DoD Awards $28M CLS for C-12 Fleet to Vertex Aerospace, Raising Value Concerns

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $27,953,866 ($28.0M)

Contractor: Vertex Aerospace LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2018-03-01

End Date: 2018-12-31

Contract Duration: 305 days

Daily Burn Rate: $91.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: CONTRACTOR LOGISTIC SUPPORT (CLS) FOR C-12 FLEET

Place of Performance

Location: MADISON, MADISON County, MISSISSIPPI, 39110

State: Mississippi Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $28.0 million to VERTEX AEROSPACE LLC for work described as: CONTRACTOR LOGISTIC SUPPORT (CLS) FOR C-12 FLEET Key points: 1. Spending of $27.95M on C-12 fleet logistics support. 2. Vertex Aerospace LLC secured the contract. 3. Competition was full and open, but pricing warrants scrutiny. 4. The sector is Defense, specifically air transportation support.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract's total value is $27.95M. Benchmarking against similar logistics support contracts is difficult without more granular data on services provided. However, the reported obligated amount of $27.95M for a 305-day period suggests a potentially high cost per day.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. However, the final price and value received require further analysis to ensure it represents fair market value.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for essential military fleet support. Ensuring cost-effectiveness and value for money is crucial to maximize the impact of this spending.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operational readiness of the C-12 aircraft fleet. Supports critical military logistics and transportation capabilities. Impacts personnel and operations relying on C-12 aircraft.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Potential overpricing given the duration and scope.
  • Lack of detailed cost breakdown for assessment.
  • Limited information on performance metrics.

Positive Signals

  • Contract awarded through full and open competition.
  • Supports essential military aviation assets.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Defense sector, specifically supporting air transportation logistics. Spending benchmarks for similar CLS contracts can vary widely based on fleet size, aircraft type, and service scope.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to Vertex Aerospace LLC, and there is no indication that small businesses were involved as subcontractors or partners in this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA). Further review of performance reports and payment vouchers would be necessary to assess accountability.

Related Government Programs

  • Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • Defense Contract Management Agency Programs

Risk Flags

  • High obligated amount for a single year.
  • Lack of detailed service scope.
  • Potential for cost creep despite fixed-price.
  • Limited transparency on performance metrics.

Tags

other-support-activities-for-air-transpo, department-of-defense, ms, delivery-order, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $28.0 million to VERTEX AEROSPACE LLC. CONTRACTOR LOGISTIC SUPPORT (CLS) FOR C-12 FLEET

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is VERTEX AEROSPACE LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Contract Management Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $28.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-03-01. End: 2018-12-31.

What specific services are included in the CLS for the C-12 fleet, and how do they compare to industry standards for similar aircraft?

The provided data lacks specific details on the services encompassed by the Contractor Logistic Support (CLS) for the C-12 fleet. To assess value, a breakdown of services such as maintenance, repair, parts provisioning, and technical support is needed. Comparing these to industry standards for similar turboprop aircraft would reveal if the $27.95M price tag is justified or inflated.

Given the firm fixed-price structure, what mechanisms were in place to ensure Vertex Aerospace maintained cost efficiency and prevented potential overruns?

A firm fixed-price contract aims to shift cost risk to the contractor. However, effective oversight is still crucial. Mechanisms should include performance monitoring, review of contractor-submitted invoices against deliverables, and potential penalties for non-performance. Without insight into these oversight activities, it's difficult to confirm cost efficiency was actively managed.

How does the operational readiness and performance of the C-12 fleet under this contract compare to previous periods or similar contracts?

Assessing the effectiveness of this contract requires performance data. Key metrics would include aircraft availability rates, mission completion success, turnaround times for maintenance, and overall fleet reliability. Comparing these metrics against historical data or benchmarks for similar DoD aviation contracts would provide a clear picture of the contract's impact on operational effectiveness.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Transportation and WarehousingSupport Activities for Air TransportationOther Support Activities for Air Transportation

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENTMAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Vertex Aerospace Services Corp.

Address: 555 INDUSTRIAL DR S, MADISON, MS, 39110

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $27,953,866

Exercised Options: $27,953,866

Current Obligation: $27,953,866

Actual Outlays: $20,759

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 44

Total Subaward Amount: $5,181,946

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA810617D0001

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2018-03-01

Current End Date: 2018-12-31

Potential End Date: 2018-12-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2023-08-28

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