DoD awards $40.3M for Prophet Enhanced hardware to General Dynamics, a sole-source contract

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $40,340,975 ($40.3M)

Contractor: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2021-02-02

End Date: 2022-04-28

Contract Duration: 450 days

Daily Burn Rate: $89.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: THIS DELIVERY ORDER IS FOR THE HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPHET ENHANCED PROGRAM OF RECORD.

Place of Performance

Location: SCOTTSDALE, MARICOPA County, ARIZONA, 85257

State: Arizona Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $40.3 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC. for work described as: THIS DELIVERY ORDER IS FOR THE HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPHET ENHANCED PROGRAM OF RECORD. Key points: 1. Significant award value of $40.3M for specialized hardware. 2. Sole-source award to General Dynamics raises competition concerns. 3. Risk of inflated pricing due to lack of competition. 4. Sector: Defense - Communications Equipment Manufacturing.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The award value of $40.3M for 'Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing' is difficult to benchmark without specific product details. The lack of competition suggests potential for overpricing compared to a competitive environment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award to General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition likely results in a higher cost to taxpayers than if the contract had been competitively bid.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be overpaying for essential defense hardware due to a lack of competitive bidding. The sole-source nature of this award could stifle innovation from other potential suppliers. Dependence on a single supplier for critical program hardware presents a potential supply chain risk.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Sole-source award
  • Lack of competition
  • Potential for overpricing

Positive Signals

  • Awarded to established contractor
  • Supports critical defense program

Sector Analysis

This award falls within the 'Other Communications Equipment Manufacturing' sector, a critical component of defense technology. Spending benchmarks for sole-source contracts in this niche are hard to establish, but competitive awards typically drive better value.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses, as both 'ss' and 'sb' fields are false. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were subcontracting opportunities.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure fair pricing and prevent potential waste. Robust oversight is needed to confirm the necessity of a sole-source approach and validate costs.

Related Government Programs

  • Other Communications Equipment 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 small business participation indicated.
  • High award value without competitive benchmark.

Tags

other-communications-equipment-manufactu, department-of-defense, az, delivery-order, 10m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $40.3 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC.. THIS DELIVERY ORDER IS FOR THE HARDWARE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE PROPHET ENHANCED PROGRAM OF RECORD.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, 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 $40.3 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-02-02. End: 2022-04-28.

What justification was provided for the sole-source award, and was it thoroughly vetted?

The provided data does not include the justification for the sole-source award. A thorough review of the justification is crucial to determine if it meets regulatory requirements and if alternative sources were truly unavailable. This ensures taxpayer funds are used responsibly and competitively where possible.

How does the unit cost compare to similar, competitively procured communications equipment?

Without specific product details and competitive benchmark data, a direct unit cost comparison is not feasible. However, sole-source contracts are inherently at a disadvantage regarding price discovery. A comparative analysis with similar, competitively awarded contracts would likely reveal a higher cost for this sole-source acquisition.

What are the long-term risks associated with relying on a single supplier for this critical hardware?

Long-term risks include potential supply chain disruptions, price escalation without competitive pressure, and a lack of incentive for the sole-source provider to innovate or improve product quality. This dependence can also limit future technological advancements if the supplier's roadmap diverges from evolving military needs.

Industry Classification

NAICS: ManufacturingCommunications Equipment ManufacturingOther Communications Equipment Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: COMM/DETECT/COHERENT RADIATION

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: General Dynamics Corp

Address: 8201 E MCDOWELL ROAD, SCOTTSDALE, AZ, 85257

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $40,340,975

Exercised Options: $40,340,975

Current Obligation: $40,340,975

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 57

Total Subaward Amount: $24,665,114

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W56KGY17D0006

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2021-02-02

Current End Date: 2022-04-28

Potential End Date: 2022-04-28 12:04:00

Last Modified: 2022-04-11

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