DoD's $180M R&D Contract for Decision Support Tools Awarded to Frontier Technology Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $180,676,831 ($180.7M)
Contractor: Frontier Technology Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2019-08-06
End Date: 2025-10-31
Contract Duration: 2,278 days
Daily Burn Rate: $79.3K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: LIFE CYCLE DECISION SUPPORT ANALYSIS TOOLS
Place of Performance
Location: BEAVERCREEK TOWNSHIP, GREENE County, OHIO, 45431
State: Ohio Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $180.7 million to FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY INC for work described as: LIFE CYCLE DECISION SUPPORT ANALYSIS TOOLS Key points: 1. Significant investment in advanced R&D for decision support. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and potential cost savings. 3. Long contract duration (2019-2025) suggests a complex, ongoing need. 4. Focus on physical, engineering, and life sciences R&D.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns, but the total award value is substantial for R&D.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs compared to a competitive process.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are committed without competitive pressure, potentially leading to less value for money.
Public Impact
Enhances critical decision-making capabilities for the Air Force. Supports advanced research in scientific and engineering domains. Potential for technological advancements with broad defense applications.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost-plus contract type
- Long contract duration
Positive Signals
- Supports critical R&D
- Potential for technological innovation
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is crucial for maintaining technological superiority but requires careful oversight to ensure efficiency.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award, suggesting missed opportunities for small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure the contractor is delivering value and managing costs effectively throughout the contract's lifecycle.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Air Force Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition.
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can incentivize higher costs.
- Long contract duration may not reflect evolving needs.
- Lack of transparency on specific R&D deliverables.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, oh, definitive-contract, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $180.7 million to FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY INC. LIFE CYCLE DECISION SUPPORT ANALYSIS TOOLS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is FRONTIER TECHNOLOGY 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 $180.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-08-06. End: 2025-10-31.
What specific decision support capabilities are being developed, and how do they align with current Air Force strategic priorities?
The contract aims to develop advanced decision support tools for the Air Force, likely focusing on areas such as intelligence analysis, operational planning, and resource management. These tools are intended to enhance situational awareness and improve the speed and accuracy of critical decisions in complex environments, aligning with the Air Force's need for agile and data-driven operations.
What justification was provided for the sole-source award, and what steps were taken to ensure fair and reasonable pricing?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities or proprietary technology held by the contractor. Agencies must still conduct market research and negotiate fair and reasonable pricing. Without the specific justification, it's difficult to assess the validity of the sole-source decision and the effectiveness of the price negotiation process.
How will the effectiveness and impact of these decision support tools be measured and validated post-deployment?
Measuring effectiveness will likely involve defining key performance indicators (KPIs) related to decision-making speed, accuracy, and resource optimization. Post-deployment validation will require user feedback, operational data analysis, and potentially comparative studies against previous methods to quantify the tangible benefits and return on investment for the Air Force.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4141 COLONEL GLENN HWY STE 140, BEAVERCREEK TOWNSHIP, OH, 45431
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $201,667,006
Exercised Options: $201,667,006
Current Obligation: $180,676,831
Actual Outlays: $11,207,340
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-08-06
Current End Date: 2025-10-31
Potential End Date: 2025-10-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-24
More Contracts from Frontier Technology Inc
- This IS a Sbir III Contract in Support of the DOD, Stemming From Previous Sbir Phase I & II Topics Including AF06-016, MDA09-021, N05-039, N07-010, A06-035 and Osd07-Cr4. PSC Code AC62 Ended PER PSC Manual Effective OCT 2020. Replacing With PSC AC32 — $267.7M (General Services Administration)
- Satisfies the Minimum Guarantee — $60.2M (Department of Defense)
- Usaf Space and Missile Center (SMC) Engineering Directorate (EN) Systems Engineering and Life Cycle Decision Support Award — $50.2M (General Services Administration)
- Cyber/O1d RED Team Support Services to Support Cotf RED Team Status — $35.6M (Department of Defense)
- - Sbir Phase III Award in Support HQ AF A1 Technical Innovation Support Project — $33.7M (General Services Administration)
Other Department of Defense Contracts
- Federal Contract — $51.3B (Humana Government Business Inc)
- Lrip LOT 12 Advance Acquisition Contract — $35.1B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- SSN 802 and 803 Long Lead Time Material — $34.7B (Electric Boat Corporation)
- 200204!008532!1700!AF600 !naval AIR Systems Command !N0001902C3002 !A!N! !N! !20011026!20120430!008016958!008016958!834951691!n!lockheed Martin Corporation !lockheed Blvd !fort Worth !tx!76108!27000!439!48!fort Worth !tarrant !texas !+000026000000!n!n!018981928201!ac15!rdte/Aircraft-Eng/Manuf Develop !a1a!airframes and Spares !2ama!jast/Jsf !336411!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !a!n!r!2!002!n!1a!a!n!z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !a!a!a!a!000!a!c!n! ! ! !Y! !N00019!0001! — $34.2B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- KC-X Modernization Program — $32.0B (THE Boeing Company)