DoD Awards Northrop Grumman $7.5M for C-208 Aircraft Sustainment Through 2026

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,543,471 ($7.5M)

Contractor: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-03-15

End Date: 2026-12-31

Contract Duration: 656 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.5K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: LEBANON C-208 SUSTAINMENT

Place of Performance

Location: FORT WORTH, TARRANT County, TEXAS, 76106

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $7.5 million to NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION for work described as: LEBANON C-208 SUSTAINMENT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single, established provider for specialized aircraft sustainment. 2. Limited competition due to the specific nature of C-208 sustainment requirements. 3. Potential risk associated with sole-source awards and long-term sustainment contracts. 4. Spending falls within the Aircraft Manufacturing sector, with specific benchmarks to be assessed.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $7.54 million for a duration of over two years appears reasonable for specialized aircraft sustainment. However, without specific per-unit cost data or comparison to similar C-208 sustainment contracts, a definitive value assessment is challenging.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was not available for competition, indicating a limited or sole-source approach. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs compared to a competitive bidding process.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in taxpayers paying a premium for this sustainment service, as market forces are not fully leveraged to drive down costs.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operational readiness of C-208 aircraft critical for various missions. Supports a key defense contractor, contributing to the aerospace and defense industrial base. Potential for cost overruns due to limited competition impacts overall defense budget allocation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Limited competition may lead to higher costs.
  • Long-term sustainment contracts can be prone to scope creep.
  • Lack of detailed cost breakdown makes value assessment difficult.

Positive Signals

  • Ensures critical aircraft sustainment.
  • Contract awarded to a known entity with relevant expertise.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Aircraft Manufacturing sector, specifically focusing on sustainment services for the C-208 aircraft. Spending benchmarks for similar specialized aircraft sustainment contracts would be necessary for a more precise comparison.

Small Business Impact

This contract does not appear to directly benefit small businesses, as it is awarded to a large corporation, Northrop Grumman. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

The definitive contract structure suggests a degree of oversight, but the limited competition raises questions about the effectiveness of price oversight. Further review of performance metrics and cost controls would be beneficial.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

  • Limited competition
  • Potential for cost overruns
  • Lack of detailed cost transparency
  • Long-term sustainment contract

Tags

aircraft-manufacturing, department-of-defense, tx, definitive-contract, 1m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $7.5 million to NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION. LEBANON C-208 SUSTAINMENT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION.

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 $7.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-03-15. End: 2026-12-31.

What is the historical cost performance of Northrop Grumman for C-208 sustainment, and how does it compare to industry averages?

Historical cost performance data for Northrop Grumman's C-208 sustainment is not publicly available. A comprehensive comparison to industry averages would require access to proprietary cost data and detailed performance metrics across multiple sustainment contracts. Without this, it's difficult to definitively assess if this $7.54 million award represents optimal value or if there are opportunities for cost savings through competitive benchmarking.

What specific factors necessitated a limited competition approach for this C-208 sustainment contract, and what are the associated risks?

The necessity for limited competition likely stems from the specialized nature of C-208 sustainment, requiring unique technical expertise, proprietary data, or specific tooling held by Northrop Grumman. The primary risk is the potential for inflated pricing due to the absence of competitive pressure. This can lead to inefficient use of taxpayer funds and may reduce the incentive for the contractor to innovate or optimize costs over the contract's duration.

How will the effectiveness of this sustainment contract be measured to ensure mission readiness and taxpayer value?

Effectiveness will likely be measured through key performance indicators (KPIs) related to aircraft availability, turnaround time for repairs, quality of work, and adherence to maintenance schedules. The Department of the Air Force will monitor these metrics to ensure mission readiness. However, the true measure of taxpayer value is harder to quantify without a competitive baseline; ongoing cost analysis and performance reviews are crucial to ensure the contract remains effective and efficient.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ManufacturingAerospace Product and Parts ManufacturingAircraft Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENTMAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Northrop Grumman Corporation

Address: 173 AMERICAN CONCOURSE, FORT WORTH, TX, 76106

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: $17,898,474

Exercised Options: $7,957,981

Current Obligation: $7,543,471

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline

Start Date: 2025-03-15

Current End Date: 2026-12-31

Potential End Date: 2029-12-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2025-12-18

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