DoD awards $189M for Communication Equipment Repair, with General Dynamics as sole source
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $28,557,438 ($28.6M)
Contractor: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2005-03-25
End Date: 2008-09-26
Contract Duration: 1,281 days
Daily Burn Rate: $22.3K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Defense
Official Description: 200506!003031!2100!W15P7T!USA COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS !W15P7T05CG001 !A!N! !Y! ! !20050325!20060324!188991954!116187758!001381284!N!GENERAL DYNAMICS C4 SYSTEMS IN!400 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ROAD!TAUNTON !MA!02780!69170!005!25!TAUNTON !BRISTOL !MASS !+000000500000!N!N!000000000000!J058!MAINT & REPAIR OF EQ/COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT !A7 !ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION EQUIP !000 !* !811213!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !20200930!B! ! !A! !D!Y!U!1!001!N!1A!Z!Y!Z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !A!A!A!A!000!A!C!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! !
Place of Performance
Location: TAUNTON, BRISTOL County, MASSACHUSETTS, 02780
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $28.6 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC. for work described as: 200506!003031!2100!W15P7T!USA COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS !W15P7T05CG001 !A!N! !Y! ! !20050325!20060324!188991954!116187758!001381284!N!GENERAL DYNAMICS C4 SYSTEMS IN!400 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ROAD!TAUNTON !MA!02780!69170!005!25!TAUNTON !BRIS… Key points: 1. Contract awarded to General Dynamics C4 Systems Inc. for communication equipment repair and maintenance. 2. The contract value is $188,991,954, with a period of performance from March 2005 to March 2006. 3. This was a sole-source award, raising questions about competition and potential price discovery. 4. The sector is Defense, specifically focusing on IT and communication equipment maintenance.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $188,991,954 for communication equipment repair and maintenance appears high given the sole-source nature. Benchmarking against similar contracts is difficult without competitive data.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, indicating a lack of competition. This limits price discovery and may lead to higher costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source award potentially results in higher costs for taxpayers due to the absence of competitive bidding.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may have overpaid due to the lack of competitive bidding. The Department of Defense relies on this contract for essential communication equipment maintenance. Lack of transparency in sole-source awards can erode public trust in government contracting.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition
- Potential for overpayment
- Lack of transparency
Positive Signals
- Essential service for DoD communications
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Defense sector, specifically IT and communication equipment maintenance. Spending benchmarks for similar sole-source repair contracts are difficult to establish due to their nature.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source contract, which could limit opportunities for them.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure the government received fair value and that the justification for sole-sourcing was robust.
Related Government Programs
- Communication Equipment Repair and Maintenance
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Defense Contract Management Agency Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- Potential for inflated pricing
- Limited small business participation
Tags
communication-equipment-repair-and-maint, department-of-defense, ma, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $28.6 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC.. 200506!003031!2100!W15P7T!USA COMMUNICATIONS-ELECTRONICS !W15P7T05CG001 !A!N! !Y! ! !20050325!20060324!188991954!116187758!001381284!N!GENERAL DYNAMICS C4 SYSTEMS IN!400 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ROAD!TAUNTON !MA!02780!69170!005!25!TAUNTON !BRISTOL !MASS !+000000500000!N!N!000000000000!J058!MAINT & REPAIR OF EQ/COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT !A7 !ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION EQUIP !000 !* !811213!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !202
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Contract Management Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $28.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2005-03-25. End: 2008-09-26.
What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves circumstances where only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services. This could be due to unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent needs where competition is not feasible. A thorough review of the contract file would be necessary to ascertain the specific rationale provided by the Department of Defense.
How can the government ensure fair pricing when awarding sole-source contracts?
Ensuring fair pricing in sole-source contracts involves rigorous cost analysis, price negotiation, and independent government cost estimates. Agencies should also explore alternative sources or competitive strategies where possible, even if initially perceived as sole-source. Transparency in the negotiation process and post-award audits can further help in verifying cost reasonableness.
What is the long-term impact of relying on sole-source contracts for critical equipment maintenance?
Long-term reliance on sole-source contracts can stifle innovation, reduce competition, and potentially lead to escalating costs. It may also create vendor lock-in, making it difficult to switch providers or adopt new technologies. Over time, this can diminish the government's bargaining power and impact the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of its operations.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Other Services (except Public Administration) › Electronic and Precision Equipment Repair and Maintenance › Communication Equipment Repair and Maintenance
Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT
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
Parent Company: General Dynamics Corp (UEI: 001381284)
Address: 400 JOHN QUINCY ADAMS ROAD, TAUNTON, MA, 02780
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2005-03-25
Current End Date: 2008-09-26
Potential End Date: 2008-09-26 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-05-10
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