Navy awards $56.5M for airborne threat simulation training to Tactical Air Support Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $56,502,528 ($56.5M)

Contractor: Tactical AIR Support Inc

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-05-18

End Date: 2026-05-19

Contract Duration: 1,097 days

Daily Burn Rate: $51.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: PROVIDE CONTRACTOR OWNED AND CONTRACTOR OPERATED (COCO) AIRCRAFT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY (DON) FLEET CUSTOMERS FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF AIRBORNE THREAT SIMULATION CAPABILITIES TO TRAIN AIRCRAFT SQUADRON AIRCREW AND SHIPBOARD SYSTEM OPERATORS.

Place of Performance

Location: FALLON, CHURCHILL County, NEVADA, 89406

State: Nevada Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $56.5 million to TACTICAL AIR SUPPORT INC for work described as: PROVIDE CONTRACTOR OWNED AND CONTRACTOR OPERATED (COCO) AIRCRAFT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY (DON) FLEET CUSTOMERS FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF AIRBORNE THREAT SIMULATION CAPABILITIES TO TRAIN AIRCRAFT SQUADRON AIRCREW AND SHIPBOARD SYSTEM OPERATORS. Key points: 1. Contract supports critical aircrew and shipboard operator training for the Navy. 2. Full and open competition was used, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract is firm fixed price, providing cost certainty for the government. 4. The sector is primarily IT and Defense, focusing on simulation and training.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $56.5M over three years appears reasonable for specialized airborne threat simulation services. Benchmarking against similar training contracts is needed for a definitive assessment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The use of full and open competition indicates that multiple vendors were likely solicited, promoting price discovery and potentially leading to a more competitive price. The award was made via a delivery order.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award is expected to yield a fair price, maximizing taxpayer value for essential training services.

Public Impact

Enhances readiness for Navy aircrews and shipboard personnel through realistic threat simulation. Supports advanced training capabilities crucial for national defense. The contract duration of three years ensures sustained training support.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of specific performance metrics in provided data.
Potential for cost overruns if scope significantly expands beyond initial estimates.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed price contract structure.
Full and open competition utilized.
Supports critical defense training mission.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Defense sector, specifically focusing on simulation and training services. Spending benchmarks for similar airborne training and simulation contracts are typically in the millions annually, depending on complexity and duration.

Small Business Impact

The provided data does not indicate any specific set-asides for small businesses. Further analysis would be required to determine if small businesses had a meaningful opportunity to participate in this contract.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of the Navy is responsible for oversight. The firm fixed price contract type provides some cost control, but performance monitoring will be key to ensuring value and effectiveness.

Related Government Programs

Flight Training
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Navy Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for scope creep impacting cost.
Dependence on contractor's specialized assets and expertise.
Need for robust performance monitoring.
Ensuring continued relevance of simulation against evolving threats.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $56.5 million to TACTICAL AIR SUPPORT INC. PROVIDE CONTRACTOR OWNED AND CONTRACTOR OPERATED (COCO) AIRCRAFT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY (DON) FLEET CUSTOMERS FOR A WIDE VARIETY OF AIRBORNE THREAT SIMULATION CAPABILITIES TO TRAIN AIRCRAFT SQUADRON AIRCREW AND SHIPBOARD SYSTEM OPERATORS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is TACTICAL AIR SUPPORT 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 $56.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-05-18. End: 2026-05-19.

What specific airborne threat simulation capabilities are being provided, and how do they align with current and future Navy training requirements?

The contract aims to provide a wide variety of airborne threat simulation capabilities for training aircraft squadron aircrew and shipboard system operators. This likely includes simulating enemy aircraft, missiles, and electronic warfare environments. Alignment with future requirements would depend on the Navy's evolving threat landscape and training doctrine, necessitating ongoing dialogue between the Navy and Tactical Air Support Inc. to ensure the training remains relevant and effective.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will they be measured to ensure mission success and taxpayer value?

Key performance indicators are not explicitly detailed in the provided data. However, typical KPIs for such contracts would include training hours delivered, simulation fidelity, aircrew performance improvement metrics, and operational readiness rates. The Navy's contracting officer's representative (COR) would be responsible for monitoring these KPIs, ensuring the contractor meets performance standards and delivers the promised training outcomes effectively.

How does the pricing structure compare to industry standards for similar airborne threat simulation services, considering the firm fixed price nature of the contract?

The firm fixed price of $56.5M over three years suggests a negotiated price based on anticipated costs and profit. A comprehensive comparison would involve analyzing the specific services, aircraft hours, simulation complexity, and geographic coverage against other providers. Without detailed cost breakdowns or market research data, it's difficult to definitively state if it's above or below market, but the full and open competition should have driven it towards a competitive range.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Technical and Trade Schools › Flight Training

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 3

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 14505 MOUNT ANDERSON ST, RENO, NV, 89506

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $115,810,266

Exercised Options: $63,572,453

Current Obligation: $56,502,528

Actual Outlays: $19,376,546

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: FA489020D0006

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline