NASA's $21.6M Rotary Wing R&D Contract with Bell Textron Faces Scrutiny Over Broad Scope and Limited Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,630,312 ($21.6M)
Contractor: Bell Textron Inc
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2009-02-26
End Date: 2015-04-04
Contract Duration: 2,228 days
Daily Burn Rate: $9.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR SUBSONIC ROTARY WING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT. THE STATEMENT OF WORK WAS WRITTEN TO ENCOMPASS A WIDE RANGE OF STUDY TOPICS. TASK ORDER ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE DRAWN FROM THE SPECTRUM OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS, ANALYSIS, DESIGN, FABRICATION, AND TESTING REQUIREMENTS (MODEL-SCALE, FULL-SCALE, AND FLIGHT) WITH ROTORCRAFT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO AERODYNAMICS, STRUCTURES, COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS, ACOUSTICS, COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS, COCKPIT DESIGN AND CONTROL SYSTEMS, HANDLING QUALITIES, HUMAN FACTORS, PROGNOSTICS AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENTS, AND SYSTEMS AND ECONOMICS ANALYSIS. THE FOLLOWING AREAS ARE LISTED AS EXAMPLES: ASSESSMENT OF ADVANCED ROTORCRAFT TECHNOLOGIES, ASSESSMENT OF ROTORCRAFT REQUIREMENTS IN THE NEXT GENERATION AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, PROGNOSTICS AND HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENTS, RESEARCH FLIGHT TESTING, WIND TUNNEL TEST STANDS, HARDWARE GEAR TESTING COMPONENTS, ADVANCED ROTOR TECHNOLOGY/CONFIGURATION ASSESSMENTS, DRIVE SYSTEM SENSITIVITY STUDIES FOR ROTORCRAFT, AVIONICS PROCESSOR EQUIPMENT AND GPS UPGRADES, HEALTH USAGE MONITORING SYSTEMS (HUMS) TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS, ENGINEERING ANALYSES OF ADVANCED CONCEPTS, ADVANCED COCKPIT CREW STATION RESEARCH.
Place of Performance
Location: HURST, TARRANT County, TEXAS, 76053
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $21.6 million to BELL TEXTRON INC for work described as: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR SUBSONIC ROTARY WING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT. THE STATEMENT OF WORK WAS WRITTEN TO ENCOMPASS A WIDE RANGE OF STUDY TOPICS. TASK ORDER ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE DRAWN FROM THE SPECTRUM OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS, ANALYSIS, DESIGN, FABRICATION, AND TESTING R… Key points: 1. The contract's broad Statement of Work allows for a wide range of R&D activities, potentially leading to scope creep and cost overruns. 2. Bell Textron, a major aerospace contractor, secured this award, raising questions about the extent of competition for such a broad research effort. 3. The 'Full and Open Competition' designation appears questionable given the specialized nature of advanced rotary wing technology. 4. The sector is critical for defense and civilian aviation, making efficient R&D spending paramount.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's cost-plus-fixed-fee structure, combined with a broad scope, offers limited incentive for cost control by Bell Textron. Benchmarking is difficult due to the R&D nature and lack of specific deliverables.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
While advertised as 'Full and Open Competition,' the specialized nature of advanced rotary wing technology may have limited the pool of qualified bidders. The broad SOW could obscure true competition.
Taxpayer Impact: The broad scope and cost-plus structure raise concerns about whether taxpayers received the best value for the $21.6 million invested in this research.
Public Impact
Taxpayers funded extensive research into advanced helicopter technologies, with potential applications in both military and civilian sectors. The contract's broadness means the specific technological advancements achieved are not clearly defined, making direct public benefit assessment challenging. Investment in R&D for rotary wing technology supports innovation in aerospace, potentially leading to future advancements in aviation safety and efficiency.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Broad Statement of Work
- Potential for Scope Creep
- Limited Competition Concerns
- Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee Structure
Positive Signals
- Investment in critical aerospace R&D
- Potential for technological innovation
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, specifically focusing on advanced aerospace R&D. Spending benchmarks for such specialized research are difficult to establish due to unique project requirements and innovation goals.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to Bell Textron Inc., a large aerospace corporation. There is no indication that small businesses were significantly involved as subcontractors or partners in this specific research and development effort.
Oversight & Accountability
The broad nature of the Statement of Work and the cost-plus contract type warrant close oversight to ensure funds are used efficiently and effectively towards defined research objectives.
Related Government Programs
- Engineering Services
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Broad and potentially ambiguous Statement of Work
- Limited evidence of robust competition
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee structure may disincentivize cost control
- Lack of clearly defined deliverables for R&D
- Potential for scope creep impacting final cost
Tags
engineering-services, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, tx, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $21.6 million to BELL TEXTRON INC. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR SUBSONIC ROTARY WING TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT. THE STATEMENT OF WORK WAS WRITTEN TO ENCOMPASS A WIDE RANGE OF STUDY TOPICS. TASK ORDER ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE DRAWN FROM THE SPECTRUM OF TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENTS, ANALYSIS, DESIGN, FABRICATION, AND TESTING REQUIREMENTS (MODEL-SCALE, FULL-SCALE, AND FLIGHT) WITH ROTORCRAFT, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO AERODYNAMICS, STRUCTURES, COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS, ACOUSTICS, COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS, COCKPIT DESIGN AND CONTROL SYSTEM
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is BELL TEXTRON INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $21.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2009-02-26. End: 2015-04-04.
How effectively did the broad Statement of Work facilitate genuine competition and ensure the most innovative solutions were pursued within the $21.6 million budget?
The broad Statement of Work, while intended to capture a wide range of research, may have inadvertently limited genuine competition by making it difficult for smaller, specialized firms to bid. This could have led to less innovative solutions being pursued if only a few large contractors could address the entire scope. The cost-plus structure further complicates value assessment.
What specific technological advancements or breakthroughs resulted from this contract, and how do they justify the investment and the chosen procurement method?
The provided data does not detail specific technological advancements. The broad scope suggests a foundational research effort rather than a targeted development. Without clear deliverables or outcomes, it's challenging to directly link the $21.6 million investment to tangible benefits or justify the 'Full and Open Competition' approach for such specialized R&D.
Given the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure and the extensive R&D scope, what mechanisms were in place to prevent cost overruns and ensure efficient use of taxpayer funds?
Cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts inherently carry a risk of cost overruns as the contractor is reimbursed for costs plus a fixed fee. Effective oversight, stringent milestone tracking, and clear performance metrics are crucial. The data doesn't specify these oversight mechanisms, raising concerns about the efficiency of taxpayer fund utilization in this broad R&D context.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › C – National Defense R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: NNA08225910R
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Textron Inc (UEI: 001338979)
Address: 600 E HURST BLVD, HURST, TX, 76053
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: $21,837,042
Exercised Options: $21,837,042
Current Obligation: $21,630,312
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2009-02-26
Current End Date: 2015-04-04
Potential End Date: 2015-04-04 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2019-10-16
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