Air Force awards $15.1M for advanced Electronic Warfare capabilities to Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $15,125,459 ($15.1M)

Contractor: Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2019-09-26

End Date: 2024-09-30

Contract Duration: 1,831 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.3K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: THE AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY, SENSORS DIRECTORATE (AFRL/RY) PROVIDES WARFIGHTERS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC WARFARE (EW) CAPABILITIES AND HIGHLY REPRESENTATIVE, VALIDATED, TIMELY, AND AFFORDABLE THREAT ELECTRONIC COMBAT TEST AND TRAINING ENVIRONMENTS.

Place of Performance

Location: ATLANTA, FULTON County, GEORGIA, 30318

State: Georgia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $15.1 million to GEORGIA TECH APPLIED RESEARCH CORP for work described as: THE AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY, SENSORS DIRECTORATE (AFRL/RY) PROVIDES WARFIGHTERS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC WARFARE (EW) CAPABILITIES AND HIGHLY REPRESENTATIVE, VALIDATED, TIMELY, AND AFFORDABLE THREAT ELECTRONIC COMBAT TEST AND TRAINING ENVIRONMENTS. Key points: 1. Focuses on developing advanced Electronic Warfare (EW) capabilities for warfighters. 2. Contract awarded to Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp, a non-small business. 3. High value contract for Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 4. Significant duration of 1831 days (approx. 5 years) indicates long-term R&D needs.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract is for R&D services, making direct pricing comparisons difficult. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) structure suggests potential for cost overruns if not managed closely. The total award value is substantial.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs compared to a competitive environment. The justification for sole-source is not provided.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for advanced R&D. Without competition, there's a risk of paying a premium for these critical capabilities.

Public Impact

Enhances national defense through advanced electronic warfare technology. Supports critical research and development efforts for the Air Force. Potential for technological advancements with broad applications beyond military use. Long-term investment in maintaining technological superiority in a key defense area.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
Award to a non-small business

Positive Signals

Addresses critical national security needs
Focus on advanced technology development
Long-term contract duration suggests sustained effort

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is crucial for technological advancement and maintaining a competitive edge, particularly in defense applications. Benchmarks are difficult without specific sub-sector data.

Small Business Impact

The contract was awarded to Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp, which is not identified as a small business. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this award.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract's sole-source nature warrants close oversight to ensure fair pricing and effective execution. The long duration requires continuous monitoring of progress and adherence to the CPFF terms to manage costs and deliverables.

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 and price discovery.
Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can lead to cost overruns.
Lack of transparency regarding justification for sole-source.
Award to a non-small business may limit small business participation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $15.1 million to GEORGIA TECH APPLIED RESEARCH CORP. THE AIR FORCE RESEARCH LABORATORY, SENSORS DIRECTORATE (AFRL/RY) PROVIDES WARFIGHTERS ADVANCED ELECTRONIC WARFARE (EW) CAPABILITIES AND HIGHLY REPRESENTATIVE, VALIDATED, TIMELY, AND AFFORDABLE THREAT ELECTRONIC COMBAT TEST AND TRAINING ENVIRONMENTS.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GEORGIA TECH APPLIED RESEARCH 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 $15.1 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-09-26. End: 2024-09-30.

What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and what steps were taken to ensure fair and reasonable pricing?

The provided data does not include the justification for the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source contracts are awarded when only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services. Agencies must still conduct market research and negotiate fair and reasonable prices, often through detailed cost analysis and benchmarking against similar services, even without competition.

What are the specific performance metrics and deliverables for this R&D contract, and how is progress being measured?

Specific performance metrics and deliverables are not detailed in the provided data. For R&D contracts, especially CPFF, progress is usually measured through technical reviews, milestone achievements, reports, prototypes, and demonstrations. The Air Force Research Laboratory would have established these in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and performance work statement (PWS).

Given the CPFF structure and sole-source nature, what is the potential risk of cost overruns, and what mitigation strategies are in place?

The CPFF structure inherently carries a risk of cost overruns as the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs plus a fixed fee. Without competition, the incentive to control costs might be reduced. Mitigation strategies typically include robust government oversight, detailed cost tracking, regular performance reviews, and strict adherence to the SOW to prevent scope creep.

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 › General Science and Technology R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 505 10TH ST, ATLANTA, GA, 30318

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public)

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $15,125,459

Exercised Options: $15,125,459

Current Obligation: $15,125,459

Actual Outlays: $194,547

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $6,229,673

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W31P4Q18D0002

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline