DoD awards $5.98M logistics support contract to Bowhead Base Operations LLC for Aberdeen Proving Grounds

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $5,980,139 ($6.0M)

Contractor: Bowhead Base Operations LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-04-01

End Date: 2026-03-31

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $16.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: THIS TASK ORDER SHALL SUPPLY THE FUNCTIONS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT LOGISTICS SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING MAINTENANCE, SUPPLY, AND TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT. THE PLACE OF PERFORMANCE WILL BE ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS, MD.

Place of Performance

Location: ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, HARFORD County, MARYLAND, 21005

State: Maryland Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $6.0 million to BOWHEAD BASE OPERATIONS LLC for work described as: THIS TASK ORDER SHALL SUPPLY THE FUNCTIONS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT LOGISTICS SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING MAINTENANCE, SUPPLY, AND TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT. THE PLACE OF PERFORMANCE WILL BE ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS, MD. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on essential logistics functions including maintenance, supply, and transportation. 2. Performance is concentrated at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland, indicating a localized operational impact. 3. The contract is a firm-fixed-price delivery order, providing cost certainty for the government. 4. A single award suggests potential limitations in competitive bidding or a specific need for the contractor's capabilities. 5. The duration of 364 days points to a short-term requirement for these services. 6. The contract value is relatively modest, suggesting it may be a component of a larger logistics strategy.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $5.98 million for a one-year period for comprehensive logistics support appears within a reasonable range for specialized services at a major military installation. Benchmarking against similar contracts for facilities support services (NAICS 561210) at large bases would provide a clearer picture of value for money. Without specific details on the scope of maintenance, supply, and transportation, a precise comparison is difficult, but the price seems to reflect the complexity of supporting a proving ground.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' indicating a sole-source or limited competition procurement. The specific reasons for this designation are not provided but could stem from the contractor possessing unique capabilities, existing infrastructure, or being the only source capable of meeting the urgent requirements at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. The lack of open competition means potential cost savings from a broader bidding process may have been forgone.

Taxpayer Impact: A sole-source award limits the government's ability to leverage competitive market forces to secure the best possible pricing and terms for taxpayers. This approach can sometimes lead to higher costs compared to fully competed contracts.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the Department of the Army and its operations at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland. Services delivered include critical maintenance, supply chain management, and transportation logistics. The geographic impact is focused on Aberdeen Proving Grounds, MD, supporting military readiness and operations in that specific location. Workforce implications may include continued employment for existing personnel familiar with the base's logistics needs, potentially through Bowhead Base Operations LLC.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing and reduced incentive for cost efficiency.
Limited transparency into the justification for sole-source award hinders assessment of necessity and value.
The contract's short duration might indicate a stop-gap measure or an inability to secure longer-term competitive bids.

Positive Signals

Firm-fixed-price contract structure provides budget certainty for the government.
Award to a single contractor may indicate specialized expertise required for the unique demands of Aberdeen Proving Grounds.
The contract supports essential operational functions, ensuring continuity of services at a key military installation.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Facilities Support Services (NAICS 561210), a broad category within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector. This sector is crucial for government operations, encompassing a wide range of support functions necessary for maintaining infrastructure and enabling mission execution. The market for these services is competitive, but specific installations or unique requirements can sometimes lead to specialized or limited competition scenarios. Spending in this area is substantial across federal agencies, supporting everything from base operations to specialized research facilities.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans is not available for this specific delivery order. As the contract was not competed, it is less likely to have incorporated specific small business subcontracting goals unless mandated by a parent contract or agency policy. Further investigation into the prime contractor's overall small business utilization would be necessary to assess its impact on the small business ecosystem.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of the Army's contracting and program management offices at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. As a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, oversight mechanisms would be defined by the parent contract's terms. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature of the award, and specific accountability measures would depend on the performance work statement and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any allegations of fraud, waste, or abuse arise.

