DoD awards $57.2M for F414 engine parts, a sole-source contract with limited competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $57,212,069 ($57.2M)

Contractor: General Electric Company

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2019-03-21

End Date: 2019-06-30

Contract Duration: 101 days

Daily Burn Rate: $566.5K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: DELIVERY ORDER AUTHORIZING THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (POP) FOR 1 APRIL THROUGH 30 JUNE 2019 FOR THE F414 ENGINES PBL.

Place of Performance

Location: LYNN, ESSEX County, MASSACHUSETTS, 01905

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $57.2 million to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY for work described as: DELIVERY ORDER AUTHORIZING THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (POP) FOR 1 APRIL THROUGH 30 JUNE 2019 FOR THE F414 ENGINES PBL. Key points: 1. The contract is for F414 engine parts, a critical component for military aircraft. 2. General Electric Company is the sole provider, indicating a lack of competition. 3. The firm fixed price contract aims to control costs, but the sole-source nature raises concerns. 4. This spending falls within the Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The $57.2 million award for a 3-month period appears high given the duration. Benchmarking against similar engine parts contracts is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, meaning General Electric was the only source considered. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for critical engine parts may result in higher expenditures than if multiple vendors were involved.

Public Impact

Ensures continued availability of essential F414 engine parts for naval aviation. Potential for increased costs due to sole-source procurement. Impacts the readiness of aircraft relying on F414 engines.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole-source procurement
  • Limited competition
  • High award value for short period

Positive Signals

  • Firm fixed price contract type
  • Ensures critical part availability

Sector Analysis

This award is within the Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing sector, which is vital for defense readiness. Spending benchmarks for sole-source engine parts contracts are difficult to establish due to proprietary information and limited market visibility.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded to General Electric Company, a large business. There is no indication of small business participation in this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of the Navy awarded this delivery order. Oversight should focus on ensuring fair pricing and exploring future competitive opportunities for engine parts.

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 and price negotiation.
  • High value for a 3-month performance period.
  • Lack of transparency in cost breakdown.
  • Potential for price escalation in future sole-source awards.

Tags

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

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $57.2 million to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. DELIVERY ORDER AUTHORIZING THE PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE (POP) FOR 1 APRIL THROUGH 30 JUNE 2019 FOR THE F414 ENGINES PBL.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GENERAL ELECTRIC 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 $57.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-03-21. End: 2019-06-30.

What is the justification for the sole-source award, and were alternatives explored?

The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent needs where competition is not feasible. For this F414 engine parts contract, the Department of the Navy would need to document why General Electric was the only viable source. Exploring alternatives, even if ultimately unsuccessful, is crucial for demonstrating due diligence and ensuring taxpayer value.

How does the unit cost of these F414 engine parts compare to historical data or industry benchmarks?

Without specific unit cost data and detailed breakdowns, a direct comparison is challenging. However, given the sole-source nature and the significant award amount for a short period, a thorough review of historical pricing trends for similar F414 components and industry benchmarks for engine parts manufacturing is warranted to identify potential cost efficiencies or overruns.

What is the long-term strategy for ensuring competitive sourcing of F414 engine parts to mitigate future sole-source risks?

The long-term strategy should involve proactive market research to identify potential new entrants or alternative suppliers for F414 engine parts. This could include fostering competition through phased procurements, encouraging technology maturation for non-proprietary components, or exploring partnerships that could lead to a more competitive landscape over time, thereby reducing reliance on a single source.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: AEROSPACE CRAFT COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1000 WESTERN AVE, LYNN, MA, 01905

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $57,212,069

Exercised Options: $57,212,069

Current Obligation: $57,212,069

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: N0038317DBG01

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2019-03-21

Current End Date: 2019-06-30

Potential End Date: 2019-06-30 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2019-04-10

More Contracts from General Electric Company

View all General Electric Company federal contracts →

Other Department of Defense Contracts

View all Department of Defense contracts →

Explore Related Government Spending