Air Force awards $61.7M for F-15 GPP3/WFG, with Boeing as sole provider

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $61,684,840 ($61.7M)

Contractor: THE Boeing Company

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2019-05-03

End Date: 2024-06-30

Contract Duration: 1,885 days

Daily Burn Rate: $32.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: F-15 RMP COMMON CONFIGURATION GENERAL PURPOSE PROCESSOR 3 (GPP3) / WAVEFORM GENERATOR (WFG)

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT LOUIS, SAINT LOUIS County, MISSOURI, 63134

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $61.7 million to THE BOEING COMPANY for work described as: F-15 RMP COMMON CONFIGURATION GENERAL PURPOSE PROCESSOR 3 (GPP3) / WAVEFORM GENERATOR (WFG) Key points: 1. Significant contract value for critical aircraft component. 2. Sole-source award to Boeing raises competition concerns. 3. Long-term contract duration (2019-2024) impacts flexibility. 4. Aircraft manufacturing sector sees substantial defense spending.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $61.7M for a processor and waveform generator appears high given the sole-source nature. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to benchmark against similar procurements, suggesting potential overpricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award to The Boeing Company. This lack of competition limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this award means taxpayers may be paying a premium for this critical F-15 component due to the absence of competitive pressure.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operational capability for the F-15 fleet. Supports a key defense contractor, The Boeing Company. Potential for higher costs impacts overall defense budget allocation. Limited transparency due to sole-source procurement.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole-source award
  • Lack of competition
  • Potential for overpricing
  • Long contract duration

Positive Signals

  • Supports critical defense platform
  • Ensures component availability

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the aircraft manufacturing sector, a significant area of defense spending. Benchmarks for similar sole-source procurements of specialized avionics components are often difficult to establish, but high values are not uncommon.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates no specific allocation or consideration for small businesses. As a sole-source award to a large prime contractor, opportunities for small business subcontracting may be limited or not explicitly tracked.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure fair pricing and prevent potential cost overruns. Accountability for the justification of non-competition is crucial.

Related Government Programs

  • Aircraft Manufacturing
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • Department of the Air Force Programs

Risk Flags

  • Sole-source award lacks competition.
  • Potential for inflated pricing.
  • Limited transparency in price negotiation.
  • Risk of technological obsolescence over contract duration.
  • No clear small business participation.

Tags

aircraft-manufacturing, department-of-defense, mo, delivery-order, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $61.7 million to THE BOEING COMPANY. F-15 RMP COMMON CONFIGURATION GENERAL PURPOSE PROCESSOR 3 (GPP3) / WAVEFORM GENERATOR (WFG)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THE BOEING COMPANY.

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 $61.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-05-03. End: 2024-06-30.

What is the justification for the sole-source award of the F-15 GPP3/WFG contract to The Boeing Company?

The justification for a sole-source award typically involves factors such as unique technical requirements, proprietary technology, or the unavailability of alternatives from other sources. Without specific documentation, it's presumed the Air Force determined Boeing was the only capable provider for this specific component, necessitating direct negotiation.

What is the estimated cost savings if this contract had been competitively procured?

Estimating precise savings without a competitive process is speculative. However, historical data suggests that competitive bidding can often yield savings of 10-30% or more compared to sole-source contracts, especially for complex hardware. The $61.7M value suggests potential savings in the millions.

How does the long contract duration impact the government's ability to adopt newer technologies?

A contract duration extending to mid-2024 for a technology component like a processor could hinder the adoption of newer, potentially more efficient or capable technologies. The government might be locked into the current generation of hardware, requiring future contract modifications or new procurements to upgrade.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ManufacturingAerospace Product and Parts ManufacturingAircraft Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: AEROSPACE CRAFT COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6200 JS MCDONNELL BLVD, SAINT LOUIS, MO, 63134

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $61,684,840

Exercised Options: $61,684,840

Current Obligation: $61,684,840

Actual Outlays: $349,439

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $11,218,581

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA863417D2696

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2019-05-03

Current End Date: 2024-06-30

Potential End Date: 2024-06-30 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2025-11-07

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