Related Government Programs

Base Operations Support Services
Logistics and Supply Chain Management Contracts
Facilities Maintenance and Repair Contracts
Transportation and Distribution Services
Department of Defense Installation Support Contracts

Risk Flags

Sole-source award limits competitive pricing.
Lack of detailed justification for sole-source award.
Short contract duration may indicate temporary need or planning challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $6.0 million to BOWHEAD BASE OPERATIONS LLC. THIS TASK ORDER SHALL SUPPLY THE FUNCTIONS REQUIRED TO SUPPORT LOGISTICS SUPPORT SERVICES, INCLUDING MAINTENANCE, SUPPLY, AND TRANSPORTATION SUPPORT. THE PLACE OF PERFORMANCE WILL BE ABERDEEN PROVING GROUNDS, MD.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is BOWHEAD BASE OPERATIONS LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $6.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-04-01. End: 2026-03-31.

What is the specific justification for this contract being awarded on a sole-source basis?

The provided data indicates the contract was awarded as 'NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION,' signifying a sole-source procurement. The specific justification for this designation is not detailed in the provided information. Typically, sole-source awards are made when only one responsible source is available to satisfy the agency's needs. This could be due to the contractor possessing unique technical expertise, proprietary technology, critical infrastructure, or an urgent requirement that cannot be met through competitive means. Without further documentation from the agency, the precise rationale remains unknown, but it implies that a competitive process was deemed impractical or impossible for this particular requirement at Aberdeen Proving Grounds.

How does the $5.98 million contract value compare to similar logistics support contracts at other military installations?

Benchmarking the $5.98 million contract value requires comparing it to similar logistics support contracts for facilities of comparable size and complexity. Aberdeen Proving Grounds is a significant military installation, and the scope includes maintenance, supply, and transportation. Contracts for similar comprehensive support at large bases can range from several million to tens or even hundreds of millions of dollars annually, depending on the scale of operations, specific services required, and duration. Given this is a one-year delivery order, the value appears moderate for the breadth of services. However, without detailed scope-of-work comparisons and knowledge of the specific performance metrics and service levels, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The sole-source nature also complicates direct price comparisons with competitively bid contracts.

What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for essential logistics services?

The primary risk associated with a sole-source award for essential logistics services is the potential for reduced cost-effectiveness and innovation. Without competition, the contractor may have less incentive to offer the most competitive pricing or to proactively seek efficiencies. This can lead to higher costs for the government compared to what might be achieved through a competitive bidding process. Additionally, there's a risk of vendor lock-in, where the government becomes dependent on a single provider, potentially limiting flexibility in the future. Oversight becomes even more critical to ensure performance standards are met and that the contractor is operating efficiently, as market pressures are absent. The lack of competition also reduces transparency in the procurement process.

What is the track record of Bowhead Base Operations LLC in providing similar logistics support services?

Bowhead Base Operations LLC is a subsidiary of the Ukpeaġvik Iñupiat Corporation (UIC) Government Services. The company has a history of performing base operations and support services for various government agencies, including the Department of Defense. Their experience often includes facilities maintenance, logistics, transportation, and other base support functions. While specific performance details for this particular delivery order are not yet available, their portfolio suggests they are an established provider in this sector. A deeper dive into past performance evaluations, contract awards, and client feedback would provide a more comprehensive understanding of their track record in delivering similar logistics support.

How does this contract fit into the broader context of Department of the Army's logistics spending at Aberdeen Proving Grounds?

This $5.98 million delivery order represents a specific component of the Department of the Army's overall logistics spending at Aberdeen Proving Grounds. Aberdeen Proving Grounds is a major research, development, and testing center, requiring extensive logistical support. This contract covers core functions like maintenance, supply, and transportation. It is likely one of many contracts supporting the installation's operations, which could include separate procurements for IT services, construction, specialized equipment maintenance, and security. The Army's total logistics budget for such installations is substantial, and this contract contributes to ensuring the seamless functioning of daily operations and mission support activities at this key facility.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Facilities Support Services › Facilities Support Services

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: W519TC25R0035

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 6564 LOISDALE CT, SPRINGFIELD, VA, 22150

Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $6,001,035

Exercised Options: $6,001,035

Current Obligation: $5,980,139

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W52P1J19G0023

IDV Type: BOA

Timeline