DoD Awards $143M for F414 Engine Support, Sole-Sourced to GE

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $143,110,385 ($143.1M)

Contractor: General Electric Company

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-01-01

End Date: 2025-08-31

Contract Duration: 242 days

Daily Burn Rate: $591.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: F414 DEPOT COMPONENT SUPPORT PERFORMANCE BASED LOGISITICS

Place of Performance

Location: LYNN, ESSEX County, MASSACHUSETTS, 01905

State: Massachusetts Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $143.1 million to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY for work described as: F414 DEPOT COMPONENT SUPPORT PERFORMANCE BASED LOGISITICS Key points: 1. Significant contract value for critical aircraft engine component support. 2. Sole-source award to General Electric Company raises competition concerns. 3. Potential risk associated with single supplier dependency for essential parts. 4. Spending falls within the Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $143M for 242 days of service appears high, especially given the sole-source nature. Benchmarking against similar performance-based logistics contracts for complex aerospace components is difficult without more data, but the lack of competition suggests potential for overpricing.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, indicating a lack of competitive bidding. This method limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for taxpayers compared to a fully competed procurement.

Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source award limits competitive pressure, potentially leading to higher costs for taxpayers for essential aircraft engine support.

Public Impact

Ensures continued operational readiness for F414 engines, critical for naval aviation. Supports jobs within the aerospace manufacturing and maintenance sectors. Potential for increased costs due to lack of competition impacts overall defense budget allocation.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole-source award
  • High contract value for a short duration
  • Lack of transparency in pricing justification

Positive Signals

  • Ensures critical component support
  • Performance-based logistics can improve efficiency

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Aircraft Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing sector, a critical component of the defense industrial base. Spending benchmarks for sole-source, performance-based logistics contracts of this nature are difficult to establish due to limited comparable data.

Small Business Impact

The awardee, General Electric Company, is a large corporation. There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific sole-source contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure fair pricing and performance. Accountability mechanisms should be in place to track the effectiveness of the performance-based logistics approach.

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 discovery.
  • High contract value for a relatively short period.
  • Potential for vendor lock-in and future price increases.
  • Lack of transparency regarding specific performance metrics and cost breakdowns.
  • Dependency on a single supplier for critical aviation components.

Tags

aircraft-engine-and-engine-parts-manufac, department-of-defense, ma, delivery-order, 100m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $143.1 million to GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY. F414 DEPOT COMPONENT SUPPORT PERFORMANCE BASED LOGISITICS

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 $143.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-01-01. End: 2025-08-31.

What is the justification for the sole-source award to General Electric Company for F414 depot component support?

The justification for a sole-source award typically centers on unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent requirements where only one source can meet the need. For the F414 engine, GE is the original equipment manufacturer, suggesting potential reliance on their specialized knowledge and parts. However, a thorough review should confirm if alternative sources or competitive approaches were truly infeasible.

How does the $143M contract value compare to historical spending on similar F414 support contracts, and what is the expected return on investment?

Without historical data or specific performance metrics, it's challenging to assess the value. The $143M for an 8-month period is substantial. A performance-based contract implies payment tied to outcomes, so the ROI depends on achieved readiness rates, reduced downtime, and cost savings compared to traditional support models. A detailed cost-benefit analysis is needed.

What are the risks associated with relying solely on General Electric for critical F414 engine component support, and are there mitigation strategies?

The primary risk is dependency, potentially leading to price escalation, supply chain disruptions, and reduced innovation if GE faces internal issues. Mitigation strategies could include establishing clear performance metrics, requiring transparency in cost breakdowns, exploring potential second-sourcing options for non-proprietary components in the future, and maintaining strong contract management.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: ENGINES AND TURBINES AND COMPONENT

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, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $143,110,385

Exercised Options: $143,110,385

Current Obligation: $143,110,385

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 5

Total Subaward Amount: $6,623,573

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: N0038321DZN01

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2025-01-01

Current End Date: 2025-08-31

Potential End Date: 2025-08-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2025-11-04

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