DTRA awards $11.2M contract to Nakupuna Prime for technical support, raising competition concerns

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,225,203 ($11.2M)

Contractor: Nakupuna Prime, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-09-26

End Date: 2026-09-25

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $30.8K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: TECHNICAL, OPERATIONAL, PLANNING, AND ACQUISITION SUPPORT (TOPAS) REQUIREMENT FOR DTRA

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22202

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $11.2 million to NAKUPUNA PRIME, LLC for work described as: TECHNICAL, OPERATIONAL, PLANNING, AND ACQUISITION SUPPORT (TOPAS) REQUIREMENT FOR DTRA Key points: 1. The contract is for technical, operational, planning, and acquisition support (TOPAS). 2. Nakupuna Prime, LLC is the sole awardee. 3. The contract value is $11.2 million. 4. The period of performance is one year, ending September 25, 2026. 5. The PSC code is not specified, but the NAICS code is 541990 (All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services).

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $11.2 million for a one-year definitive contract is substantial. Without specific details on the scope of services and comparable contracts, it's difficult to benchmark pricing effectively. The lack of a specified PSC code further hinders detailed value assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, indicating a lack of competition. This method limits price discovery and may not ensure the government receives the best possible value.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition could lead to higher costs for taxpayers compared to a competitively awarded contract.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the sole-source award. The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) relies on this support for critical functions. The lack of transparency in the award process raises questions about efficiency. Future contracts in this service area could be influenced by this sole-source decision.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits competition.
Lack of specified PSC code hinders analysis.
No small business participation noted.

Positive Signals

Definitive contract provides clear terms.
Firm Fixed Price contract offers cost certainty.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services, a broad category. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on agency needs and the complexity of services required. Benchmarking is challenging without more specific service details.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this award ('sb': false). This suggests that the prime contractor is not a small business, and there is no indication of subcontracting to small businesses.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants further oversight to ensure the necessity of this approach and the fairness of the pricing. Accountability for the decision to forgo competition should be clearly established.

Related Government Programs

All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Department of Defense Contracting
Defense Threat Reduction Agency Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award raises competition concerns.
Lack of justification for sole-source award.
No small business participation.
Limited transparency on service details and pricing benchmarks.
Potential for inflated costs due to lack of competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $11.2 million to NAKUPUNA PRIME, LLC. TECHNICAL, OPERATIONAL, PLANNING, AND ACQUISITION SUPPORT (TOPAS) REQUIREMENT FOR DTRA

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is NAKUPUNA PRIME, LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Threat Reduction Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-09-26. End: 2026-09-25.

What specific technical, operational, planning, and acquisition support services are being procured under this contract, and how do they align with DTRA's mission requirements?

The contract is for Technical, Operational, Planning, and Acquisition Support (TOPAS) for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA). While the broad categories are listed, the specific tasks are not detailed in the provided data. These services likely support DTRA's mission to counter weapons of mass destruction by providing expertise in areas such as program management, technical analysis, logistical support, and strategic planning to enhance DTRA's operational effectiveness and acquisition processes.

What is the justification for awarding this $11.2 million contract on a sole-source basis, and what steps were taken to ensure fair and reasonable pricing?

The justification for the sole-source award is not provided in the data. Typically, sole-source awards require a documented justification, such as a unique capability possessed by the contractor or a critical need that cannot be met through competition. Without this justification, it is impossible to assess the validity of the sole-source decision. Furthermore, the process for ensuring fair and reasonable pricing in the absence of competition is unclear.

What is the expected impact of this contract on DTRA's ability to reduce threats, and are there any performance metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with this award?

This contract is intended to provide essential support services that enable DTRA to effectively execute its mission of countering weapons of mass destruction. The specific impact on threat reduction is contingent on the quality and effectiveness of the services provided by Nakupuna Prime, LLC. The provided data does not include information on performance metrics or KPIs, which are crucial for measuring the contract's success and ensuring accountability for achieving desired outcomes.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: HDTRA125R2061

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 251 18TH ST S STE 1100, ARLINGTON, VA, 22202

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Native Hawaiian Organization Owned Firm, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $39,438,353

Exercised Options: $11,225,203

Current Obligation: $11,225,203

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline