DoD's $43.8M Water-Cooled Variant A Production Contract Awarded to Lockheed Martin

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $43,776,383 ($43.8M)

Contractor: Lockheed Martin Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2019-09-30

End Date: 2020-09-30

Contract Duration: 366 days

Daily Burn Rate: $119.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: WATER-COOLED VARIANT A PRODUCTION UNITS

Place of Performance

Location: JOHNSTOWN, CAMBRIA County, PENNSYLVANIA, 15904

State: Pennsylvania Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $43.8 million to LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION for work described as: WATER-COOLED VARIANT A PRODUCTION UNITS Key points: 1. Significant contract value for specialized equipment. 2. Lockheed Martin is a major defense contractor, indicating potential market concentration. 3. Risk of single-source reliance if competition is limited in future. 4. Sector: Defense manufacturing, specifically navigation and guidance systems.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The total award of $43.8M for 366 days suggests a reasonable per-unit cost, though specific performance metrics are not provided. Benchmarking against similar complex system manufacturing would be necessary for a definitive assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which typically drives competitive pricing. The specific impact on price discovery for this specialized equipment is not detailed but is generally positive.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally leads to better value for taxpayers by ensuring the government receives the best possible price through market forces.

Public Impact

Ensures continued production of critical navigation and guidance systems for the Navy. Supports a major defense contractor and its supply chain. Potential for technological advancements in naval systems. Impact on readiness and operational capabilities of naval assets.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Potential for future sole-source awards if competition diminishes.
  • Reliance on a single large contractor for critical components.

Positive Signals

  • Awarded under full and open competition.
  • Firm fixed price contract limits cost overrun risk for the government.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the defense manufacturing sector, specifically focusing on navigation and guidance systems. Spending in this area is critical for national security and often involves high-value, specialized production runs.

Small Business Impact

While the prime contractor is Lockheed Martin, a large corporation, the contract details do not specify the extent of small business participation in the subcontracting process. Further investigation into the subcontracting plan would be beneficial.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract was awarded by the Department of the Navy, a component of the Department of Defense, which has established oversight mechanisms. The firm fixed price nature of the contract provides some cost control, but ongoing monitoring of performance and delivery is crucial.

Related Government Programs

  • Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • Department of the Navy Programs

Risk Flags

  • Potential for future sole-source awards.
  • Reliance on a single large prime contractor.
  • Lack of detailed performance metrics in award data.
  • Limited insight into small business subcontracting.

Tags

search-detection-navigation-guidance-aer, department-of-defense, pa, delivery-order, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $43.8 million to LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION. WATER-COOLED VARIANT A PRODUCTION UNITS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LOCKHEED MARTIN 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 $43.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-09-30. End: 2020-09-30.

What is the specific technological advancement or capability this water-cooled variant provides compared to previous models?

The provided data does not specify the technological advancements of the water-cooled variant. Further analysis would require access to technical specifications, performance reports, or program documentation. Understanding the unique benefits is key to assessing if the investment justifies the cost and potential risks associated with specialized equipment.

How does the per-unit cost of this contract benchmark against similar defense system procurements, considering the firm fixed price structure?

Benchmarking the per-unit cost is challenging without more specific data on the system's complexity and performance requirements. However, the firm fixed price structure suggests that the contractor assumed the risk of cost overruns. A comparison with other contracts for similar navigation and guidance systems, adjusted for scale and technological sophistication, would be necessary to determine if the pricing is competitive.

What is the long-term strategy for ensuring continued competition and avoiding sole-source dependency for these critical systems?

The current award was made under full and open competition, which is a positive sign. However, the long-term strategy to maintain competition for specialized defense systems like this requires proactive market research, fostering new entrants, and potentially investing in alternative technologies. The Department of Defense should continuously assess the competitive landscape to mitigate the risk of future sole-source situations.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ManufacturingNavigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments ManufacturingSearch, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC EQPT COMPNTS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: N0002414R5217

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Lockheed Martin Corp

Address: 9500 GODWIN DR, MANASSAS, VA, 20110

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $43,914,114

Exercised Options: $43,914,114

Current Obligation: $43,776,383

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 2

Total Subaward Amount: $59,396,868

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: N0002415D5217

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2019-09-30

Current End Date: 2020-09-30

Potential End Date: 2020-09-30 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2023-05-09

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