DoD Awards $23.4M for P-8 Support to Boeing, Raising Concerns Over Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $23,411,595 ($23.4M)

Contractor: THE Boeing Company

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-08-03

End Date: 2025-06-30

Contract Duration: 697 days

Daily Burn Rate: $33.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: SUPPORT FOR P-8 UNDER COI

Place of Performance

Location: SAINT LOUIS, SAINT LOUIS County, MISSOURI, 63134

State: Missouri Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $23.4 million to THE BOEING COMPANY for work described as: SUPPORT FOR P-8 UNDER COI Key points: 1. Significant contract value awarded to a single, established vendor. 2. Lack of competition may lead to suboptimal pricing and innovation. 3. Potential risk of vendor lock-in and reduced market responsiveness. 4. Spending falls within the broad Defense sector, specifically aircraft parts.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $23.4M for P-8 support is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price is optimal compared to potential market alternatives or previous contracts for similar services.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award to The Boeing Company. This limits price discovery and may prevent the government from securing the best possible value through market competition.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition could result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for P-8 support services.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying due to the absence of competitive bidding. Reliance on a single vendor for critical aircraft support could pose a long-term risk. Limited transparency into the pricing justification for this sole-source award.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole-source award
  • Lack of competition
  • Potential for overpayment
  • Vendor lock-in risk

Positive Signals

  • Supports critical P-8 aircraft
  • Awarded to established vendor

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Defense sector, specifically for aircraft parts and auxiliary equipment. Spending benchmarks for sole-source awards in this category are often higher than for competed contracts.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate any specific provisions or considerations for small businesses in this sole-source award to The Boeing Company.

Oversight & Accountability

The non-competitive nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure the government's interests are protected and that the pricing is justified. Further oversight may be needed to understand the rationale for not competing.

Related Government Programs

  • Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • Defense Logistics Agency Programs

Risk Flags

  • Lack of competition
  • Potential for price gouging
  • Vendor lock-in
  • Limited transparency
  • No small business participation noted

Tags

other-aircraft-parts-and-auxiliary-equip, department-of-defense, mo, delivery-order, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $23.4 million to THE BOEING COMPANY. SUPPORT FOR P-8 UNDER COI

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is THE BOEING COMPANY.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Logistics Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $23.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-08-03. End: 2025-06-30.

What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis instead of seeking competitive bids?

The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, urgent needs, or a lack of available alternatives. Without further details, it's unclear if these criteria were met. A thorough review would examine the specific circumstances that led to this decision and whether alternative sources were genuinely unavailable or impractical to engage.

What is the potential financial risk to taxpayers due to the lack of competition?

The primary financial risk is the potential for inflated pricing. Without competitive pressure, the awarded vendor may not offer the most cost-effective solution. Benchmarking against similar sole-source contracts or historical data for this platform could reveal if the price is above market rates, leading to taxpayer overspending.

How does this sole-source award impact the long-term effectiveness and availability of P-8 support?

Sole-source awards can reduce long-term effectiveness by limiting innovation and creating vendor dependency. If Boeing is the only provider, the DoD may face challenges if Boeing's pricing increases significantly or if their service quality declines, with few alternatives to switch to.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ManufacturingAerospace Product and Parts ManufacturingOther Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: AEROSPACE CRAFT COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6200 JAMES S MCDONNELL BLVD, SAINT LOUIS, MO, 63134

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: $30,065,270

Exercised Options: $23,411,595

Current Obligation: $23,411,595

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: SPRPA123D9003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2023-08-03

Current End Date: 2025-06-30

Potential End Date: 2025-06-30 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2025-03-27

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