Air Force Awards $8.7M 'BIG SAFARI' Contract to Sierra Nevada Company for Technical Services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $8,734,712 ($8.7M)
Contractor: Sierra Nevada Company, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2025-06-27
End Date: 2027-03-31
Contract Duration: 642 days
Daily Burn Rate: $13.6K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: BIG SAFARI
Place of Performance
Location: ENGLEWOOD, DENVER County, COLORADO, 80112
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $8.7 million to SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, LLC for work described as: BIG SAFARI Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single vendor, raising questions about competition. 2. Significant value of $8.7 million for professional, scientific, and technical services. 3. Potential risk associated with a sole-source award for critical services. 4. The 'BIG SAFARI' program often involves complex and sensitive aerospace technology. 5. Services fall under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' NAICS code.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $8.7 million is substantial. Without specific benchmarks for 'BIG SAFARI' related services, it's difficult to definitively assess pricing. However, the absence of competition suggests potential for higher costs than a competed contract.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This method limits price discovery and may not yield the best value for taxpayers compared to a competitive process.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for an $8.7 million contract means taxpayers may not be receiving the most cost-effective solution available.
Public Impact
Citizens may be concerned about the lack of transparency in awarding large contracts without competition. The 'BIG SAFARI' program's nature suggests potential implications for national security or advanced technology development. Taxpayers expect government funds to be spent efficiently, which is harder to ensure with sole-source awards.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- High contract value
Positive Signals
- Specific program name ('BIG SAFARI') implies strategic importance
- Firm Fixed Price contract type can offer cost certainty
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services, a broad category. The 'BIG SAFARI' program often relates to aerospace and intelligence, suggesting specialized technical expertise is required, potentially justifying limited competition in some cases.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses, as both 'ss' and 'sb' fields are false. This suggests the prime contractor is likely a large business, and there is no explicit indication of small business subcontracting.
Oversight & Accountability
Sole-source awards warrant increased scrutiny to ensure the government is obtaining fair value and that competition was appropriately waived. The Department of the Air Force should have documented justification for this approach.
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
- Potential for inflated costs
- Limited transparency
- Dependency on a single vendor
- Risk of contractor underperformance impacting critical functions
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, department-of-defense, co, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $8.7 million to SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, LLC. 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 $8.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-06-27. End: 2027-03-31.
What specific technical services does 'BIG SAFARI' entail, and why was competition deemed unnecessary or unfeasible?
The 'BIG SAFARI' program typically encompasses a range of activities related to intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms and systems. Reasons for sole-source awards often include unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent operational needs that only a specific contractor can meet within the required timeframe. Detailed justification would be required by the agency.
What is the benchmark cost for similar 'BIG SAFARI' related technical services, and how does this contract's pricing compare?
Establishing a precise benchmark for 'BIG SAFARI' services is challenging due to their specialized and often classified nature. However, the absence of competition inherently limits the ability to compare pricing against market alternatives. A thorough review of the contractor's cost proposal and historical data for similar, albeit potentially less specialized, technical services would be necessary for a robust assessment.
What are the potential risks to program effectiveness or national security if the chosen sole-source contractor underperforms?
Underperformance by a sole-source contractor for a program like 'BIG SAFARI' poses significant risks. It could lead to delays in critical intelligence gathering or operational capabilities, potential security vulnerabilities if systems are not maintained or updated properly, and increased costs to rectify issues or find an alternative provider. The government's reliance on a single entity amplifies these risks.
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: 12500 BELFORD AVE, ENGLEWOOD, CO, 80112
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: $8,734,712
Exercised Options: $8,734,712
Current Obligation: $8,734,712
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 2
Total Subaward Amount: $3,940,959
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA862021G4009
IDV Type: BOA
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-06-27
Current End Date: 2027-03-31
Potential End Date: 2027-03-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-18
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