DoD's $42.3M 'BIG SAFARI' Contract Awarded to Sierra Nevada Company, LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $42,311,563 ($42.3M)

Contractor: Sierra Nevada Company, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2017-09-25

End Date: 2020-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,101 days

Daily Burn Rate: $38.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::CT::IGF ACAT III BIG SAFARI

Place of Performance

Location: ENGLEWOOD, DENVER County, COLORADO, 80112

State: Colorado Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $42.3 million to SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, LLC for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF ACAT III BIG SAFARI Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $42.3 million. 2. Sole-source award to Sierra Nevada Company, LLC. 3. Potential risk due to lack of competition. 4. Services fall under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code. 5. Contract duration spans over 3 years.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the pricing is optimal compared to market rates for similar 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 potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there was no market pressure to offer the best price.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a $42.3 million contract raises concerns about the efficient use of taxpayer funds.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the absence of competitive bidding. The 'BIG SAFARI' program's specific objectives and outcomes are not detailed, impacting public understanding of the spending. The long contract duration (1101 days) suggests a significant, ongoing need for these services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
Lack of transparency on program specifics

Positive Signals

Award to a known entity (Sierra Nevada Company, LLC)
Clear contract end date

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services, a broad category. Benchmarks for this sector vary widely, but sole-source awards of this magnitude often warrant closer scrutiny to ensure value.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses, as the 'sb' field is false. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this award.

Oversight & Accountability

The 'IGF' designation suggests internal government oversight, but the specific mechanisms for monitoring cost and performance on this sole-source contract are not detailed. Further review of oversight reports would be beneficial.

Related Government Programs

All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Air Force Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competitive bidding may result in inflated costs.
Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts can incentivize overspending.
Limited transparency regarding the specific services and program goals.
No clear indication of small business participation or subcontracting.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $42.3 million to SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, LLC. IGF::CT::IGF ACAT III BIG SAFARI

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, 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 $42.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2017-09-25. End: 2020-09-30.

What specific technical services does the 'BIG SAFARI' program entail, and how do they align with the Department of the Air Force's mission objectives?

The 'BIG SAFARI' program is an Air Force initiative focused on rapid acquisition of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. It aims to quickly field new technologies and systems to meet evolving intelligence needs. The specific services procured under this contract likely involve the development, integration, or modification of ISR platforms or related technologies, directly supporting the Air Force's intelligence gathering and operational effectiveness.

What justification was provided for awarding this $42.3 million contract on a sole-source basis, and what steps were taken to ensure fair and reasonable pricing?

Sole-source justifications typically cite reasons such as unique capabilities, urgent needs, or lack of viable alternatives. For this contract, the justification for awarding to Sierra Nevada Company, LLC without competition needs to be publicly available and thoroughly reviewed. Steps to ensure fair and reasonable pricing in such cases often involve detailed cost analysis, comparison to historical data, or independent government cost estimates, though the effectiveness of these measures is harder to verify without competition.

How effectively has Sierra Nevada Company, LLC delivered on the objectives of the 'BIG SAFARI' program under this contract, and what is the overall return on investment for the $42.3 million expenditu

Assessing the effectiveness and return on investment requires access to performance reports, program milestones, and the specific outcomes achieved by the 'BIG SAFARI' program. Without detailed performance metrics and a clear understanding of the program's strategic value, it is difficult to quantify the effectiveness of this $42.3 million expenditure. Post-award reviews and program evaluations would be necessary to determine the overall success and value delivered.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 444 SALOMON CIR, SPARKS, NV, 89434

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $42,875,058

Exercised Options: $42,875,058

Current Obligation: $42,311,563

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 29

Total Subaward Amount: $5,588,599

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA862016G3013

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline