DoD's $28M BIG SAFARI contract awarded to Sierra Nevada Company, LLC for technical services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $28,177,752 ($28.2M)
Contractor: Sierra Nevada Company, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2018-06-28
End Date: 2020-07-31
Contract Duration: 764 days
Daily Burn Rate: $36.9K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: ACAT III BIG SAFARI
Place of Performance
Location: SPARKS, WASHOE County, NEVADA, 89434
State: Nevada Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $28.2 million to SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, LLC for work described as: ACAT III BIG SAFARI Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single, large business vendor. 2. No competition was identified for this award. 3. The contract was for professional, scientific, and technical services. 4. The award was a delivery order under an existing contract.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $28.18 million for a 2-year period appears reasonable for specialized technical services. Benchmarking against similar ACAT III contracts is difficult without more specific service details.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
This contract was not competed, indicating a limited competition approach. This may have impacted price discovery, potentially leading to higher costs than a fully competed contract.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds were used for this sole-source award, with potential for overpayment due to lack of competition.
Public Impact
Limited transparency on the specific services provided under BIG SAFARI. Potential for reduced innovation and higher costs due to non-competitive award. Air Force received specialized technical services, but the value proposition is unclear without competitive data.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for cost overruns
- Limited transparency
Positive Signals
- Delivery of specialized technical services
- Fixed-price contract type
Sector Analysis
The "All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services" sector (NAICS 541990) is broad. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on the specific services procured. This contract represents a small portion of overall federal spending in this category.
Small Business Impact
This contract was awarded to a large business and did not involve any small business participation. There is no indication of efforts to include small businesses in this procurement.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight of this contract is managed by the Department of the Air Force. The limited competition and lack of transparency raise questions about the effectiveness of oversight in ensuring best value for taxpayers.
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 raises concerns about cost-effectiveness.
- Limited transparency into the specific services rendered.
- Potential for vendor lock-in due to sole-source nature.
- No small business participation noted.
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, department-of-defense, nv, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $28.2 million to SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, LLC. 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 $28.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-06-28. End: 2020-07-31.
What specific technical services were provided under the BIG SAFARI program, and how do they align with the Department of the Air Force's mission requirements?
The specific technical services provided under the BIG SAFARI program are not detailed in the provided data. However, given the 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' classification, it likely encompasses a range of specialized support. These services would need to align with the Air Force's operational and strategic objectives, potentially in areas like intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, or advanced technology development.
What is the justification for the limited competition award, and were alternative competitive strategies considered?
The justification for limited competition is not provided. Typically, such awards occur when only one source can meet the requirement due to unique capabilities, urgency, or specific program needs. Without this justification, it's impossible to assess if alternative competitive strategies were explored or if this was the most appropriate procurement method.
How does the $28.18 million contract value compare to industry benchmarks for similar specialized technical services, considering the lack of competition?
Benchmarking this contract's value is challenging due to the lack of competition and specific service details. In a competitive environment, $28.18 million over two years for specialized technical services might be reasonable. However, without competitive bids, it's difficult to ascertain if this price represents fair market value or if taxpayers paid a premium due to the limited source selection.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Product/Service Code: AEROSPACE CRAFT AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
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
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: $28,177,752
Exercised Options: $28,177,752
Current Obligation: $28,177,752
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 66
Total Subaward Amount: $8,480,183
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA862016G3013
IDV Type: BOA
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-06-28
Current End Date: 2020-07-31
Potential End Date: 2020-07-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-12-16
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