DoD Awards $33.4M Contract for Countermeasures to Lockheed Martin, Limiting Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $33,410,620 ($33.4M)

Contractor: Lockheed Martin Corporation

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2023-09-20

End Date: 2027-04-30

Contract Duration: 1,318 days

Daily Burn Rate: $25.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: RECEIVER, COUNTERMEA

Place of Performance

Location: OWEGO, TIOGA County, NEW YORK, 13827

State: New York Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $33.4 million to LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION for work described as: RECEIVER, COUNTERMEA Key points: 1. Significant award to a major defense contractor. 2. Limited competition raises questions about price discovery. 3. Potential for higher costs due to lack of competitive bidding. 4. Focus on aircraft parts suggests a critical supply chain component.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $33.4 million for countermeasures is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price is optimal compared to similar contracts for aircraft parts. Benchmarking is challenging without more data on the specific countermeasures.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

This contract was not competed, indicating a limited source selection. This approach may be justified by specific technical requirements or urgency, but it bypasses the potential for price reductions and innovation that open competition can foster.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition could lead to taxpayers paying a premium for these countermeasures, as the government did not leverage market forces to secure the best possible price.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying for essential defense components. Reliance on a single supplier could create future supply chain vulnerabilities. Lack of transparency in the procurement process reduces public trust.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Limited competition
  • Potential for overpricing
  • Sole-source justification unclear

Positive Signals

  • Award to established contractor
  • Long-term contract duration

Sector Analysis

The Department of Defense frequently procures aircraft parts and related equipment. Spending in this sector is vast, and competitive bidding is typically employed to manage costs effectively. This contract's non-competitive nature stands out.

Small Business Impact

This contract was awarded to Lockheed Martin Corporation, a large prime contractor. There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific award, either as subcontractors or direct awardees.

Oversight & Accountability

The non-competitive award warrants scrutiny from oversight bodies to ensure the price is fair and reasonable and that the justification for limited competition is robust and documented.

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 cost overruns
  • Limited transparency
  • Sole-source risk

Tags

other-aircraft-parts-and-auxiliary-equip, department-of-defense, ny, definitive-contract, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $33.4 million to LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION. RECEIVER, COUNTERMEA

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $33.4 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2023-09-20. End: 2027-04-30.

What specific technical or urgency factors necessitated a non-competitive award for these countermeasures?

The justification for a non-competitive award typically involves factors such as unique technical capabilities possessed by only one source, critical urgency where competition would cause unacceptable delays, or situations where only one responsible source exists. Without specific documentation, the exact reasons remain unclear, but these are the standard criteria considered.

How does the unit cost of these countermeasures compare to similar items procured competitively by the DoD?

Direct comparison is difficult without knowing the exact specifications of the countermeasures and accessing historical pricing data for similar, competitively procured items. However, non-competitive awards generally carry a higher risk of inflated pricing compared to those secured through open bidding processes, which foster price discovery and market competition.

What is the long-term strategy for ensuring a competitive supply of these countermeasures beyond the current contract's expiration?

The long-term strategy is not evident from this award alone. The agency should consider market research and planning for future procurements to introduce competition, potentially through breaking down requirements, encouraging new entrants, or developing alternative solutions to mitigate reliance on a single source.

Industry Classification

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

Product/Service Code: COMM/DETECT/COHERENT RADIATION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: SPRTA121R0129

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1801 STATE RT 17 C, OWEGO, NY, 13827

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: $33,410,620

Exercised Options: $33,410,620

Current Obligation: $33,410,620

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 43

Total Subaward Amount: $5,213,156

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline

Start Date: 2023-09-20

Current End Date: 2027-04-30

Potential End Date: 2027-04-30 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2025-08-15

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