DoD's $19.2M BIG SAFARI Contract Awarded to BAE Systems for Aircraft Parts

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,199,658 ($19.2M)

Contractor: BAE Systems Information and Electronic Systems Integration Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2022-10-31

End Date: 2025-02-28

Contract Duration: 851 days

Daily Burn Rate: $22.6K/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: NASHUA, HILLSBOROUGH County, NEW HAMPSHIRE, 03060

State: New Hampshire Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $19.2 million to BAE SYSTEMS INFORMATION AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS INTEGRATION INC. for work described as: BIG SAFARI Key points: 1. Awarded to a single, large defense contractor, indicating potential lack of broad market competition. 2. The contract type (Cost Plus Fixed Fee) can lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly. 3. Focus on 'Other Aircraft Parts' suggests a specialized, potentially high-value niche within defense. 4. The duration of 851 days points to a significant, ongoing requirement for these parts.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure requires careful monitoring to ensure costs remain reasonable. Benchmarking against similar specialized aircraft parts contracts is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, suggesting a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs compared to a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition means taxpayers may be paying a premium for these specialized aircraft parts.

Public Impact

Ensures continued availability of critical aircraft parts for the Air Force. Supports a major defense contractor's operations and supply chain. Potential for increased costs due to non-competitive award impacts overall defense budget allocation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition and price negotiation.
Cost-plus contract type carries inherent risk of cost overruns.
Lack of small business participation noted.

Positive Signals

Addresses a specific, likely critical, defense need.
Long contract duration indicates sustained operational support.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the 'Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing' sector. Spending in this niche is crucial for maintaining military aviation readiness, but often involves specialized, high-cost components.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates no specific small business set-aside or participation. This suggests the contract was likely awarded directly to a large prime contractor without subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure the Department of Defense obtained fair value. Robust oversight of the Cost Plus Fixed Fee elements is essential to control spending.

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 contract type
No small business participation
Limited transparency on justification

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $19.2 million to BAE SYSTEMS INFORMATION AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS INTEGRATION INC.. BIG SAFARI

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BAE SYSTEMS INFORMATION AND ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS INTEGRATION 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 $19.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-10-31. End: 2025-02-28.

What specific aircraft or systems does BIG SAFARI support, and what is the criticality of these parts to operational readiness?

The specific aircraft or systems supported by the 'BIG SAFARI' contract are not detailed in the provided data. However, given the 'Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing' classification and the Department of the Air Force as the agency, it's highly probable these parts are critical for maintaining the operational readiness of specific military aviation platforms. Understanding the criticality would inform the acceptable level of risk and potential cost premium.

What justification was provided for the sole-source award, and how was the fixed fee determined to ensure fairness?

The provided data does not include the justification for the sole-source award. Typically, such justifications cite reasons like unique capabilities, urgent needs, or lack of viable alternatives. The determination of the fixed fee for a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract involves negotiation based on estimated costs and a target profit. Without the justification and fee breakdown, it's difficult to assess the fairness of the price discovery process.

What are the projected cost savings or efficiencies that could have been achieved through a competitive bidding process for these aircraft parts?

Quantifying potential cost savings from a competitive bidding process is challenging without a baseline market analysis or alternative quotes. However, competitive procurements generally drive down prices through market forces and innovation. The absence of competition for this $19.2 million contract suggests that taxpayers may have foregone potential savings that a more open bidding environment could have yielded.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: AEROSPACE CRAFT COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES

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: Compagnie DE Developpement DE L'eau S.A.

Address: 65 SPIT BROOK RD, NASHUA, NH, 03060

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign Owned, Foreign-Owned and U.S.-Incorporated Business, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $19,199,658

Exercised Options: $19,199,658

Current Obligation: $19,199,658

Actual Outlays: $114,227

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 2

Total Subaward Amount: $3,978,752

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA862016G3028

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline