DoD Awards Oshkosh Defense $888M for Heavy Tactical Vehicles, Sole Source Contract Raises Concerns

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $88,864,131 ($88.9M)

Contractor: Oshkosh Defense LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2022-05-19

End Date: 2024-04-30

Contract Duration: 712 days

Daily Burn Rate: $124.8K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: FAMILY OF HEAVY TACTICAL VEHICLE (FHTV) IV IS AN EIGHT-YEAR, FIXED-PRICE INCENTIVE FIRM (FPIF) (OY1-OY5) AND FIRM FIXED-PRICE (FFP) (OY6-OY8) SOLE SOURCE, REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT AWARDED TO OSHKOSH DEFENSE, LLC WITH ESTABLISHED RANGE PRICING.

Place of Performance

Location: OSHKOSH, WINNEBAGO County, WISCONSIN, 54902

State: Wisconsin Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $88.9 million to OSHKOSH DEFENSE LLC for work described as: FAMILY OF HEAVY TACTICAL VEHICLE (FHTV) IV IS AN EIGHT-YEAR, FIXED-PRICE INCENTIVE FIRM (FPIF) (OY1-OY5) AND FIRM FIXED-PRICE (FFP) (OY6-OY8) SOLE SOURCE, REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT AWARDED TO OSHKOSH DEFENSE, LLC WITH ESTABLISHED RANGE PRICING. Key points: 1. Sole source award to Oshkosh Defense for Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV) IV. 2. Contract includes fixed-price incentive and firm fixed-price elements over eight years. 3. Lack of competition for this significant vehicle program warrants scrutiny. 4. Spending benchmarks for tactical vehicle manufacturing should be reviewed against this award.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract utilizes a mix of FPIF and FFP with established range pricing. While range pricing can offer some cost control, the sole-source nature limits the ability to benchmark against competitive offers, making a definitive value assessment challenging.

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 significantly limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there is no market pressure to drive down prices.

Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this large contract may result in taxpayers paying more than necessary due to the absence of competitive bidding.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying for essential military vehicles due to lack of competition. The long-term nature of the contract could lock the DoD into potentially suboptimal pricing. Ensuring the FHTV IV meets critical operational needs is paramount despite the procurement method.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole Source Award
  • Lack of Competition
  • Long-Term Contract

Positive Signals

  • Established Range Pricing
  • Favorable Contract Type Mix

Sector Analysis

The Department of Defense frequently procures tactical vehicles. Spending benchmarks for similar truck and trailer manufacturing contracts (NAICS 336212) should be used to assess the reasonableness of this award, especially given its sole-source nature.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award. Future opportunities should be explored to ensure small business participation in the defense supply chain.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source award necessitates robust oversight to ensure cost control and performance. The Department of Defense should actively monitor contract performance and pricing against any available benchmarks.

Related Government Programs

  • Truck Trailer Manufacturing
  • Department of Defense Contracting
  • Department of the Army Programs

Risk Flags

  • Sole Source Award
  • Lack of Competition
  • Potential for Overpricing
  • Limited Transparency
  • Long-Term Commitment

Tags

truck-trailer-manufacturing, department-of-defense, wi, delivery-order, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $88.9 million to OSHKOSH DEFENSE LLC. FAMILY OF HEAVY TACTICAL VEHICLE (FHTV) IV IS AN EIGHT-YEAR, FIXED-PRICE INCENTIVE FIRM (FPIF) (OY1-OY5) AND FIRM FIXED-PRICE (FFP) (OY6-OY8) SOLE SOURCE, REQUIREMENTS CONTRACT AWARDED TO OSHKOSH DEFENSE, LLC WITH ESTABLISHED RANGE PRICING.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is OSHKOSH DEFENSE 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 $88.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-05-19. End: 2024-04-30.

What is the justification for the sole-source award of the FHTV IV contract to Oshkosh Defense?

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. A thorough review of the justification documentation is necessary to understand the rationale and assess its validity.

How does the pricing structure (FPIF and FFP) mitigate risks in a sole-source environment?

The combination of Fixed-Price Incentive Firm (FPIF) and Firm Fixed-Price (FFP) aims to share risk. FFP provides cost certainty, while FPIF allows for price adjustments based on performance targets, potentially incentivizing cost savings. However, without competition, the baseline for these adjustments is less rigorously tested.

What is the potential long-term financial impact on the DoD and taxpayers given this sole-source award?

The long-term financial impact could be significant. A sole-source award lacks competitive pressure, potentially leading to higher unit costs over the contract's eight-year duration. Without competitive benchmarking, it's difficult to quantify the exact overpayment, but it represents a substantial risk to taxpayer funds.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ManufacturingMotor Vehicle Body and Trailer ManufacturingTruck Trailer Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: MOTOR VEHICLES, CYCLES, TRAILERS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Oshkosh Corporation

Address: 2307 OREGON ST, OSHKOSH, WI, 54903

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $88,864,131

Exercised Options: $88,864,131

Current Obligation: $88,864,131

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W56HZV15D0031

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2022-05-19

Current End Date: 2024-04-30

Potential End Date: 2024-04-30 12:04:00

Last Modified: 2025-05-08

More Contracts from Oshkosh Defense LLC

View all Oshkosh Defense LLC federal contracts →

Other Department of Defense Contracts

View all Department of Defense contracts →

Explore Related Government Spending