DoD Awards $34.35M R&D Contract to Georgia Tech for Deployed Range Systems
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $34,350,456 ($34.4M)
Contractor: Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2024-09-27
End Date: 2026-08-11
Contract Duration: 683 days
Daily Burn Rate: $50.3K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: PACIFIC AIR FORCES AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY DEPLOYED RANGE SYSTEMS SUSTAINMENT AND SUPPORT IIB
Place of Performance
Location: ATLANTA, FULTON County, GEORGIA, 30318
State: Georgia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $34.4 million to GEORGIA TECH APPLIED RESEARCH CORP for work described as: PACIFIC AIR FORCES AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY DEPLOYED RANGE SYSTEMS SUSTAINMENT AND SUPPORT IIB Key points: 1. The contract focuses on research and development in physical and engineering sciences, a specialized area. 2. Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp, the sole awardee, is a known entity in this field. 3. The 'NOT COMPETED' award raises questions about potential price discovery and market competition. 4. The sector is R&D, which often involves high upfront investment and uncertain outcomes.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $34.35M over approximately two years for R&D services appears within a reasonable range for specialized research. However, without specific benchmarks for 'Deployed Range Systems Sustainment and Support IIB,' a precise pricing assessment is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may not leverage the full competitive landscape, potentially leading to higher costs than a competed scenario.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition could result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for these R&D services.
Public Impact
This contract supports advanced research and development for military range systems, potentially impacting training and readiness. The award to Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp highlights the role of specialized research institutions in defense. The sole-source nature of the award may limit transparency and public understanding of the procurement process.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Sole-source award
Positive Signals
- Award to established research institution
- Supports critical defense systems
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically NAICS 541715. Spending in this sector is characterized by innovation and often long development cycles. Benchmarks are difficult due to the unique nature of R&D projects.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award. The contract was directly awarded to Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp, suggesting no subcontracting opportunities were mandated or pursued.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure the government received fair value. Further oversight may be needed to understand the justification for not competing the requirement.
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 due to lack of competition.
- Limited transparency in the procurement process.
- Difficulty in benchmarking R&D costs.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, ga, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $34.4 million to GEORGIA TECH APPLIED RESEARCH CORP. PACIFIC AIR FORCES AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY DEPLOYED RANGE SYSTEMS SUSTAINMENT AND SUPPORT IIB
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 $34.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-09-27. End: 2026-08-11.
What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and what steps were taken to ensure fair and reasonable pricing?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or a lack of available competition. Agencies must conduct market research to confirm these conditions and negotiate pricing rigorously. Without access to the justification document, it's impossible to detail the specific reasons or the negotiation process, but a thorough review would be essential for accountability.
How does the cost of this contract compare to similar R&D efforts for deployed range systems, if any exist?
Direct cost comparisons for highly specialized R&D like 'Deployed Range Systems Sustainment and Support IIB' are challenging due to the unique nature of such projects. Benchmarking would require identifying contracts with identical or very similar technical scopes, performers, and contract types. Given the sole-source award, it's unlikely that readily available competitive data exists to provide a robust comparison.
What is the expected impact of this R&D effort on the effectiveness and efficiency of military training ranges?
The expected impact hinges on the specific R&D outcomes. Improvements could range from enhanced simulation fidelity, better data collection and analysis, increased system reliability, or reduced operational costs for training ranges. The success of the R&D will directly influence the modernization and effectiveness of the military's training infrastructure.
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: $86,049,076
Exercised Options: $34,350,456
Current Obligation: $34,350,456
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 4
Total Subaward Amount: $16,340,127
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
Start Date: 2024-09-27
Current End Date: 2026-08-11
Potential End Date: 2026-08-11 12:08:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-12
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