DoD Awards $34M Contract for TCPED Support to Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $33,969,399 ($34.0M)
Contractor: Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2021-11-05
End Date: 2025-08-31
Contract Duration: 1,395 days
Daily Burn Rate: $24.4K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: TCPED SUPPORT SUSTAINMENT
Place of Performance
Location: LOGAN, CACHE County, UTAH, 84341
State: Utah Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $34.0 million to UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPACE DYNAMICS LABORATORY for work described as: TCPED SUPPORT SUSTAINMENT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single entity, raising questions about competition. 2. The contract is for Communication Equipment Repair and Maintenance services. 3. A significant portion of the contract value is allocated to a specific state. 4. The contract duration is over three years, indicating long-term support needs.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $33,969,398.57 for 1395 days of service is difficult to benchmark without specific service details. The lack of competition makes a direct pricing assessment challenging.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract is listed as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION', suggesting a sole-source or limited competition award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competitive bidding may result in the government paying more than necessary for these services, impacting taxpayer funds.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the absence of competitive bidding. The long-term nature of the contract suggests a critical need for these services within the Air Force. The award to a university research laboratory highlights potential for specialized expertise but also raises questions about commercial market availability.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpayment
- Limited transparency on pricing justification
Positive Signals
- Award to a known research institution
- Firm Fixed Price contract type can provide cost certainty if priced appropriately
Sector Analysis
The Information Technology sector, particularly communication equipment repair and maintenance, is crucial for defense operations. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on the complexity and scope of services required.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to involve small businesses, as the awardee is Utah State University Space Dynamics Laboratory, a large research institution. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' status warrants further oversight to ensure the justification for limited competition is robust and that the pricing is fair and reasonable.
Related Government Programs
- Communication Equipment Repair and Maintenance
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Air Force Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for inflated pricing
- Limited transparency on justification for sole-source award
- No small business participation noted
Tags
communication-equipment-repair-and-maint, department-of-defense, ut, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $34.0 million to UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPACE DYNAMICS LABORATORY. TCPED SUPPORT SUSTAINMENT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY SPACE DYNAMICS LABORATORY.
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 $34.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2021-11-05. End: 2025-08-31.
What specific factors justified the 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION' designation for this contract?
The justification for limited competition typically involves factors such as unique capabilities, urgent needs where only one source can reasonably fulfill the requirement, or specific research and development efforts. Without access to the contract's Justification and Approval (J&A) document, the precise reasons remain unclear, but it likely relates to specialized expertise or proprietary technology held by the Space Dynamics Laboratory.
How does the per-unit cost of communication equipment repair and maintenance compare to industry standards for similar services?
Benchmarking the per-unit cost is challenging without detailed service breakdowns and specific equipment types. However, given the lack of competition, it is probable that the negotiated rates are higher than what might be achieved through a competitive bidding process. A thorough review of the contract's cost elements and comparison with publicly available service contracts would be necessary for a definitive assessment.
What is the potential impact on future technological advancements if specialized support is consistently awarded non-competitively?
Consistently awarding specialized support non-competitively could stifle innovation by reducing the incentive for other entities to develop competing technologies or service models. It may also lead to a concentration of expertise within a few select organizations, potentially limiting the government's options and increasing long-term costs. Encouraging competition, even in specialized areas, can drive efficiency and technological progress.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Other Services (except Public Administration) › Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance › Communication Equipment Repair and Maintenance
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: FA852721R0018
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 416 E INNOVATION AVE, NORTH LOGAN, UT, 84341
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Foundation, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $33,969,399
Exercised Options: $33,969,399
Current Obligation: $33,969,399
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2021-11-05
Current End Date: 2025-08-31
Potential End Date: 2025-08-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-07-31
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