DoD's $1.15B R&D Contract with Alion Science and Technology Corporation Under Full and Open Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,553,473 ($11.6M)

Contractor: Alion Science and Technology Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2006-11-14

End Date: 2009-12-31

Contract Duration: 1,143 days

Daily Burn Rate: $10.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: NOT REPORTED

Sector: R&D

Official Description: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPEMENT

Place of Performance

Location: CHICAGO, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60616

State: Illinois Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $11.6 million to ALION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION for work described as: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPEMENT Key points: 1. Significant contract value of over $1.15 billion for R&D services. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. Potential risk associated with long-term R&D projects and evolving technological needs. 4. Focus on social sciences and humanities R&D within the defense sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The award amount of $1,155,347,300 is substantial. Without specific per-unit cost data or comparable contract benchmarks for similar R&D services in social sciences and humanities, a precise value assessment is difficult. However, the scale suggests significant investment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded through full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This method generally promotes price discovery and competitive pricing.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award suggests that taxpayers likely received a fair price for the R&D services, though the overall value depends on the successful outcomes of the research.

Public Impact

Investment in social sciences and humanities research could lead to advancements impacting policy, strategy, or human behavior understanding for national security. The long duration of the contract (over 3 years) implies a sustained effort in specific research areas. Potential for knowledge creation and dissemination that could benefit various government agencies and the public domain.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Long-term R&D projects carry inherent uncertainty in outcomes.
  • The specific research areas (social sciences and humanities) may have less direct or immediate tangible outputs compared to some other R&D fields.

Positive Signals

  • Awarded via full and open competition.
  • Significant investment in potentially impactful research areas.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities sector (NAICS 541720). Spending in this area by the Department of Defense is often focused on understanding human factors, societal trends, and geopolitical dynamics relevant to national security.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was awarded to Alion Science and Technology Corporation, a large business. There is no specific indication of small business subcontracting in the provided data, suggesting limited direct participation by small businesses in this particular award.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of the Navy awarded this contract, implying oversight from this agency. Further details on specific oversight mechanisms, performance metrics, and reporting requirements would be needed to fully assess accountability.

Related Government Programs

  • Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • Department of the Navy Programs

Risk Flags

  • Long-term nature of R&D projects.
  • Uncertainty of research outcomes.
  • Potential for scope creep in R&D.
  • Dependence on contractor's expertise and innovation.

Tags

research-and-development-in-the-social-s, department-of-defense, il, dca, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $11.6 million to ALION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPEMENT

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ALION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.6 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-11-14. End: 2009-12-31.

What specific research questions or objectives are being addressed by this contract, and how do they align with current defense priorities?

The contract focuses on Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities. While the exact objectives are not detailed, this typically involves studying human behavior, societal structures, cultural dynamics, and policy implications relevant to national security. Alignment with defense priorities would likely involve research informing strategic planning, understanding adversary motivations, or improving human-machine teaming in social contexts.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will the success of the R&D be measured?

Specific KPIs are not provided in the data. For R&D contracts in social sciences and humanities, success is often measured by the quality of research outputs (e.g., reports, publications, models), the relevance and applicability of findings to defense challenges, and the successful completion of research milestones within the allocated timeframe and budget. Independent review and validation of research outcomes are also common measures.

What is the potential for intellectual property generation from this contract, and how will it be managed and utilized by the government?

R&D contracts, especially those funded by the government, often lead to the generation of intellectual property (IP). The specific terms of IP ownership and utilization would be defined in the contract. Typically, the government may negotiate rights to use, reproduce, and distribute the IP for governmental purposes, while the contractor might retain rights for commercialization, subject to government licenses. Clear IP clauses are crucial for maximizing the return on investment.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesScientific Research and Development ServicesResearch and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTGeneral Science and Technology R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: BASIC RESEARCH

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: NOT REPORTED (NO)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 10 W 35TH ST, CHICAGO, IL, 90

Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $11,553,473

Exercised Options: $11,553,473

Current Obligation: $11,553,473

Timeline

Start Date: 2006-11-14

Current End Date: 2009-12-31

Potential End Date: 2009-12-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2008-01-15

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