Air Force awards $6.65M contract for navigation solutions to Jeppesen Foreflight, Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $6,652,618 ($6.7M)

Contractor: Jeppesen Foreflight, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-10-01

End Date: 2026-01-31

Contract Duration: 122 days

Daily Burn Rate: $54.5K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: USAF SAFETY OF NAVIGATION SOLUTIONS CONTRACT

Place of Performance

Location: OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA County, OKLAHOMA, 73145

State: Oklahoma Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $6.7 million to JEPPESEN FOREFLIGHT, INC. for work described as: USAF SAFETY OF NAVIGATION SOLUTIONS CONTRACT Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a sole-source basis, limiting price competition. 2. The contract duration is 122 days, indicating a short-term need. 3. The award is a delivery order, suggesting it's part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. 4. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs for the government. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 518210 points to data processing and hosting services. 6. The contract is not set aside for small businesses. 7. The primary agency is the Department of the Air Force, a major defense spender.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $6.65 million for a 122-day period appears high on a daily basis. Without knowing the specific services rendered, it's difficult to benchmark against similar contracts. However, the lack of competition suggests potential for overpayment. The firm-fixed-price structure provides some cost certainty, but the absence of competitive bidding limits the government's ability to secure the best possible value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning only one vendor, Jeppesen Foreflight, Inc., was solicited. This approach bypasses the competitive bidding process, which typically involves multiple vendors submitting proposals. While sole-source awards can be justified for unique capabilities or urgent needs, they generally result in less favorable pricing for the government compared to fully competed contracts.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition means taxpayers may not be receiving the most cost-effective solution available in the market. Without competing bids, there is less downward pressure on pricing, potentially leading to higher overall expenditures.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of the Air Force personnel who will utilize the navigation solutions. The contract delivers essential computing infrastructure and data processing services for navigation. The geographic impact is likely within the operational areas of the U.S. Air Force. Workforce implications are minimal as this appears to be a service/software contract rather than a large labor acquisition.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing and potentially increases cost to taxpayers.
Short contract duration (122 days) may indicate an urgent or interim need, raising questions about long-term planning.
Lack of small business involvement means limited opportunities for smaller firms in this specific award.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
Award to a known entity (Jeppesen Foreflight) may indicate a pre-existing relationship or specialized capability.
Delivery order structure suggests integration into a broader acquisition strategy.

Sector Analysis

The contract falls under the IT and data services sector, specifically NAICS code 518210. This sector is characterized by rapid technological advancements and significant government spending on cloud computing, data analytics, and software solutions. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish without specific service details, but the federal government invests billions annually in IT infrastructure and services.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This means that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific award are limited. The absence of a small business set-aside suggests that the contracting agency did not prioritize small business participation for this particular procurement.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of the Air Force's contracting and financial management offices. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm-fixed-price contract, requiring delivery of specified services. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.

Related Government Programs

Air Force IT Services Contracts
DoD Data Processing and Hosting Services
Navigation and Aviation Support Systems
Sole-Source IT Procurements

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potentially high cost per day

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $6.7 million to JEPPESEN FOREFLIGHT, INC.. USAF SAFETY OF NAVIGATION SOLUTIONS CONTRACT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is JEPPESEN FOREFLIGHT, 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 $6.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-10-01. End: 2026-01-31.

What specific navigation solutions are being provided under this contract?

The provided data does not specify the exact nature of the 'navigation solutions.' However, given the NAICS code 518210 (Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services) and the contractor's known products (ForeFlight is a popular aviation application suite), it is highly probable that this contract covers software-as-a-service (SaaS) for flight planning, weather data, electronic flight bags, and potentially other mission-critical aviation data services. These services are essential for modern military aviation operations, providing pilots and flight crews with real-time information for safe and efficient flight.

Why was this contract awarded on a sole-source basis?

The justification for a sole-source award is not provided in the data. However, common reasons include the contractor possessing unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or being the only source capable of meeting urgent requirements. For aviation software like ForeFlight, it's possible that the Air Force determined Jeppesen Foreflight, Inc. to be the only provider of a specific, integrated system essential for their operations, or that transitioning to another vendor would be prohibitively costly or time-consuming given the short contract duration.

How does the $6.65 million value compare to similar contracts for navigation solutions?

Benchmarking this $6.65 million contract is challenging without more specific details on the services provided and the contract's scope. However, considering it's for a 122-day period (approximately 4 months), the daily burn rate is substantial. If this represents a full suite of advanced aviation data and planning services, the price might be within a reasonable range for specialized military-grade solutions. Yet, the sole-source nature prevents a direct comparison to competitively bid contracts, which would likely yield lower prices for equivalent services.

What is the track record of Jeppesen Foreflight, Inc. with the federal government?

Jeppesen Foreflight, Inc. has a significant presence in the aviation software market, particularly with its ForeFlight application, widely used by civilian pilots. While specific federal contract history isn't detailed here, their established reputation and product suite suggest they are a recognized provider of aviation information services. The award of this sole-source contract by the Department of the Air Force indicates a level of trust or necessity in their capabilities for military aviation operations.

What are the potential risks associated with this sole-source contract?

The primary risk is financial: the government may be paying a premium due to the lack of competition. There's also a risk of vendor lock-in if the services are highly integrated and difficult to replace. Furthermore, without competitive pressure, there might be less incentive for the contractor to innovate or provide exceptional customer support beyond the contract's minimum requirements. The short duration also poses a risk if the need extends beyond January 31, 2026, requiring another potentially non-competitive award.

What is the historical spending pattern for similar navigation solutions by the Air Force?

Historical spending patterns for similar navigation solutions by the Air Force are not detailed in the provided data. However, the Department of Defense, including the Air Force, consistently invests heavily in aviation technology, including flight planning software, electronic flight bags, and real-time data services. Spending can fluctuate based on technological upgrades, new platform acquisitions, and evolving operational requirements. The shift towards digital solutions and data-centric operations suggests a growing trend in this area.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Information › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services › Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services

Product/Service Code: PHOTO, MAP, PRINT, PUBLICATION › PHOTOGR, MAPPING, PRINTING, PUBLISH

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: THE Boeing Company

Address: 55 INVERNESS DR E, ENGLEWOOD, CO, 80112

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,652,618

Exercised Options: $6,652,618

Current Obligation: $6,652,618

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA810120D0001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline