DoD's $21.5M R&D Contract with Bascom Hunter Technologies Faces Limited Competition Concerns
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,502,011 ($21.5M)
Contractor: Bascom Hunter Technologies, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2019-05-08
End Date: 2027-01-28
Contract Duration: 2,822 days
Daily Burn Rate: $7.6K/day
Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: CLIN 0001
Place of Performance
Location: SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO County, CALIFORNIA, 92110
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $21.5 million to BASCOM HUNTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC. for work described as: CLIN 0001 Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $21.5 million awarded for R&D services. 2. Limited competition raises questions about price discovery and potential overspending. 3. Contract duration extends to January 2027, indicating a long-term commitment. 4. The R&D sector is critical for innovation but often complex to benchmark.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed tightly. Without a competitive benchmark, assessing the value for money is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was not available for competition, suggesting a sole-source or limited source justification. This lack of competition may have resulted in a higher price than could have been achieved through a more open bidding process.
Taxpayer Impact: The limited competition structure raises concerns about taxpayer funds being used efficiently, as a lack of bidding can inflate costs.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the absence of competitive bidding. The long contract duration means potential cost overruns could impact the budget for years. Lack of transparency in pricing due to limited competition hinders public scrutiny.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition
- Cost-plus contract type
- Long contract duration
Positive Signals
- Supports critical R&D efforts
- Long-term engagement allows for project continuity
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically physical, engineering, and life sciences. Benchmarking R&D contracts can be challenging due to the unique nature of innovation and intellectual property.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business, as 'sb' is false. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses had opportunities to participate as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'st' field is 'CA', which might refer to contract action or a specific oversight mechanism. However, without further context, it's difficult to assess the specific oversight applied to this contract.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Navy Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for cost overruns due to CPFF structure
- Long contract duration increases exposure to changing requirements
- Difficulty in benchmarking R&D services
- Unclear oversight mechanisms ('st' field)
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, ca, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $21.5 million to BASCOM HUNTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. CLIN 0001
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is BASCOM HUNTER TECHNOLOGIES, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Navy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $21.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-05-08. End: 2027-01-28.
What specific justification was provided for limiting competition on this $21.5 million R&D contract?
The provided data states the contract was 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION'. A thorough review would require accessing the contract's justification for other than full and open competition (JOFOC) documentation. This document typically outlines the reasons why a competitive process was not feasible, such as unique capabilities, urgent needs, or specific government requirements that only one source can meet.
How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure impact the risk of cost overruns for this R&D project?
Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts reimburse the contractor for allowable costs plus a fixed fee representing profit. While the fee is fixed, the contractor has less incentive to control costs compared to fixed-price contracts. This structure shifts some cost risk to the government, especially if the scope of work is not well-defined or if unforeseen technical challenges arise during the R&D process.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the effectiveness and value of this R&D contract?
Effectiveness and value in R&D contracts are often measured by milestones achieved, successful prototypes developed, scientific publications, patent applications, or transition of technology to operational use. Specific KPIs should be detailed within the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and performance metrics. Without access to the SOW, it's impossible to determine the specific measures of success.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › DEFENSE (OTHER) R&D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 7117 FLORIDA BLVD, BATON ROUGE, LA, 70806
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $21,502,011
Exercised Options: $21,502,011
Current Obligation: $21,502,011
Actual Outlays: $1,534,362
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-05-08
Current End Date: 2027-01-28
Potential End Date: 2027-01-28 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-10
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