DoD Spends $25.6M on 30-Round Magazines from Brownells, Inc. via Not Competed Contract
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $25,644,540 ($25.6M)
Contractor: Brownells, Incorporated
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2009-03-10
End Date: 2011-10-11
Contract Duration: 945 days
Daily Burn Rate: $27.1K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Defense
Official Description: IMPROVED 30 ROUND MAGAZINE
Place of Performance
Location: MONTEZUMA, POWESHIEK County, IOWA, 50171
State: Iowa Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $25.6 million to BROWNELLS, INCORPORATED for work described as: IMPROVED 30 ROUND MAGAZINE Key points: 1. Significant spending on a common military item. 2. Sole-source award limits price discovery and competition. 3. Potential for higher costs due to lack of competition. 4. Focus on small arms accessories manufacturing sector.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $25.6 million for magazines is substantial. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to assess if this price represents fair market value compared to similar contracts or commercial offerings.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This method bypasses competitive bidding, potentially leading to less favorable pricing and reduced transparency in price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers may have overpaid due to the absence of competitive pressure to lower prices.
Public Impact
Procurement of essential small arms components. Potential impact on military readiness if pricing is inflated. Lack of transparency in the award process.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of price competition
- Limited transparency
Positive Signals
- Procurement of essential equipment
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing sector. Spending benchmarks for such items can vary widely based on specific features and quantities, but competitive pricing is generally expected.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to Brownells, Inc., a known entity in the firearms and accessories market. Analysis does not indicate specific efforts or outcomes related to small business participation in this sole-source award.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'IA' award status suggests an 'Information Assurance' designation, but further details on specific oversight mechanisms for this sole-source contract are not provided in the data.
Related Government Programs
- Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition.
- Potential for inflated pricing.
- Lack of transparency in justification.
- No clear small business participation noted.
Tags
small-arms-ordnance-and-ordnance-accesso, department-of-defense, ia, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $25.6 million to BROWNELLS, INCORPORATED. IMPROVED 30 ROUND MAGAZINE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is BROWNELLS, INCORPORATED.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $25.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2009-03-10. End: 2011-10-11.
What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis instead of through full and open competition?
The provided data does not specify the justification for the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source contracts are justified by factors such as unique capabilities, urgent needs, or the unavailability of other sources. Without this information, it's impossible to fully assess the necessity of bypassing competition.
How does the per-unit cost of these magazines compare to commercially available equivalents or other government contracts?
The data does not provide a per-unit cost or allow for direct comparison. The total award amount of $25.6 million over 945 days (approximately 2.5 years) for an unspecified quantity of 30-round magazines makes a precise per-unit cost calculation and benchmark difficult without further details on the quantity purchased.
What measures were in place to ensure the quality and effectiveness of the magazines procured under this contract?
While the contract type is 'FIRM FIXED PRICE,' which typically includes quality requirements, the data doesn't detail specific quality assurance procedures or testing protocols. The 'IA' status might imply certain security or operational standards, but explicit quality control measures are not detailed.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Other Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing › Small Arms, Ordnance, and Ordnance Accessories Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: WEAPONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: W52H0908R0416
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 200 S FRONT ST, MONTEZUMA, IA, 02
Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $25,644,540
Exercised Options: $25,644,540
Current Obligation: $25,644,540
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2009-03-10
Current End Date: 2011-10-11
Potential End Date: 2011-10-11 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2011-07-19
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