DoD's $12.9M Boeing Contract for Aircraft Engine Parts Lacks Competition, Raises Value Concerns

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,937,706 ($12.9M)

Contractor: THE Boeing Company

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2022-11-07

End Date: 2026-12-31

Contract Duration: 1,515 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.5K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: FY20 FMS SPARES

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT LOUIS, SAINT LOUIS County, MISSOURI, 63134

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $12.9 million to THE BOEING COMPANY for work described as: FY20 FMS SPARES Key points: 1. Significant spending on aircraft engine parts by the Department of the Navy. 2. Sole reliance on The Boeing Company for this critical component. 3. Potential for inflated costs due to lack of competitive bidding. 4. The contract falls within the Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract's value is difficult to assess without competitive benchmarks. The firm fixed-price structure offers some cost certainty, but the absence of competition may lead to prices above fair market value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning no other vendors were considered. This significantly limits price discovery and potentially increases costs for taxpayers.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition in this sole-source award could result in higher prices, leading to inefficient use of taxpayer funds.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying for essential aircraft engine parts due to the absence of competitive bidding. The Department of the Navy's reliance on a single supplier could create supply chain vulnerabilities. Lack of transparency in pricing for critical defense components.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole-source award
  • Lack of competition
  • Potential for overpricing
  • Long contract duration

Positive Signals

  • Firm fixed-price contract type
  • Essential for aircraft maintenance

Sector Analysis

This contract is within the Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing sector, a critical component of the aerospace and defense industry. Spending in this sector is often substantial due to the high cost and complexity of these parts.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to The Boeing Company, a large prime contractor. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses in the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny from oversight bodies to ensure fair pricing and prevent potential waste, fraud, and abuse.

Related Government Programs

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

Risk Flags

  • Sole-source award lacks competition
  • Potential for overpricing due to lack of competition
  • Limited transparency in pricing
  • Long contract duration may mask cost increases
  • Dependency on a single supplier

Tags

aircraft-engine-and-engine-parts-manufac, department-of-defense, mo, delivery-order, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $12.9 million to THE BOEING COMPANY. FY20 FMS SPARES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THE BOEING COMPANY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-11-07. End: 2026-12-31.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and has a thorough market research been conducted to confirm no other capable sources exist?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED,' suggesting a sole-source award. A robust justification and comprehensive market research are crucial to validate this approach. Without this information, it's difficult to ascertain if alternative suppliers were overlooked or if unique circumstances truly necessitate a single source, which could impact overall value for money.

How does the unit cost of these aircraft engine parts compare to similar components procured competitively by the DoD or other government agencies?

Benchmarking the per-unit cost against competitively procured, similar aircraft engine parts is essential for assessing value. Given this is a sole-source award, there's a heightened risk of inflated pricing. A detailed cost analysis, potentially involving independent government cost estimates or comparison with industry data, is needed to determine if the current pricing is reasonable and reflects fair market value.

What measures are in place to ensure the quality and timely delivery of these critical aircraft engine parts, given the long contract duration and sole-source nature?

With a contract duration extending to December 2026 and a sole-source award, robust quality assurance and performance monitoring are paramount. The Department of the Navy should have stringent inspection processes and performance metrics in place to ensure the parts meet specifications and are delivered on schedule, mitigating risks associated with a single supplier and long-term commitment.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: GUIDED MISSLES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6200 JAMES S MCDONNELL BLVD, SAINT LOUIS, MO, 63134

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: $13,227,188

Exercised Options: $12,937,706

Current Obligation: $12,937,706

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 14

Total Subaward Amount: $6,920,747

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: N0001921G0006

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline

Start Date: 2022-11-07

Current End Date: 2026-12-31

Potential End Date: 2026-12-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2025-12-18

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