DoD Awards $135M Lockheed Martin Contract for DMS Redesigns, Lacking Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $134,877,517 ($134.9M)

Contractor: Lockheed Martin Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2020-09-25

End Date: 2028-01-31

Contract Duration: 2,684 days

Daily Burn Rate: $50.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: LOT 12 DMS REDESIGNS

Place of Performance

Location: FORT WORTH, TARRANT County, TEXAS, 76101

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $134.9 million to LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION for work described as: LOT 12 DMS REDESIGNS Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $135M awarded to a single large corporation. 2. Lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing and reduced innovation. 3. The contract is for Aircraft Manufacturing, a critical defense sector. 4. Awarded as a Delivery Order under a larger contract, details on initial competition are unclear.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed tightly. Without competitive benchmarks, assessing the value for money is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there is no market pressure to offer the best price.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a $135M contract means taxpayers may be paying more than necessary for the aircraft manufacturing services.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the absence of competitive bidding. Potential for reduced innovation in aircraft design and manufacturing processes. Dependence on a single contractor for critical defense systems. Limited transparency into the justification for a sole-source award.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole-source award
  • Cost-plus contract type
  • Lack of transparency on justification

Positive Signals

  • Supports critical defense manufacturing
  • Long-term contract duration

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Aircraft Manufacturing sector, which is a significant area of defense spending. Benchmarks for similar sole-source contracts are often higher due to the lack of competitive pressure.

Small Business Impact

The awardee is Lockheed Martin Corporation, a large defense contractor. There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific award, which is common for large sole-source contracts.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and performance meets requirements. The Defense Contract Management Agency is responsible for oversight.

Related Government Programs

  • Aircraft Manufacturing
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • Defense Contract Management Agency Programs

Risk Flags

  • Lack of competition
  • Potential for cost overruns
  • Limited innovation incentive
  • Sole-source dependency

Tags

aircraft-manufacturing, department-of-defense, tx, delivery-order, 100m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $134.9 million to LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION. LOT 12 DMS REDESIGNS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LOCKHEED MARTIN 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 $134.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2020-09-25. End: 2028-01-31.

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

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED'. A thorough review would require access to the contract file to understand the specific justification, such as a critical need, lack of qualified sources, or urgency. Without this information, it's impossible to assess if alternative competitive strategies were adequately explored or if the sole-source decision was truly warranted.

How does the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure impact the potential for cost overruns and the government's ability to control expenses?

Cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts reimburse the contractor for allowable costs plus a predetermined fixed fee. While the fee is fixed, the total cost can escalate if actual costs are higher than anticipated. This structure places a greater burden on the government to meticulously audit costs and ensure they are reasonable and allocable to the contract to prevent overspending.

What are the long-term implications of awarding a $135M contract without competition for the Department of Defense's aircraft manufacturing capabilities?

Awarding such a significant contract without competition can stifle innovation by reducing the incentive for other companies to develop competing technologies or processes. It also increases reliance on a single provider, potentially creating vulnerabilities. Over time, this can lead to higher sustainment costs and a less robust industrial base for critical defense assets.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ManufacturingAerospace Product and Parts ManufacturingAircraft Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: AEROSPACE CRAFT AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Lockheed Martin Corp

Address: 1 LOCKHEED BLVD BLDG 10, FORT WORTH, TX, 76108

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $134,877,517

Exercised Options: $134,877,517

Current Obligation: $134,877,517

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: N0001919G0008

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline

Start Date: 2020-09-25

Current End Date: 2028-01-31

Potential End Date: 2028-01-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2025-04-17

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