Army awards $4.3M for radar development, supporting ground, airborne, and open architecture technologies

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $4,278,863 ($4.3M)

Contractor: Parsons Government Services Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-07-16

End Date: 2026-07-15

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $11.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: THIS ACTION SUPPORTS RADAR DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT (RDS). RDS SUPPORTS ARMY RADAR SYSTEMS: FOCUSED ON GROUND RADAR TECHNOLOGIES, RADAR OPEN ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT, AND AIRBORNE RADAR TECHNOLOGIES.

Place of Performance

Location: CENTREVILLE, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20120

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $4.3 million to PARSONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES INC. for work described as: THIS ACTION SUPPORTS RADAR DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT (RDS). RDS SUPPORTS ARMY RADAR SYSTEMS: FOCUSED ON GROUND RADAR TECHNOLOGIES, RADAR OPEN ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT, AND AIRBORNE RADAR TECHNOLOGIES. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical research and development for Army radar systems. 2. Supports advancements in ground, airborne, and open architecture radar technologies. 3. The contract duration is one year, indicating a focused effort on specific development goals. 4. Awarded to Parsons Government Services Inc., a known entity in government contracting. 5. The NAICS code 541715 suggests a focus on physical and engineering sciences research. 6. This award represents a small portion of the overall R&D spending in the defense sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $4.3 million for a one-year research and development effort appears reasonable given the specialized nature of radar technology. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts in advanced defense systems suggests this is within expected parameters. The pricing structure, though not detailed here, will be a key factor in assessing overall value for money.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but this competitive approach generally fosters better pricing and innovation. The open competition suggests the Army sought the best available solution across the market.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it drives down costs through market forces and ensures the government receives competitive proposals, maximizing the value of taxpayer dollars.

Public Impact

The U.S. Army benefits directly through enhanced radar capabilities for its ground and airborne systems. This contract supports the development of advanced radar technologies, potentially improving battlefield awareness and operational effectiveness. The research may lead to more integrated and adaptable radar systems through open architecture development. Workforce implications include specialized engineers and scientists in the physical and engineering sciences sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for cost overruns if research proves more complex than anticipated.
Dependence on contractor's ability to deliver cutting-edge technology within the timeframe.
Risk of technological obsolescence if development cycles are not managed effectively.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive market for these services.
Contractor has experience in government services, potentially reducing execution risk.
Focus on open architecture could lead to more flexible and future-proof systems.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically focusing on advanced physical and engineering sciences related to radar technology. The defense industry heavily invests in R&D to maintain technological superiority. Comparable spending benchmarks for specialized defense R&D can vary widely, but contracts for advanced sensor development often represent significant investments.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses and the prime contractor is Parsons Government Services Inc., a large business. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses are expected to participate in the subcontracting chain.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the Department of the Army's contracting and program management offices. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Army Aviation Systems
Ground Combat Systems
Defense Research and Development
Advanced Sensor Technology
Electronic Warfare Systems

Risk Flags

Cost Without Fee contract type is unusual for a large business R&D effort and warrants further scrutiny regarding the rationale and potential implications for contractor motivation and cost control.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $4.3 million to PARSONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES INC.. THIS ACTION SUPPORTS RADAR DEVELOPMENT AND SUPPORT (RDS). RDS SUPPORTS ARMY RADAR SYSTEMS: FOCUSED ON GROUND RADAR TECHNOLOGIES, RADAR OPEN ARCHITECTURE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT, AND AIRBORNE RADAR TECHNOLOGIES.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PARSONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $4.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-07-16. End: 2026-07-15.

What is the track record of Parsons Government Services Inc. in delivering similar radar development contracts for the Department of Defense?

Parsons Government Services Inc. has a significant history of supporting U.S. government agencies, including the Department of Defense, across various technical and engineering services. While specific details on their past radar development contracts are not provided in this data snippet, their broad experience in defense contracting suggests a capacity to handle complex R&D projects. A deeper dive into their contract history, performance reviews, and past project outcomes related to radar systems would be necessary to fully assess their track record for this specific type of work. Their involvement in other advanced technology areas within defense provides a baseline indication of their capabilities.

How does the $4.3 million award compare to typical R&D spending for radar systems within the Army?

The $4.3 million award for this one-year contract is relatively modest when considered as a component of the Army's overall Research and Development budget for radar systems. Major radar development programs, especially those involving hardware prototyping, extensive testing, and integration, can often run into tens or hundreds of millions of dollars over several years. This specific award likely represents a focused effort on a particular aspect of radar technology, such as open architecture development or a specific component enhancement, rather than a full system development. Benchmarking requires comparing it to contracts with similar scopes and durations within the R&D category for sensor technologies.

What are the primary risks associated with this radar development contract?

The primary risks associated with this radar development contract include technological uncertainty, as cutting-edge R&D inherently involves unknowns and potential for unforeseen challenges. Schedule risk exists if development timelines are overly optimistic or if integration issues arise. Cost risk is also present, as R&D projects can exceed initial estimates if technical hurdles require more resources or time. Furthermore, there's a risk of the developed technology becoming obsolete before deployment if the pace of technological advancement outstrips the development cycle. Contractor performance and the ability to deliver the specified capabilities within budget and schedule are also key risk factors.

What does the 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences' NAICS code imply for the scope of this contract?

The NAICS code 541715, 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology),' indicates that this contract is focused on scientific inquiry and experimentation to advance knowledge and capabilities within these broad fields. For this radar development contract, it specifically points to research activities involving the physics of electromagnetic waves, engineering principles for designing and building radar components and systems, and potentially the application of life sciences if human-computer interaction or biological sensing is involved. It signifies that the work is primarily theoretical and experimental, aiming to create new technologies or significantly improve existing ones, rather than focusing on mass production or routine maintenance.

What is the significance of the contract type 'COST NO FEE' (Cost Without Fee) in this context?

The 'COST NO FEE' (Cost Without Fee) contract type is unusual for R&D efforts, especially those involving a large business prime contractor. Typically, cost-plus contracts (Cost Plus Fixed Fee, Cost Plus Incentive Fee, Cost Plus Award Fee) are used for R&D to allow for flexibility in scope and to reimburse the contractor for allowable costs incurred, plus a fee representing profit. A 'Cost Without Fee' contract means the contractor will be reimbursed for their direct and indirect costs associated with performing the work, but will not receive any profit or fee. This structure is often used in specific circumstances, such as when the contractor has a strong strategic interest in the research, is a non-profit entity, or when the government is providing significant resources or leverage. It places the entire financial risk on the government regarding cost overruns, as the contractor has no profit incentive to control costs beyond reimbursement.

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: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Parsons Corporation

Address: 5875 TRINITY PKWY STE 230, CENTREVILLE, VA, 20120

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $80,737,064

Exercised Options: $15,491,171

Current Obligation: $4,278,863

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W15P7T19D0181

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline