DoD Awards $135M for Rolls-Royce Engine Support, Lacking Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $135,269,204 ($135.3M)

Contractor: Rolls-Royce Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2018-11-29

End Date: 2020-02-29

Contract Duration: 457 days

Daily Burn Rate: $296.0K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: MISSIONCARE HOURLY AE1107C ENGINE SUPPORT, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, SITE SUPPORT, AND REPAIR OF LOW POWER/DISCRETIONARY ENGINE REMOVALS

Place of Performance

Location: INDIANAPOLIS, MARION County, INDIANA, 46225

State: Indiana Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $135.3 million to ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION for work described as: MISSIONCARE HOURLY AE1107C ENGINE SUPPORT, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, SITE SUPPORT, AND REPAIR OF LOW POWER/DISCRETIONARY ENGINE REMOVALS Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $135M for engine support and repair. 2. Sole-source award to Rolls-Royce Corporation raises competition concerns. 3. Risk of inflated costs due to lack of competitive bidding. 4. Spending concentrated in Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $135M for engine support and repair is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price represents fair market value compared to similar services from other providers.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed. This significantly limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition likely results in taxpayers paying a premium for these engine support services.

Public Impact

Military readiness may be impacted if essential engine support is not cost-effectively procured. Taxpayers bear the cost of potentially non-competitive pricing for critical defense components. The sole-source nature of this award could set a precedent for future sole-source procurements.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole-source award
  • Lack of competition
  • High contract value

Positive Signals

  • Specific engine support and repair services provided

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing sector, a critical area for defense operations. Benchmarks for similar sole-source engine support contracts are difficult to establish due to the nature of the award.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates no specific set-aside for small businesses, and the prime contractor is Rolls-Royce Corporation, a large entity. This contract does not appear to benefit small businesses directly.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny from oversight bodies to ensure the government is receiving fair value and that competition was appropriately waived.

Related Government Programs

  • Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • Department of the Navy Programs

Risk Flags

  • Sole-source award limits competition.
  • Potential for overpayment due to lack of competitive bidding.
  • High contract value increases financial risk.
  • Limited transparency on justification for sole-source.

Tags

aircraft-engine-and-engine-parts-manufac, department-of-defense, in, delivery-order, 100m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $135.3 million to ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION. MISSIONCARE HOURLY AE1107C ENGINE SUPPORT, PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, SITE SUPPORT, AND REPAIR OF LOW POWER/DISCRETIONARY ENGINE REMOVALS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ROLLS-ROYCE CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $135.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-11-29. End: 2020-02-29.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive strategies considered?

The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, urgent needs, or lack of viable alternatives. Without further details, it's unclear if other providers could have met the requirements or if a competitive process was explored and deemed unfeasible. This lack of transparency hinders a full assessment of value.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source contract for critical engine support, particularly regarding cost and performance?

Sole-source contracts carry inherent risks of inflated pricing due to the absence of competitive pressure. For critical engine support, this could mean higher operational costs for the DoD. Performance risks might also increase if the sole provider faces challenges, as there are no immediate alternative sources for service.

How does the $135M contract value compare to industry benchmarks for similar engine support and repair services, considering it was not competed?

Direct comparison to industry benchmarks is challenging for sole-source awards. The $135M figure represents the government's commitment without the benefit of competitive price discovery. A thorough audit or post-award review would be necessary to determine if this price aligns with fair market value for the services rendered.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ManufacturingAerospace Product and Parts ManufacturingAircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: ENGINES AND TURBINES AND COMPONENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: N0001914R0039

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Rolls-Royce Holdings PLC (UEI: 217127290)

Address: 450 S MERIDIAN ST, INDIANAPOLIS, IN, 46225

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $135,269,204

Exercised Options: $135,269,204

Current Obligation: $135,269,204

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $4,661,929

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: N0001915D0019

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2018-11-29

Current End Date: 2020-02-29

Potential End Date: 2020-02-29 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2020-07-06

More Contracts from Rolls-Royce Corporation

View all Rolls-Royce Corporation federal contracts →

Other Department of Defense Contracts

View all Department of Defense contracts →

Explore Related Government Spending