DoD Awards $23.3M to Lockheed Martin for C-UAS Capability on AN/TPQ-53 Radar
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $23,346,200 ($23.3M)
Contractor: Lockheed Martin Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2016-11-16
End Date: 2019-05-31
Contract Duration: 926 days
Daily Burn Rate: $25.2K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Defense
Official Description: PROVIDE A QUICK REACTION CAPABILITY (QRC) TO ADD COUNTER-UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM (C-UAS) TO THE AN/TPQ-53 RADAR SYSTEMS.
Place of Performance
Location: LIVERPOOL, ONONDAGA County, NEW YORK, 13088
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $23.3 million to LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION for work described as: PROVIDE A QUICK REACTION CAPABILITY (QRC) TO ADD COUNTER-UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM (C-UAS) TO THE AN/TPQ-53 RADAR SYSTEMS. Key points: 1. Significant investment in counter-drone technology for military radar systems. 2. Sole-source award to Lockheed Martin raises questions about competition and pricing. 3. Potential for enhanced battlefield awareness and protection against aerial threats. 4. Focus on integrating new capabilities into existing, high-value defense assets.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $23.3 million for adding a C-UAS capability to existing radar systems appears high, especially given the 'not competed' status. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to assess if this price represents fair market value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award to Lockheed Martin. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for the government compared to a competitive procurement.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being spent without the benefit of competitive pricing, potentially resulting in a less efficient use of resources.
Public Impact
Enhances military's ability to detect and counter drone threats. Improves situational awareness for ground forces equipped with AN/TPQ-53 radar. Supports ongoing efforts to address the growing proliferation of unmanned aerial systems.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpricing
- Integration complexity risk
Positive Signals
- Addresses critical emerging threat
- Leverages existing platform
- Enhances warfighter capability
Sector Analysis
The defense sector frequently procures advanced technological upgrades for existing platforms. Spending on counter-UAS capabilities is a growing area driven by evolving threats. Benchmarks for similar integration contracts are difficult to ascertain due to proprietary and classified information.
Small Business Impact
This contract was awarded directly to Lockheed Martin Corporation, a large prime contractor. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses in the provided data.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny from oversight bodies to ensure the government received the best possible value and that the pricing is justified. A review of the justification for other than full and open competition would be beneficial.
Related Government Programs
- Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for cost overruns
- Integration risks with existing hardware/software
- Dependency on a single supplier
- Effectiveness against evolving UAS threats
Tags
search-detection-navigation-guidance-aer, department-of-defense, ny, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $23.3 million to LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION. PROVIDE A QUICK REACTION CAPABILITY (QRC) TO ADD COUNTER-UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM (C-UAS) TO THE AN/TPQ-53 RADAR SYSTEMS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is LOCKHEED MARTIN CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $23.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2016-11-16. End: 2019-05-31.
What was the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were any market research efforts conducted to explore competitive options?
The justification for a sole-source award typically stems from unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent needs where only one source can fulfill the requirement. Without access to the contract's justification document, it's impossible to confirm the specific reasons. However, market research is generally required to validate the necessity of a sole-source procurement, aiming to ensure no viable competitive alternatives exist.
How does the cost of this C-UAS integration compare to similar efforts on other radar platforms or to standalone C-UAS systems?
Direct cost comparisons are challenging without detailed specifications and performance metrics for other systems. However, integrating a new capability into an existing, complex platform like the AN/TPQ-53 can incur significant development and testing costs. If standalone C-UAS systems offer comparable or superior performance at a lower price point, this integration might represent a less cost-effective solution.
What are the projected performance improvements and operational benefits of this C-UAS capability for the AN/TPQ-53 radar system?
The primary benefit is expected to be the enhancement of the AN/TPQ-53's ability to detect, track, and potentially engage unmanned aerial systems. This improves battlefield awareness and provides a layered defense against drone threats. The specific performance gains, such as increased detection range, reduced false alarms, and improved tracking accuracy against UAS, would be detailed in technical performance requirements not provided here.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing › Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: COMM/DETECT/COHERENT RADIATION
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 497 ELECTRONICS PKWY BLDG 5, LIVERPOOL, NY, 13088
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $28,308,168
Exercised Options: $23,346,200
Current Obligation: $23,346,200
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 27
Total Subaward Amount: $4,925,131
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2016-11-16
Current End Date: 2019-05-31
Potential End Date: 2019-05-31 12:05:00
Last Modified: 2024-09-25
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