DoD Awards $17.1M for Tech Transfer R&D to ACME GENERAL CORP, Sole Source
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $17,090,236 ($17.1M)
Contractor: Acme General Corp
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2023-09-06
End Date: 2025-09-06
Contract Duration: 731 days
Daily Burn Rate: $23.4K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER THROUGH FORMATIVE APPLICATION OF USER-CENTRIC PLATFORMS AND DEMAND APPROACHES FOR TECHNOLOGY EXPLOITATION
Place of Performance
Location: PICATINNY ARSENAL, MORRIS County, NEW JERSEY, 07806
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $17.1 million to ACME GENERAL CORP for work described as: TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER THROUGH FORMATIVE APPLICATION OF USER-CENTRIC PLATFORMS AND DEMAND APPROACHES FOR TECHNOLOGY EXPLOITATION Key points: 1. Significant investment in R&D for technology transfer, focusing on user-centric platforms. 2. ACME GENERAL CORP, a single vendor, secured the entire $17.1M contract. 3. Potential risk of limited innovation and higher costs due to sole-source award. 4. The contract falls under the R&D sector, specifically physical, engineering, and life sciences.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The $17.1M award for a 2-year definitive contract appears high given the lack of competition. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts for technology transfer is difficult without more detail on deliverables.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning no other vendors were considered. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to a higher cost for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this award raises concerns about whether taxpayers received the best possible value for this significant R&D investment.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may not have received competitive pricing due to the sole-source award. The effectiveness of technology transfer hinges on ACME GENERAL CORP's execution. Future innovation could be stifled if alternative solutions were not explored. The Department of Defense is investing heavily in advanced R&D capabilities.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition and price negotiation.
- Lack of transparency in vendor selection process.
- Potential for cost overruns without competitive pressure.
Positive Signals
- Focus on critical technology transfer and user-centric platforms.
- Long-term contract duration allows for sustained development.
- Investment in a specific R&D area by the Department of Defense.
Sector Analysis
This contract is within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. Spending in this area is crucial for national security and technological advancement, but often involves high risk and long development cycles.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award, suggesting a missed opportunity for their participation and contribution to this technology transfer initiative.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure ACME GENERAL CORP meets all contract requirements and delivers value. Accountability will be key to validating the expenditure.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition.
- Potential for inflated pricing.
- Lack of transparency in procurement.
- Risk of vendor lock-in.
- Unclear performance metrics.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, nj, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $17.1 million to ACME GENERAL CORP. TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER THROUGH FORMATIVE APPLICATION OF USER-CENTRIC PLATFORMS AND DEMAND APPROACHES FOR TECHNOLOGY EXPLOITATION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ACME GENERAL CORP.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $17.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-09-06. End: 2025-09-06.
What specific technologies or platforms are being developed under this contract, and how do they align with current DoD needs?
The contract aims to advance technology transfer through user-centric platforms and demand approaches for technology exploitation. While the specific technologies are not detailed, the focus suggests development of systems or methodologies to facilitate the adoption and application of new research findings within the DoD. This aligns with the broader goal of modernizing military capabilities and ensuring technological superiority.
What justification was provided for the sole-source award, and were alternative vendors or approaches considered?
The justification for the sole-source award is not provided in the data. Typically, sole-source contracts are justified when only one vendor possesses the unique capability, technology, or intellectual property required, or in cases of urgent need. Without this information, it's difficult to assess if competition was genuinely impossible or if opportunities for broader engagement were overlooked.
How will the success of this technology transfer initiative be measured, and what are the key performance indicators?
The data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or success metrics for this technology transfer initiative. Effective measurement would likely involve tracking the successful transition of developed technologies into operational use, the efficiency of the exploitation process, and the overall impact on DoD capabilities. Clear, measurable goals are essential for evaluating the contract's effectiveness.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › C – National Defense R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3592 COLLINS FERRY RD, MORGANTOWN, WV, 26505
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $58,446,894
Exercised Options: $17,090,236
Current Obligation: $17,090,236
Actual Outlays: $2,311,962
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-09-06
Current End Date: 2025-09-06
Potential End Date: 2028-09-30 12:09:00
Last Modified: 2025-04-21
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