DoD awards $44.4M to Textron Systems for Afghan aircraft support, a sole-source contract
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $44,445,253 ($44.4M)
Contractor: Textron Systems Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2019-05-31
End Date: 2021-07-31
Contract Duration: 792 days
Daily Burn Rate: $56.1K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Defense
Official Description: AFGHANISTAN CONTRACTOR LOGISTICS SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE TRAINING FOR AC-208 ELIMINATOR AIRCRAFT AND MISSION TRAINING AND SUPPORT SYSTEM
Place of Performance
Location: COCKEYSVILLE, BALTIMORE County, MARYLAND, 21030
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $44.4 million to TEXTRON SYSTEMS CORPORATION for work described as: AFGHANISTAN CONTRACTOR LOGISTICS SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE TRAINING FOR AC-208 ELIMINATOR AIRCRAFT AND MISSION TRAINING AND SUPPORT SYSTEM Key points: 1. High contract value for specialized aircraft support. 2. Sole-source award limits competitive pricing. 3. Potential risk in reliance on a single contractor for critical logistics. 4. Spending concentrated in the Defense sector.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $44.4M for logistics and training is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price is optimal compared to potential market rates for similar specialized aircraft support services.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for taxpayers as competition is absent.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for this significant contract raises concerns about potential overspending and inefficient use of taxpayer funds.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operational readiness of AC-208 Eliminator aircraft. Supports critical training for personnel involved with the aircraft. Potential for cost overruns due to sole-source nature. Limited transparency on pricing justification.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- High contract value
Positive Signals
- Supports critical defense asset
- Defined contract type (FFP)
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Defense sector, specifically supporting aviation logistics and training. Spending benchmarks for similar specialized aircraft support can vary widely, but sole-source awards often deviate from competitive norms.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. The award went to a single, likely large, entity.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny. Further oversight is needed to ensure the justification for non-competition was robust and that pricing is reasonable.
Related Government Programs
- Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Defense Contract Management Agency Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competition.
- Potential for inflated pricing.
- Limited transparency on cost justification.
- Reliance on a single provider for critical support.
Tags
other-support-activities-for-air-transpo, department-of-defense, md, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $44.4 million to TEXTRON SYSTEMS CORPORATION. AFGHANISTAN CONTRACTOR LOGISTICS SUPPORT AND MAINTENANCE TRAINING FOR AC-208 ELIMINATOR AIRCRAFT AND MISSION TRAINING AND SUPPORT SYSTEM
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is TEXTRON SYSTEMS CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Contract Management Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $44.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-05-31. End: 2021-07-31.
What was the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative solutions considered?
The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED'. A full justification for sole-source procurement typically involves factors like urgency, unique capabilities, or lack of market availability. Without this detailed justification, it's impossible to assess if other viable options were explored or if this was the only feasible path.
How does the per-unit cost or overall pricing compare to similar logistics and training contracts for specialized aircraft, if available?
Benchmarking is challenging due to the sole-source nature and specific platform (AC-208 Eliminator). Without competitive bids or publicly available data on similar sole-source contracts for comparable aircraft, a direct price comparison is difficult. The absence of competition inherently limits the ability to validate cost-effectiveness against market alternatives.
What measures are in place to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the training and support provided under this contract?
While the contract type is Firm Fixed Price (FFP), which incentivizes contractor performance, the effectiveness of training and support relies heavily on Textron Systems' execution and the oversight provided by the Defense Contract Management Agency. Specific performance metrics and quality assurance processes would be detailed within the contract itself.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Support Activities for Air Transportation › Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Textron Inc
Address: 124 INDUSTRY LN, HUNT VALLEY, MD, 21030
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $46,495,037
Exercised Options: $46,495,037
Current Obligation: $44,445,253
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 9
Total Subaward Amount: $3,686,922
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-05-31
Current End Date: 2021-07-31
Potential End Date: 2021-07-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2023-06-21
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