DoD Awards Northrop Grumman $146.7M for Digital Topographic Support Systems
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $14,670,108 ($14.7M)
Contractor: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2003-09-30
End Date: 2009-12-29
Contract Duration: 2,282 days
Daily Burn Rate: $6.4K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Defense
Official Description: 200312!000022!1700!AT727 !NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND !N0001903C0068 !A!N! !N! !20030930!20051130!005128988!008255408!016435559!N!NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPO!600 HICKS RD !ROLLING MEADOW !IL!60008!65338!031!17!ROLLING MEADOWS !COOK !ILLINOIS !+000004431325!N!N!000015447036!6625!ELECTRICAL & ELCT PROPERTIES MEAS & TST INSTRUMNTS!A7 !ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION !1GHB!DGTL TOPOGRAPHIC SPPT SYS DTSS!334511!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B!D!Y!A! !D!N!J!1!001!N!1A!A!Y!F! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !A!Z!A!A!000!A!C!Y! ! ! ! ! !N00019!0001! !
Place of Performance
Location: ROLLING MEADOWS, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60008
State: Illinois Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $14.7 million to NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION for work described as: 200312!000022!1700!AT727 !NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND !N0001903C0068 !A!N! !N! !20030930!20051130!005128988!008255408!016435559!N!NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPO!600 HICKS RD !ROLLING MEADOW !IL!60008!65338!031!17!ROLLING MEADOWS !COOK … Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Northrop Grumman for specialized defense systems. 2. Significant value of $146.7 million indicates a critical need. 3. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and potential cost savings. 4. Focus on IT and electronics suggests a technology-intensive sector.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $146.7 million for a 2282-day duration appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the equipment. However, without specific unit cost data or comparison to similar systems, a precise assessment is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded sole-source, meaning it was not competed. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for taxpayers compared to a competitive process.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for this $146.7 million contract means taxpayers may not have received the best possible price.
Public Impact
Enhances critical defense capabilities for the Navy. Supports advanced navigation and guidance systems. Ensures continued operational readiness for military assets.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 60 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition.
- Potential for higher costs due to lack of bidding.
- Long contract duration could lead to scope creep.
Positive Signals
- Addresses a critical defense need.
- Awarded to an established defense contractor.
- Supports advanced technological systems.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Defense sector, specifically related to IT and electronics for navigation and guidance systems. Spending in this area is often high due to the complexity and critical nature of the technology.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, a large prime contractor. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses in the provided data.
Oversight & Accountability
The award was managed by the Naval Air Systems Command, part of the Department of Defense. Oversight would typically involve contract performance monitoring and financial audits to ensure compliance and value.
Related Government Programs
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Defense Contract Management Agency Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- Potential for cost overruns
- Long contract duration
Tags
search-detection-navigation-guidance-aer, department-of-defense, il, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $14.7 million to NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION. 200312!000022!1700!AT727 !NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND !N0001903C0068 !A!N! !N! !20030930!20051130!005128988!008255408!016435559!N!NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPO!600 HICKS RD !ROLLING MEADOW !IL!60008!65338!031!17!ROLLING MEADOWS !COOK !ILLINOIS !+000004431325!N!N!000015447036!6625!ELECTRICAL & ELCT PROPERTIES MEAS & TST INSTRUMNTS!A7 !ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION !1GHB!DGTL TOPOGRAPHIC SPPT SYS DTSS!334511!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B
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 (Defense Contract Management Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $14.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2003-09-30. End: 2009-12-29.
What specific technological advancements does the Digital Topographic Support System provide, and how do they justify the sole-source award?
The Digital Topographic Support System (DTSS) likely provides advanced digital mapping and terrain analysis capabilities crucial for modern military operations, including navigation, mission planning, and targeting. Its sole-source nature suggests a unique technological capability or proprietary system developed by Northrop Grumman, making direct competition infeasible or prohibitively expensive due to the need for specialized knowledge and integration.
What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source contract of this magnitude and duration?
A sole-source contract of $146.7 million over 2282 days carries risks of inflated pricing due to the absence of competitive pressure. There's also a risk of vendor lock-in, reduced innovation incentives for the contractor, and potential for cost overruns if contract management and oversight are not rigorous. Ensuring clear performance metrics and change control is vital.
How does this contract contribute to the overall effectiveness and modernization of naval air systems?
This contract directly enhances the effectiveness of naval air systems by providing critical digital topographic data and support. This likely improves situational awareness, navigation accuracy, and mission planning for pilots and command centers, contributing to the overall modernization of the fleet's technological capabilities and operational readiness in complex environments.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing › Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: INSTRUMENTS AND LABORATORY EQPT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Northrop Grumman Corporation (UEI: 967356127)
Address: 600 HICKS RD, ROLLING MEADOW, IL
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2003-09-30
Current End Date: 2009-12-29
Potential End Date: 2009-12-29 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2011-03-23
More Contracts from Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
- 200506!000026!5700!fa8214!oo-Alc/Pkme/Lmke !F4261098C0001 !A!N! !Y! !p01502!20041213!20050701!001563738!004179453!016435559!n!northrop Grumman Space & Missi!888 S 2000 E !clearfield !ut!84015!13850!011!49!clearfield !davis !utah !-000001960000!n!n!000000000000!l014!tech REP Svcs/Guided Missiles !A2 !missile and Space Systems !302 !minuteman III GRP !541330!E! !3! ! !C! ! !20200930!B! ! !A! !a!n!l!2!002!b! !Z!Y!Z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !a!a!a!a!000!a!c!n! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! ! — $10.0B (Department of Defense)
- E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft (FRP-7) — $8.5B (Department of Defense)
- E-2D Advanced Hawkeye Aircraft (FRP-2) — $5.4B (Department of Defense)
- First DDT and E, Ares I-X, and Flight Tests. First Stage Will BE a Five Segment, Solid Rocket Booster Derived From the Space Shuttle Program (SSP) Solid Rocket Booster (srb)/Reusable Solid Rocket Motor (rsrm). the Contractor Shall Furnish the Necessary Management, Engineering, Labor, Facilities, Tools, Equipment, and Materials Required for First Stage Development, Qualification, Certification and Acceptance Program. Activities Include: Redesign and Testing of the Motor to Incorporate the Fifth Segment and Production of Five Full Scale Ground Static Test Motors: TWO Development Motors (dms)-And Three Qualification Motors (QMS); Structural Test Article (STA), Ground Vibration Test Motors (gvtms) and Other Development Testing; Redesign of the Avionics, Deceleration, Separation, and Flight Termination System (FTS) Subsystems; Ares I-X: Simulated Ares I Outer Mold Line/Mass Properties Using Modified Srb/Rsrm; and Three Flight Test Vehicles. TAS::80 0124::TAS — $4.4B (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- Federal Contract — $4.4B (Department of Defense)
View all Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation federal contracts →
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)