Department of Defense awards $22.2M for ROGUE-FIRES carrier production to Oshkosh Defense LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $22,210,813 ($22.2M)

Contractor: Oshkosh Defense LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2022-09-29

End Date: 2025-03-31

Contract Duration: 914 days

Daily Burn Rate: $24.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: PRODUCTION OF THE REMOTELY OPERATED GROUND UNIT EXPEDITIONARY - FIRES (ROGUE-FIRES) CARRIER

Place of Performance

Location: OSHKOSH, WINNEBAGO County, WISCONSIN, 54902

State: Wisconsin Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $22.2 million to OSHKOSH DEFENSE LLC for work described as: PRODUCTION OF THE REMOTELY OPERATED GROUND UNIT EXPEDITIONARY - FIRES (ROGUE-FIRES) CARRIER Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract is for the production of a specialized ground unit, indicating a focus on advanced military hardware. 3. Oshkosh Defense LLC, a known entity in military vehicle manufacturing, is the awardee. 4. The contract duration is over 900 days, pointing to a significant production run. 5. The award type is a delivery order, implying it's part of a larger contract vehicle. 6. Fixed-price contract terms aim to control costs for the government.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

Benchmarking the value of this specific delivery order is challenging without knowing the total contract value and scope. However, the firm fixed-price nature suggests an effort to establish a predictable cost. Comparing the per-unit cost to similar specialized military vehicle production would be the next step in a full value assessment. Given the specialized nature of the ROGUE-FIRES carrier, the price point appears reasonable for a niche defense product.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but this method generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and innovation. The open competition suggests the government sought the best value from a wide range of potential suppliers.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it maximizes the potential for cost savings through a robust bidding process and encourages market-driven pricing.

Public Impact

The U.S. Department of the Navy benefits from the acquisition of advanced expeditionary fire support capabilities. This contract directly supports the production of the ROGUE-FIRES carrier, a key component of military ground operations. The primary geographic impact is within the United States, where the manufacturing and assembly will likely take place. The contract supports jobs within the heavy-duty truck manufacturing sector, specifically related to defense applications.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific bidder count limits assessment of competitive intensity.
Details on the specific technological advancements and associated costs are not publicly available.
Potential for cost overruns if production complexities are underestimated, despite fixed-price terms.

Positive Signals

Award to an experienced defense contractor with a proven track record in vehicle manufacturing.
Firm fixed-price contract structure provides cost certainty for the government.
Full and open competition mechanism promotes a fair and competitive market.
Delivery order under a larger contract vehicle suggests strategic procurement planning.

Sector Analysis

The defense manufacturing sector, particularly heavy-duty truck manufacturing, is a critical component of national security. Companies like Oshkosh Defense LLC are key players in supplying specialized vehicles to military branches. Spending in this area is driven by evolving battlefield requirements and the need for advanced, resilient platforms. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other large-scale military vehicle production contracts.

Small Business Impact

The provided data indicates that small business participation (sb) is false and there is no small business set-aside (ss) for this contract. This suggests that the primary award was not specifically targeted towards small businesses. However, Oshkosh Defense LLC, as a large prime contractor, may engage small businesses for subcontracting opportunities, the details of which are not specified here. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on the extent of any subcontracting.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Department of Defense's contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures are inherent in the firm fixed-price contract terms, which obligate the contractor to deliver specified goods at an agreed-upon price. Transparency is facilitated by the public nature of contract awards, though detailed production metrics and cost breakdowns are typically proprietary. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Ground Vehicle Systems
Expeditionary Warfare Programs
Tactical Wheeled Vehicles
Department of Defense Procurement

Risk Flags

Potential for integration challenges with existing C2 systems.
Cybersecurity vulnerabilities associated with remote operation.
Reliability of communication links in contested environments.
Supply chain risks for specialized components.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $22.2 million to OSHKOSH DEFENSE LLC. PRODUCTION OF THE REMOTELY OPERATED GROUND UNIT EXPEDITIONARY - FIRES (ROGUE-FIRES) CARRIER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is OSHKOSH DEFENSE LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Navy).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $22.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-09-29. End: 2025-03-31.

What is the specific role and capability of the ROGUE-FIRES carrier within the Department of the Navy's operational framework?

The Remotely Operated Ground Unit - Expeditionary (ROGUE-FIRES) carrier is designed to provide mobile, protected, and remotely operated fire support capabilities. It is intended to enhance the survivability and effectiveness of ground forces by enabling indirect fire missions from a safer standoff distance. This system likely integrates with existing command and control networks to receive targeting data and transmit fire mission requests. Its expeditionary nature suggests it is designed for rapid deployment and operation in diverse and potentially austere environments, supporting naval amphibious operations and other expeditionary missions. The carrier platform itself is built upon a robust, heavy-duty chassis capable of traversing challenging terrain, ensuring mobility and logistical support for the weapon system it carries.

How does the $22.2 million award compare to Oshkosh Defense LLC's typical contract values for similar military vehicle production?

Oshkosh Defense LLC is a major defense contractor known for producing a wide range of military vehicles, including the Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV) and the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle (JLTV). Contract values for these programs can range from tens of millions to billions of dollars over their lifecycles. A $22.2 million award for a specific delivery order, such as the ROGUE-FIRES carrier, is a significant but not exceptionally large sum in the context of Oshkosh's overall portfolio. It represents a specific production run or a defined phase of development and manufacturing for a specialized system. Without knowing the total contract ceiling or the number of units involved in this delivery order, a precise comparison is difficult, but it aligns with the scale of awards for specialized military equipment production.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or technical specifications that this contract aims to meet for the ROGUE-FIRES carrier?

While the specific technical specifications are not detailed in the award abstract, contracts for advanced military hardware like the ROGUE-FIRES carrier typically include stringent Key Performance Parameters (KPPs) and Technical Performance Measures (TPMs). These would likely encompass mobility requirements (e.g., speed, range, off-road capability, gradient climbing), survivability features (e.g., armor protection levels against specific threats), operational readiness rates, reliability metrics (e.g., Mean Time Between Failures - MTBF), payload capacity for the weapon system and associated munitions, and potentially remote operation capabilities (e.g., range of control, communication bandwidth, latency). The firm fixed-price nature of the contract implies that these performance requirements are well-defined and measurable, forming the basis for acceptance testing and final payment.

What is the historical spending trend for similar remotely operated ground units or expeditionary fire support systems within the Department of Defense?

Historical spending on remotely operated ground units and advanced expeditionary fire support systems has been increasing as the Department of Defense (DoD) emphasizes robotic and autonomous systems (RAS) and standoff capabilities. Programs like the ROGUE-FIRES carrier represent a shift towards leveraging technology to reduce risk to personnel and enhance mission effectiveness. Prior to this specific award, the DoD has invested in various unmanned ground systems (UGS) and indirect fire platforms. Spending trends would reflect a growing emphasis on networked, mobile, and potentially lethal autonomous systems designed for expeditionary warfare. Analyzing past budgets for programs involving robotic vehicles, advanced artillery, and C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) integration would provide context for the investment in ROGUE-FIRES.

Are there any known risks associated with the production or deployment of the ROGUE-FIRES carrier based on previous programs or technologies?

Risks associated with advanced military hardware production and deployment often include technological immaturity, integration challenges, supply chain vulnerabilities, and potential for cost overruns or schedule delays. For remotely operated systems, key risks involve the reliability of communication links, cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and the effectiveness of autonomous or semi-autonomous functions in complex environments. Integration with existing command and control systems can also present challenges. While Oshkosh Defense is an experienced contractor, the specific ROGUE-FIRES system may involve novel technologies or configurations that carry inherent risks. The firm fixed-price contract aims to mitigate financial risks for the government, but performance and schedule risks remain potential concerns that require diligent program management and oversight.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Motor Vehicle Manufacturing › Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: MOTOR VEHICLES, CYCLES, TRAILERS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: M6785422R1002

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Oshkosh Corporation

Address: 2307 OREGON ST, OSHKOSH, WI, 54902

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $23,243,240

Exercised Options: $23,243,240

Current Obligation: $22,210,813

Actual Outlays: $14,846,914

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 265

Total Subaward Amount: $3,774,619

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: M6785422D1002

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline