DoD's $67.4M R&D contract for UAS sense and avoid systems awarded to KBR Wyle Services, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $67,360,805 ($67.4M)
Contractor: KBR Wyle Services, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2018-01-02
End Date: 2022-01-01
Contract Duration: 1,460 days
Daily Burn Rate: $46.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: AVIATION COMMON SYSTEM INTEGRATIONS AND GROUND&AIR BASED SENSE AND AVOID FOR THE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS PROJECT OFFICE
Place of Performance
Location: LEXINGTON PARK, SAINT MARYS County, MARYLAND, 20653
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $67.4 million to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC for work described as: AVIATION COMMON SYSTEM INTEGRATIONS AND GROUND&AIR BASED SENSE AND AVOID FOR THE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS PROJECT OFFICE Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical research and development for unmanned aircraft systems. 2. Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust market. 3. Performance period spans four years, indicating a significant project timeline. 4. The contract type (Cost Plus Fixed Fee) allows for flexibility but requires careful cost oversight. 5. Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences is a key sector for innovation. 6. The contract value is substantial for a single R&D effort.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this R&D contract is challenging due to its specialized nature. The total value of $67.4 million over four years suggests a significant investment in developing advanced technologies. Without specific performance metrics or comparable R&D projects in the public domain, a precise value-for-money assessment is difficult. However, the duration and scope indicate a substantial effort to address a complex technological need for the Air Force.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple capable vendors had the opportunity to bid. This process is designed to foster a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and innovative solutions. The fact that it was competed openly suggests that the government sought the best available technology and expertise from the broadest possible market.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by encouraging a wider range of proposals and potentially driving down costs through market forces.
Public Impact
The Department of Defense, specifically the Air Force, benefits from advancements in unmanned aircraft systems technology. Services delivered include research and development for critical sense and avoid capabilities. The geographic impact is primarily within the defense sector, with potential for broader aerospace applications. Workforce implications include specialized R&D roles for engineers and scientists.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts can incentivize contractors to incur more costs if not carefully managed, potentially exceeding initial budget expectations.
- The specialized nature of R&D means outcomes are not guaranteed, posing a risk to the investment if breakthroughs are not achieved.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, maximizing the potential for competitive pricing and innovation.
- The contract addresses a critical capability gap for unmanned aircraft systems, enhancing operational effectiveness.
- Long-term performance period allows for thorough research and development.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. The market for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) technology, including sense and avoid capabilities, is rapidly growing within both defense and commercial aerospace. Spending in this area is driven by the increasing demand for autonomous operations and enhanced safety. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within other large-scale defense R&D programs focused on advanced aviation technologies.
Small Business Impact
Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans was not explicitly provided for this contract. As it was awarded under full and open competition, the primary focus was likely on securing the best overall solution from the widest pool of offerors, which may not always prioritize small business participation directly in the prime contract.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of the Air Force contracting and program management offices. As a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract, rigorous financial oversight is crucial to monitor incurred costs against the fixed fee. Transparency is generally maintained through contract reporting mechanisms, and the Inspector General's office would have jurisdiction for audits and investigations into fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Research and Development
- Aerospace Technology Development
- Defense Research and Engineering
- Air Force Aviation Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Overrun Risk (CPFF Contract Type)
- R&D Outcome Uncertainty
- Integration Complexity for Sense and Avoid Systems
Tags
research-and-development, department-of-defense, department-of-the-air-force, unmanned-aircraft-systems, aviation, sense-and-avoid, cost-plus-fixed-fee, full-and-open-competition, maryland, kbr-wyle-services-llc
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $67.4 million to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC. AVIATION COMMON SYSTEM INTEGRATIONS AND GROUND&AIR BASED SENSE AND AVOID FOR THE UNMANNED AIRCRAFT SYSTEMS PROJECT OFFICE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC.
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 $67.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-01-02. End: 2022-01-01.
What is the track record of KBR Wyle Services, LLC in performing similar research and development contracts for the Department of Defense?
KBR Wyle Services, LLC has a significant history of performing complex engineering, scientific, and technical services for the Department of Defense and other government agencies. Their expertise often spans areas like aerospace, defense systems, and research and development. While specific performance details for every contract are not publicly available, their sustained presence as a prime contractor on numerous large-scale government awards suggests a generally positive track record. For this specific contract, the Air Force's decision to award it indicates confidence in KBR Wyle's capabilities to deliver on the R&D objectives for the UAS sense and avoid systems. Further detailed analysis would require access to past performance evaluations and contract close-out reports.
How does the $67.4 million contract value compare to other R&D investments in sense and avoid technology for UAS?
The $67.4 million contract value represents a substantial investment in the research and development of sense and avoid technology for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). Benchmarking this against other R&D efforts is complex, as the specific technological maturity, scope, and duration of comparable projects vary widely. However, for a multi-year R&D initiative aimed at developing critical safety and operational capabilities for advanced defense systems, this funding level is consistent with significant government investment. Smaller, more focused R&D tasks might range from a few million dollars, while broader, multi-platform system development could extend into hundreds of millions. This contract appears to be in the mid-to-high range for a focused R&D effort on a specific, critical technology.
What are the primary risks associated with the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type for this R&D project?
The primary risks associated with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type for this R&D project revolve around cost control and potential for cost overruns. In a CPFF structure, the contractor is reimbursed for all allowable costs incurred, plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit. While the fixed fee incentivizes the contractor to control costs to maximize their profit margin, there's a risk that the contractor might not be sufficiently motivated to minimize expenses if the fixed fee is very high or if the scope of work is poorly defined. For the government, the risk lies in the potential for costs to escalate beyond initial projections, especially in R&D where unforeseen technical challenges can arise. Robust oversight, detailed cost tracking, and clear definition of allowable costs are critical to mitigating these risks.
What is the expected impact of this contract on the advancement of UAS operational capabilities for the Department of Defense?
This contract is expected to significantly advance the operational capabilities of Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) for the Department of Defense by developing and integrating crucial sense and avoid (SAA) technologies. Effective SAA systems are paramount for enabling UAS to operate safely and autonomously in complex airspace, alongside manned aircraft, and in contested environments. Successful R&D under this contract should lead to UAS platforms that can better detect, track, and avoid potential collisions, thereby increasing their reliability, mission effectiveness, and the range of operational scenarios they can be employed in. This directly supports the DoD's strategic goals for modernizing its aviation forces and expanding the utility of unmanned platforms.
How has historical spending in R&D for aviation technologies by the Department of the Air Force trended, and where does this contract fit?
The Department of the Air Force (DAF) has consistently allocated substantial funding towards Research and Development (R&D) for aviation technologies, driven by the need for technological superiority and modernization. Historical spending trends show significant investments in areas like advanced materials, propulsion, avionics, and increasingly, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence for aviation. This $67.4 million contract for UAS sense and avoid systems fits squarely within the DAF's ongoing R&D efforts focused on next-generation aviation capabilities. It represents a targeted investment in a critical enabling technology for the future of unmanned platforms, aligning with broader trends of increasing automation and intelligence in military aircraft.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › OTHER RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: FA807513R0001
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Brown & Root Industrial Services Holdings, LLC
Address: 22309 EXPLORATION DR, LEXINGTON PARK, MD, 20653
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $67,888,745
Exercised Options: $67,888,745
Current Obligation: $67,360,805
Actual Outlays: $-6,993
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 21
Total Subaward Amount: $64,021,874
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA807514D0025
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-01-02
Current End Date: 2022-01-01
Potential End Date: 2022-01-01 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-07-31
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