DoD's $23.2M BIG SAFARI Contract Awarded to L3Harris for Aircraft Parts

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,244,880 ($23.2M)

Contractor: L3harris Technologies Integrated Systems L.P.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2018-12-18

End Date: 2021-05-06

Contract Duration: 870 days

Daily Burn Rate: $26.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: BIG SAFARI

Place of Performance

Location: GREENVILLE, HUNT County, TEXAS, 75402

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $23.2 million to L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES INTEGRATED SYSTEMS L.P. for work described as: BIG SAFARI Key points: 1. Contract value of $23.2 million awarded to L3Harris Technologies. 2. The contract falls under 'Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing'. 3. Awarded by the Department of the Air Force, part of the Department of Defense. 4. The contract duration was 870 days. 5. This was a sole-source award.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. The total award amount is $23.2 million, with a reported obligated amount of $23.2 million.

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 compared to a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for this $23.2 million contract may result in a higher cost to taxpayers than if it had been competitively bid.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may have paid more due to the sole-source nature of the award. The Department of Defense continues to procure specialized aircraft parts, indicating ongoing operational needs. L3Harris Technologies, a major defense contractor, benefits from this award. The contract duration of 870 days suggests a significant, long-term requirement.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can incentivize higher costs.
Lack of small business participation noted.

Positive Signals

Award supports critical Department of Defense aircraft needs.
L3Harris is a known entity in defense contracting.
Contract was fully funded at award.

Sector Analysis

The 'Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing' sector is crucial for maintaining and upgrading military aviation assets. Spending in this area is directly tied to defense readiness and technological advancement, with significant government investment typical.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this contract award, as the 'sb' field is false. This suggests that the prime contractor, L3Harris, did not subcontract to small businesses for this specific requirement.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of Defense is responsible for overseeing this contract. The 'BIG SAFARI' program itself implies a structured approach to acquiring specialized capabilities, but the sole-source nature warrants scrutiny to ensure fair pricing and value.

Related Government Programs

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Air Force Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award.
Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type.
No small business participation.
Limited transparency on specific deliverables.
Potential for inflated costs due to lack of competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $23.2 million to L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES INTEGRATED SYSTEMS L.P.. BIG SAFARI

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is L3HARRIS TECHNOLOGIES INTEGRATED SYSTEMS L.P..

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 $23.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-12-18. End: 2021-05-06.

What specific aircraft parts or auxiliary equipment were procured under the BIG SAFARI contract, and how critical are they to Air Force operations?

The specific nature of the 'BIG SAFARI' contract and the 'Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing' category suggests specialized components, potentially for advanced or classified aircraft systems. Criticality would depend on the specific end-use, but given it's a DoD contract, it's likely tied to operational readiness, intelligence gathering, or mission support capabilities.

What justification was provided for awarding this $23.2 million contract on a sole-source basis instead of through full and open competition?

Sole-source awards typically require a justification, such as the existence of only one responsible source, or a compelling urgency that precludes competition. Without the specific justification document, it's impossible to know the exact reason, but it implies unique capabilities or proprietary technology held by L3Harris that the Air Force deemed essential.

How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure of this contract ensure effective cost control and value for the taxpayer, given the lack of competition?

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts aim to control costs by adding a fixed fee to the actual allowable costs. However, without competition, the baseline 'cost' is less scrutinized. Effective oversight from the Air Force is paramount to ensure L3Harris incurs only necessary and reasonable costs, and that the fixed fee represents fair profit for the work performed.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing › Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: COMM/DETECT/COHERENT RADIATION

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: L3harris Technologies, Inc

Address: 10001 JACK FINNEY BLVD, GREENVILLE, TX, 75402

Business Categories: Category Business, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,244,880

Exercised Options: $23,244,880

Current Obligation: $23,244,880

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 3

Total Subaward Amount: $481,848

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA862016G3027

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline