DoD awards $9.56M task order for Marine Corps SCINET support to Bowhead Weapons Development Solutions

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $9,555,757 ($9.6M)

Contractor: Bowhead Weapons Development Solutions LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-07-17

End Date: 2026-07-16

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $26.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: SCINET SUPPORT SERVICE TASK ORDER 1 TO PROVIDE THE ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT OFFICE AND THE SCINET PROGRAM OF RECORD SUPPORT SERVICES ACROSS VARIOUS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SITE LOCATIONS.

Place of Performance

Location: QUANTICO, PRINCE WILLIAM County, VIRGINIA, 22134

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $9.6 million to BOWHEAD WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS LLC for work described as: SCINET SUPPORT SERVICE TASK ORDER 1 TO PROVIDE THE ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT OFFICE AND THE SCINET PROGRAM OF RECORD SUPPORT SERVICES ACROSS VARIOUS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SITE LOCATIONS. Key points: 1. Task order awarded for enterprise management and SCINET program support across multiple US Marine Corps sites. 2. Contract duration is one year, with a firm-fixed-price structure. 3. The awardee, Bowhead Weapons Development Solutions LLC, has a history of supporting defense contracts. 4. This is a delivery order under an existing contract, indicating a continuation of services. 5. The specific nature of SCINET support suggests a critical role in Marine Corps network infrastructure. 6. The contract is not competitively procured, raising questions about price discovery and potential value.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $9.56 million for one year of specialized IT and engineering support appears within a reasonable range for defense sector task orders of this nature. However, without direct comparable task orders for SCINET support or detailed cost breakdowns, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty but may not fully reflect potential efficiencies if costs are lower than anticipated. Benchmarking against similar enterprise management and network support contracts within the Department of Defense would be necessary for a more robust evaluation.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This task order was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. This approach is typically used when a specific contractor possesses unique capabilities, or when the requirement is a logical follow-on to a previous contract where competition was already established. The lack of competition limits the government's ability to solicit the best possible pricing and terms from a wider pool of qualified offerors, potentially leading to higher costs than if it had been open to a competitive bidding process.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition means taxpayers may not be benefiting from the most cost-effective solution available in the market. Without a competitive bidding process, there is less pressure on the contractor to offer the lowest possible price, potentially resulting in a less efficient use of public funds.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the United States Marine Corps, receiving essential support for their SCINET program and enterprise management. Services delivered include program support, enterprise management, and technical assistance across various Marine Corps installations. The geographic impact is broad, covering multiple United States Marine Corps site locations. Workforce implications include the potential for continued employment for personnel at Bowhead Weapons Development Solutions LLC and its subcontractors.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition may lead to inflated pricing.
Sole-source awards can reduce transparency in government spending.
Dependence on a single contractor for critical infrastructure support poses a risk.
The specific details of SCINET support are not fully elaborated, making it difficult to assess the full scope of work and associated risks.

Positive Signals

Award to an established contractor with a track record in defense support.
Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
The task order is for a defined one-year period, limiting long-term commitment.
Support is for a critical program (SCINET) essential to Marine Corps operations.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, specifically supporting IT and network infrastructure for a major defense agency. The market for specialized defense IT support services is substantial, with numerous contractors vying for government contracts. This particular task order addresses a niche requirement within the broader defense IT landscape, focusing on the SCINET program, which is crucial for the Marine Corps' operational capabilities. Benchmarking would involve comparing this award to other IT support and network management contracts awarded to similar firms within the Department of Defense.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that small business participation is not a primary focus for this specific task order, as the 'ss' (small business set-aside) field is false and the 'sb' (small business) field is also false. This suggests that the prime contractor, Bowhead Weapons Development Solutions LLC, is likely not a small business, and there is no explicit requirement for subcontracting to small businesses within this award. Consequently, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this particular contract is likely minimal, although the prime contractor may engage small businesses as subcontractors without a formal set-aside mandate.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this task order would primarily fall under the Department of the Navy's contracting and program management offices. As a delivery order under an existing contract, the initial award and oversight processes would have been established previously. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award. Accountability measures would be tied to the performance metrics outlined in the base contract and this specific task order, with potential oversight from the Department of Defense's Inspector General if performance issues or irregularities arise.

Related Government Programs

Marine Corps Enterprise Network (MCEN) Services
Defense Information Systems Network (DISN) Support
IT Infrastructure Support Services
Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) Systems

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of competition
Potential for cost overruns
Dependency on a single contractor

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $9.6 million to BOWHEAD WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS LLC. SCINET SUPPORT SERVICE TASK ORDER 1 TO PROVIDE THE ENTERPRISE MANAGEMENT OFFICE AND THE SCINET PROGRAM OF RECORD SUPPORT SERVICES ACROSS VARIOUS UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS SITE LOCATIONS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BOWHEAD WEAPONS DEVELOPMENT SOLUTIONS 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 $9.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-07-17. End: 2026-07-16.

What is the track record of Bowhead Weapons Development Solutions LLC in supporting similar defense IT and network infrastructure contracts?

Bowhead Weapons Development Solutions LLC has a significant track record of supporting various Department of Defense and other federal agencies with a range of services, including IT, engineering, and technical support. Their contract history often involves complex systems integration, cybersecurity, and program management for defense clients. While specific details on SCINET support are not immediately available, their general experience suggests a capability to handle the technical demands of such a task order. A deeper dive into their past performance evaluations and contract awards would provide a more precise understanding of their suitability and past success rates in comparable roles.

How does the $9.56 million value for one year of SCINET support compare to similar contracts within the Department of Defense?

Benchmarking the $9.56 million value for one year of SCINET support requires comparing it to similar task orders for enterprise management and specialized network support within the Department of Defense. Given the specialized nature of SCINET and its critical role for the Marine Corps, this value appears plausible for a year of dedicated support. However, without access to a database of comparable sole-source or competitively awarded task orders for similar services (e.g., network operations, IT program management, systems engineering for defense networks), a precise comparison is difficult. Factors such as the number of sites supported, the complexity of the network, and the specific services rendered would influence the cost. Generally, specialized IT support for defense agencies can range from several million to tens of millions of dollars annually, depending on scope.

What are the primary risks associated with awarding this task order on a sole-source basis?

The primary risks associated with awarding this task order on a sole-source basis include potential overpricing due to the lack of competitive pressure, reduced transparency in the procurement process, and a missed opportunity to explore innovative solutions or better pricing from other qualified vendors. There's also a risk of contractor complacency if there's no competitive threat. Furthermore, if Bowhead Weapons Development Solutions LLC is the sole provider of a critical component or service within SCINET, the government becomes highly dependent on them, creating a strategic risk if performance falters or if the contractor faces financial or operational difficulties. This dependence can also limit the government's leverage in future negotiations.

What is the expected effectiveness of the services provided under this task order for the Marine Corps' SCINET program?

The expected effectiveness of the services provided under this task order hinges on the contractor's ability to deliver robust enterprise management and program support for the SCINET infrastructure. Effective delivery should translate into enhanced network reliability, improved operational efficiency, and better support for Marine Corps missions that depend on SCINET. The firm-fixed-price structure incentivizes the contractor to manage costs effectively while meeting performance requirements. However, the effectiveness is also contingent on clear performance metrics, diligent government oversight, and the contractor's technical expertise and commitment to the program's success. Without specific performance data from previous task orders or a detailed statement of work, assessing the precise level of effectiveness is speculative.

How does this contract's value and duration compare to historical spending on SCINET support or similar Marine Corps IT programs?

Comparing this $9.56 million, one-year task order to historical spending requires access to detailed historical contract data for the SCINET program and related Marine Corps IT initiatives. Typically, major IT programs within the Department of Defense involve multi-year contracts with values ranging from tens to hundreds of millions of dollars. A single-year task order of this magnitude suggests it might be for a specific phase, a particular set of services, or a continuation of ongoing support. If SCINET is a large, complex network, this award might represent a fraction of the total annual spending on the program. Analyzing past awards for SCINET support, especially those from the same contracting vehicle, would reveal trends in cost, duration, and contractor performance over time.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering 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: M6785425R0051

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6564 LOISDALE CT STE 900, SPRINGFIELD, VA, 22150

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $76,551,113

Exercised Options: $14,663,974

Current Obligation: $9,555,757

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: M6785425D0051

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline