Department of Defense awards $21.1M contract to The MITRE Corporation for R&D services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,163,653 ($21.2M)
Contractor: THE Mitre Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2004-05-18
End Date: 2009-01-31
Contract Duration: 1,719 days
Daily Burn Rate: $12.3K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: 200408!005032!2100!W15P7T!USA COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS !W15P7T04CA203 !A!N! !Y! ! !20040518!20050131!040540304!040540304!007872690!N!THE MITRE CORPORATION !7515 COLSHIRE DRIVE !MCLEAN !VA!22102!48376!059!51!MCLEAN !FAIRFAX !VIRGINIA !+000001990435!N!N!000000000000!R408!PROGRAM MANAGEMENT/SUPPORT SERVICES !S1 !SERVICES !000 !* !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !N!Z!D!N!U!1!001!N!3A!Z!Y!Z! ! !N!Z!N! ! ! ! ! !A!A!000!A!C!N! ! ! !Y! ! !0001! !
Place of Performance
Location: MC LEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $21.2 million to THE MITRE CORPORATION for work described as: 200408!005032!2100!W15P7T!USA COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS !W15P7T04CA203 !A!N! !Y! ! !20040518!20050131!040540304!040540304!007872690!N!THE MITRE CORPORATION !7515 COLSHIRE DRIVE !MCLEAN !VA!22102!48376!059!51!MCLEAN !FAIR… Key points: 1. The contract was awarded to The MITRE Corporation, a well-established research and development organization. 2. The award was 'Not Competed', raising questions about the procurement process and potential lack of competitive pricing. 3. The contract is for Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, a critical sector for defense innovation. 4. The duration of the contract is 1719 days, indicating a significant, long-term engagement.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value is $21.1 million over approximately 4.7 years. Without specific benchmarks for similar R&D services from The MITRE Corporation, a precise pricing assessment is difficult. However, the 'Not Competed' status suggests potential for overpricing.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis ('Not Competed'). This limits price discovery and competition, potentially leading to higher costs for taxpayers compared to a fully competitive process.
Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source award may result in higher costs for taxpayers due to the absence of competitive pressure on pricing.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be paying a premium for R&D services due to the lack of competition. The MITRE Corporation, a non-profit, is a significant player in government R&D, raising questions about its role in sole-source awards. The long-term nature of the contract suggests a critical need for these R&D services within the Department of Defense.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
- Potential for inflated costs due to lack of competitive bidding.
- Long contract duration without clear performance metrics (based on limited data).
Positive Signals
- Award to a reputable R&D organization (The MITRE Corporation).
- Focus on critical R&D for national security.
- Contract supports a specific need within the Department of the Army.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the Research and Development sector, specifically R&D in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is crucial for technological advancement but can be prone to cost overruns if not managed competitively.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication in the provided data that small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. The award was made directly to The MITRE Corporation.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny. Oversight should focus on ensuring the necessity of the sole-source justification and the reasonableness of the price, even without competition.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award.
- Potential for lack of price competition.
- Long contract duration.
- Limited transparency on specific R&D objectives and performance metrics.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, va, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $21.2 million to THE MITRE CORPORATION. 200408!005032!2100!W15P7T!USA COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS !W15P7T04CA203 !A!N! !Y! ! !20040518!20050131!040540304!040540304!007872690!N!THE MITRE CORPORATION !7515 COLSHIRE DRIVE !MCLEAN !VA!22102!48376!059!51!MCLEAN !FAIRFAX !VIRGINIA !+000001990435!N!N!000000000000!R408!PROGRAM MANAGEMENT/SUPPORT SERVICES !S1 !SERVICES !000 !* !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !999
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE MITRE CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $21.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2004-05-18. End: 2009-01-31.
What was the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive approaches considered?
The provided data indicates the contract was 'Not Competed'. A thorough review would require accessing the official justification for this sole-source award. Typically, such justifications cite unique capabilities, urgent needs, or lack of available sources. Without this documentation, it's impossible to assess if competitive alternatives were adequately explored or if the sole-source decision was truly warranted.
How does the cost per unit or overall cost of these R&D services compare to similar contracts awarded competitively?
Direct comparison is challenging without specific, competitively awarded benchmarks for identical R&D services from The MITRE Corporation. However, the 'Not Competed' status inherently suggests a risk of higher costs than might be achieved through open competition. A detailed cost analysis by the agency would be necessary to validate the reasonableness of the $21.1 million price tag.
What are the key performance indicators and expected outcomes for this R&D contract, and how will their achievement be measured?
The provided data does not detail the specific performance metrics or expected outcomes for this R&D contract. For a contract of this value and duration, clear, measurable objectives are essential for effective oversight and to ensure the government receives value for its investment. The agency should have a robust system for tracking progress and deliverables against defined goals.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 7515 COLSHIRE DRIVE, MCLEAN, VA, 90
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2004-05-18
Current End Date: 2009-01-31
Potential End Date: 2014-09-21 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2012-09-21
More Contracts from THE Mitre Corporation
- Center for Advanced Aviation Development (caasd) Ffrdc Mitre — $1.7B (Department of Transportation)
- FY25 Task Order 7 - to Provide Systems Engineering Research and Development Services for the Department of Defense (DOD) and Other Federal Government Agencies — $753.9M (Department of Defense)
- FY24 Task Order 6 - Initial Funding and Updating PWS & DD254 — $735.3M (Department of Defense)
- Caasd Must Provide Essential Engineering, Research, and Analysis Capabilities to Support the FAA in the Performance of ITS Mission Through a Systems Approach That Addresses ALL Dimensions (E.G. Political, Operational, Economic, Technical) Required to — $700.5M (Department of Transportation)
- Initial Modification on Task Order 5 Nsec, Ffrdc to Incrementally Fund, Update PWS & DD254 — $687.3M (Department of Defense)
Other Department of Defense Contracts
- Federal Contract — $51.3B (Humana Government Business Inc)
- Lrip LOT 12 Advance Acquisition Contract — $35.1B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- SSN 802 and 803 Long Lead Time Material — $34.7B (Electric Boat Corporation)
- 200204!008532!1700!AF600 !naval AIR Systems Command !N0001902C3002 !A!N! !N! !20011026!20120430!008016958!008016958!834951691!n!lockheed Martin Corporation !lockheed Blvd !fort Worth !tx!76108!27000!439!48!fort Worth !tarrant !texas !+000026000000!n!n!018981928201!ac15!rdte/Aircraft-Eng/Manuf Develop !a1a!airframes and Spares !2ama!jast/Jsf !336411!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !a!n!r!2!002!n!1a!a!n!z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !a!a!a!a!000!a!c!n! ! ! !Y! !N00019!0001! — $34.2B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- KC-X Modernization Program — $32.0B (THE Boeing Company)