DoD Awards $13.8M for Training Aids Maintenance, High Risk of Overpricing

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $13,851,759 ($13.9M)

Contractor: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2002-06-07

End Date: 2008-05-30

Contract Duration: 2,184 days

Daily Burn Rate: $6.3K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: IT

Official Description: 200210!00H482!1700!A8304 !NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER TRAININ!GS09K99BHD0004 !C!N! !N!N6133902F1005 !20020607!20021231!046604849!046604849!003242013!N!DYNCORP !2727 HAMNER AVE !NORCO !CA!92860!51560!065!06!NORCO !RIVERSIDE !CALIFORNIA!+000005696929!N!N!000000000000!J069!MAINT & REPAIR OF EQ/TRAINING AIDS & DEVICES !S1 !SERVICES !1000!NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED !561990!E! !5!B!S! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !A! !J! !005!B! !C! ! ! ! ! !C!N! ! ! !Z!Z!A!A!000! !B!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001!

Place of Performance

Location: ORLANDO, ORANGE County, FLORIDA, 32826, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

State: Florida Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $13.9 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. for work described as: 200210!00H482!1700!A8304 !NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER TRAININ!GS09K99BHD0004 !C!N! !N!N6133902F1005 !20020607!20021231!046604849!046604849!003242013!N!DYNCORP !2727 HAMNER AVE !NORCO !CA!92860!51560!065!06!NORCO !RIVERSIDE !CALIFORNIA!+000005696929!N!N!000000000000!J069!MAINT & REPA… Key points: 1. Contract awarded for maintenance of training aids and devices. 2. Significant risk identified due to lack of discernable pricing. 3. Competition method was full and open, but price discovery is unclear. 4. Sector is IT services, specifically computer systems design. 5. Potential for taxpayer overspending due to opaque cost structure.

Value Assessment

Rating: concerning

The contract value is $13.8 million. Without clear unit costs or a detailed breakdown of services, it is difficult to benchmark against similar contracts. The 'NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED' pricing raises significant concerns about value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which is positive. However, the lack of discernable pricing information makes it impossible to assess if the competitive process led to fair and reasonable prices.

Taxpayer Impact: The opaque pricing structure presents a risk of overpaying for services, potentially leading to inefficient use of taxpayer funds.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overcharged due to unclear pricing for training equipment maintenance. Lack of transparency in contract costs hinders public trust and accountability. The Department of Defense's ability to secure best value is questionable without clear cost data.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of discernable pricing
Potential for overpricing
Opaque cost structure
Limited cost oversight

Positive Signals

Full and open competition utilized
Contract awarded to a known entity (General Dynamics IT)

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically computer systems design. Spending benchmarks for maintenance and repair of training aids and devices can vary widely depending on the complexity and technology involved. The $13.8 million award is substantial for this type of service.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc., a large business. There is no indication that small businesses were involved as subcontractors or partners in this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

While awarded under full and open competition, the lack of transparency in pricing makes effective oversight challenging. Accountability for cost efficiency is diminished when costs are not clearly defined or auditable.

Related Government Programs

Computer Systems Design Services
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Army Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of discernable pricing
Potential for overpricing
Opaque cost structure
Limited cost oversight
Difficulty in assessing value for money
Risk of inefficient use of taxpayer funds

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $13.9 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.. 200210!00H482!1700!A8304 !NAVAL AIR WARFARE CENTER TRAININ!GS09K99BHD0004 !C!N! !N!N6133902F1005 !20020607!20021231!046604849!046604849!003242013!N!DYNCORP !2727 HAMNER AVE !NORCO !CA!92860!51560!065!06!NORCO !RIVERSIDE !CALIFORNIA!+000005696929!N!N!000000000000!J069!MAINT & REPAIR OF EQ/TRAINING AIDS & DEVICES !S1 !SERVICES !1000!NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED !561990!E! !5!B!S! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !A! !J! !005!B! !C! ! ! ! ! !C!N! ! ! !Z!Z!A!A!000! !B!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001!

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $13.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2002-06-07. End: 2008-05-30.

What specific maintenance and repair tasks are included in this $13.8 million contract, and how were these costs derived?

The contract specifies 'MAINT & REPAIR OF EQ/TRAINING AIDS & DEVICES'. However, the data indicates pricing is 'NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED'. This lack of detail prevents understanding the scope of work and how the $13.8 million was justified, raising concerns about whether the government received fair value for the funds obligated.

Given the 'NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED' pricing, what mechanisms are in place to mitigate the risk of overpayment and ensure cost-effectiveness?

With pricing not discernable, standard cost-effectiveness checks are difficult. Oversight would need to focus on performance metrics and deliverables, ensuring the contractor meets all contractual obligations. However, without a clear cost baseline, assessing true cost-effectiveness remains a significant challenge and risk.

How does the Department of Defense ensure the effectiveness of training aids and devices when their maintenance costs are not transparent?

Effectiveness is typically measured by the operational readiness and functionality of the training aids. While the contract value is high, the lack of pricing transparency makes it difficult to directly link spending to specific improvements in training effectiveness. Performance monitoring and user feedback are crucial but are not detailed in the provided data.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Computer Sciences Corporation (UEI: 009581091)

Address: 2727 HAMNER AVE, NORCO, CA, 92860

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: GS09K99BHD0004

IDV Type: GWAC

Timeline