DoD's $19.1M R&D Contract with COLSA Corp for Aviation and Missile Command Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $19,144,060 ($19.1M)

Contractor: Colsa Corp

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2006-09-29

End Date: 2012-09-30

Contract Duration: 2,193 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: 200612!007193!2100!W31P4Q!USA AVIATION AND MISSILE COMMAND!W31P4Q06C0521 !A!N! !N! ! !20060929!20110930!102067378!102067378!932928799!N!COLSA CORPORATION !6726 ODYSSEY DR !HUNTSVILLE !AL!35806!37000!089!01!HUNTSVILLE !MADISON !ALABAMA !+000003960479!N!N!000000000000!AZ13!RDTE/OTHER RESEARCH&DEVELOPMENT-ADV TECH DEV !S1 !SERVICES !347 !GCSS ARMY !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !D!N!U!1!001!N!1G!Z!Y!Z! ! !N!B!N!N! ! !A! !A!A!000!A!B!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! !

Place of Performance

Location: HUNTSVILLE, MADISON County, ALABAMA, 35898

State: Alabama Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $19.1 million to COLSA CORP for work described as: 200612!007193!2100!W31P4Q!USA AVIATION AND MISSILE COMMAND!W31P4Q06C0521 !A!N! !N! ! !20060929!20110930!102067378!102067378!932928799!N!COLSA CORPORATION !6726 ODYSSEY DR !HUNTSVILLE !AL!35806!37000!089!01!HUNTSVILLE !MADI… Key points: 1. This contract focuses on Research and Development for Advanced Technology Development. 2. COLSA Corporation, a single awardee, secured this $19.1M contract. 3. The contract was not competed, raising potential concerns about price discovery. 4. The sector is primarily IT and R&D, with a focus on defense applications.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $19.1M for a 5-year period (2006-2011) for R&D services appears within a reasonable range for specialized defense research. However, without specific benchmarks for similar advanced technology development contracts, a precise comparison is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed. This limits the opportunity for price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers compared to a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in a higher cost to taxpayers than if multiple vendors had vied for the contract.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the sole-source award. The advanced technology developed could have significant implications for national security. The duration of the contract (5 years) suggests a long-term need for these specialized services.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Sole-source award

Positive Signals

Focus on critical R&D
Long-term contract duration

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on advanced technology development for aviation and missile systems. Spending in this area is critical for maintaining technological superiority in defense.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this contract, as it was awarded to a single, likely larger, entity. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities were pursued.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure fair pricing and effective use of funds. Oversight should focus on performance metrics and justification for the non-competitive award.

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 limits price competition.
Potential for inflated costs due to lack of competition.
Lack of transparency regarding specific R&D deliverables.
No indication of small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $19.1 million to COLSA CORP. 200612!007193!2100!W31P4Q!USA AVIATION AND MISSILE COMMAND!W31P4Q06C0521 !A!N! !N! ! !20060929!20110930!102067378!102067378!932928799!N!COLSA CORPORATION !6726 ODYSSEY DR !HUNTSVILLE !AL!35806!37000!089!01!HUNTSVILLE !MADISON !ALABAMA !+000003960479!N!N!000000000000!AZ13!RDTE/OTHER RESEARCH&DEVELOPMENT-ADV TECH DEV !S1 !SERVICES !347 !GCSS ARMY !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is COLSA 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 $19.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2006-09-29. End: 2012-09-30.

What specific advanced technologies were developed under this contract, and what is their current operational impact?

The contract focused on 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences' with a specific NAICS code of 541710, indicating advanced technological development. While the exact technologies are not detailed, the context of the USA Aviation and Missile Command suggests advancements in areas like missile defense, unmanned aerial systems, or related aerospace technologies crucial for national security.

What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were there any attempts to explore competitive options?

The data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED'. Typically, sole-source awards require a strong justification, such as a unique capability possessed by only one vendor or an urgent need where competition is impractical. Without further documentation, it's unclear if alternative solutions were considered or if specific circumstances necessitated bypassing the competitive bidding process.

How does the cost of this contract compare to similar R&D efforts within the Department of Defense during that period?

Benchmarking this $19.1 million, 5-year contract against similar R&D efforts is challenging without access to detailed cost data for comparable projects. However, the 'COST PLUS FIXED FEE' (CPFF) contract type suggests that while the fee is fixed, the cost of performance could vary. The lack of competition makes direct cost comparison difficult, but the overall value should be assessed against the criticality and uniqueness of the R&D outcomes.

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: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › OTHER RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

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: 6726 ODYSSEY DR, HUNTSVILLE, AL, 35806

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline