DoD's $37.6M IGF BIG SAFARI Contract Awarded to General Atomics Aeronautical Systems
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $37,587,135 ($37.6M)
Contractor: General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2018-04-19
End Date: 2019-04-21
Contract Duration: 367 days
Daily Burn Rate: $102.4K/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: POWAY, SAN DIEGO County, CALIFORNIA, 92064
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $37.6 million to GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS, INC. for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF ACAT III BIG SAFARI Key points: 1. The contract is for All Other Support Services, with a total value of $37.6 million. 2. General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. is the sole awardee, indicating a lack of competition. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can carry higher risk for the government. 4. The award falls under the 'Other Support Services' category, lacking specific sector detail.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type, combined with a lack of competition, raises concerns about potential overpricing. Benchmarking is difficult without more specific service details.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded sole-source, meaning there was no competition. This significantly limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this award means taxpayers may not have received the best possible price for these support services.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be paying more than necessary due to the lack of competitive bidding. The specific nature of 'All Other Support Services' makes it difficult for the public to understand the value received. The Department of Defense's reliance on sole-source contracts can limit innovation and market responsiveness.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
- Lack of specific service details
Positive Signals
- Contract awarded to a known entity in the aerospace sector
Sector Analysis
The 'All Other Support Services' NAICS code is broad and can encompass a wide range of activities. Without more detail, it's hard to benchmark against typical spending in specific sub-sectors.
Small Business Impact
The awardee is General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc., a large business. There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure fair pricing and appropriate service delivery. Transparency regarding the justification for sole-sourcing is crucial.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Support Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Air Force Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
- Broad service category
- Potential for inflated costs
- Limited transparency on justification
Tags
all-other-support-services, department-of-defense, ca, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $37.6 million to GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS, INC.. IGF::CT::IGF ACAT III BIG SAFARI
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GENERAL ATOMICS AERONAUTICAL SYSTEMS, 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 $37.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-04-19. End: 2019-04-21.
What specific services are included under 'All Other Support Services' for this contract, and how do they align with the justification for a sole-source award?
The specific services are not detailed in the provided data. 'All Other Support Services' is a broad NAICS code. A sole-source award typically requires a justification, such as unique capabilities or urgent need, which is not provided here. Further investigation into the contract's justification document would be necessary to understand the scope and rationale.
What is the potential cost overrun risk associated with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract awarded without competition?
Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts inherently carry risk as the government pays costs plus a fixed fee. Without competition, the government has less leverage to negotiate cost efficiencies. This combination increases the risk of the contractor not being incentivized to control costs, potentially leading to higher overall spending than a competitively bid contract.
How effective is the Department of Defense in ensuring value for money when awarding large sole-source contracts in support services?
Effectiveness varies greatly. While sole-source awards can be necessary in specific circumstances (e.g., unique capabilities), they generally reduce the government's ability to secure competitive pricing. Robust oversight, clear justification requirements, and post-award performance monitoring are critical to mitigating risks and ensuring value, but the inherent lack of price competition remains a challenge.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Other Support Services › All Other Support 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
Parent Company: General Atomics
Address: 14200 KIRKHAM WAY, POWAY, CA, 92064
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $40,682,113
Exercised Options: $40,682,113
Current Obligation: $37,587,135
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 5
Total Subaward Amount: $1,081,335
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA862016G3021
IDV Type: BOA
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-04-19
Current End Date: 2019-04-21
Potential End Date: 2019-04-21 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2022-09-15
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