support Award — $50.2M (General Services Administration)
- Cyber/O1d RED Team Support Services to Support Cotf RED Team Status — $35.6M (Department of Defense)
Other Department of Defense Contracts
- Federal Contract — $51.3B (Humana Government Business Inc)
- Lrip LOT 12 Advance Acquisition Contract — $35.1B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- SSN 802 and 803 Long Lead Time Material — $34.7B (Electric Boat Corporation)
- 200204!008532!1700!AF600 !naval AIR Systems Command !N0001902C3002 !A!N! !N! !20011026!20120430!008016958!008016958!834951691!n!lockheed Martin Corporation !lockheed Blvd !fort Worth !tx!76108!27000!439!48!fort Worth !tarrant !texas !+000026000000!n!n!018981928201!ac15!rdte/Aircraft-Eng/Manuf Develop !a1a!airframes and Spares !2ama!jast/Jsf !336411!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !a!n!r!2!002!n!1a!a!n!z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !a!a!a!a!000!a!c!n! ! ! !Y! !N00019!0001! — $34.2B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- KC-X Modernization Program — $32.0B (THE Boeing Company)