Leidos Inc. awarded $27M contract for R&D in social sciences and humanities by DoD
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $26,950,516 ($27.0M)
Contractor: Leidos, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2010-03-30
End Date: 2013-07-18
Contract Duration: 1,206 days
Daily Burn Rate: $22.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: S120D20 BAA FY2010: RESEARCH AREA TOPIC TEC-18
Place of Performance
Location: RESTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20190
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $27.0 million to LEIDOS, INC. for work described as: S120D20 BAA FY2010: RESEARCH AREA TOPIC TEC-18 Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can incentivize cost control but also carries inherent risks. 3. Performance period spans over 3 years, indicating a significant research undertaking. 4. The contract was awarded by the Defense Contract Management Agency, a key DoD entity. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541720 points to research and development in social sciences and humanities. 6. The contract value of approximately $27 million is substantial for this research category.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $26.95 million for R&D in social sciences and humanities appears to be within a reasonable range for a multi-year federal contract of this nature. Benchmarking against similar contracts would require access to a broader dataset of R&D awards in this specific domain. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type means the government reimburses the contractor for allowable costs plus a fixed fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. However, the fixed fee component provides some incentive for the contractor to manage costs efficiently.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of two bidders (no: 2) suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific award. While two bidders are better than one, a higher number of bids typically leads to more robust price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition, despite having only two bidders, provides some assurance that taxpayer funds were not unnecessarily inflated due to a lack of viable alternatives. However, further analysis could explore if the limited number of bidders was due to the specialized nature of the research or potential market concentration.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are likely the Department of Defense and its research arms, gaining insights from social science and humanities research. The services delivered involve research and development activities aimed at advancing understanding in social sciences and humanities. The geographic impact is primarily within the United States, where the research activities will be conducted and the findings disseminated. Workforce implications include employment for researchers, analysts, and support staff involved in the R&D projects.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts can lead to higher costs if not closely monitored for allowable expenses.
- A limited number of bidders (2) may indicate potential for reduced price competition.
- The duration of the contract (1206 days) requires sustained oversight to ensure progress and value.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, ensuring a broad range of potential contractors could participate.
- The contract is with a well-established contractor (Leidos, Inc.) with a history of federal contracts.
- The research area is specific and aligned with potential defense-related needs in social sciences and humanities.
Sector Analysis
The contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically focusing on social sciences and humanities. This is a niche area within the broader R&D market, often characterized by specialized expertise and longer project timelines. Federal spending in R&D is crucial for innovation and national security, with significant investments made across various scientific and technical disciplines. Comparable spending benchmarks for R&D in social sciences and humanities are difficult to establish without more granular data, but the $27 million award suggests a significant project.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific benefits for small businesses mandated by this award. The primary contractor, Leidos, Inc., is a large business, and any subcontracting would be at their discretion, not as a result of a set-aside requirement.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily be managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA), which is responsible for ensuring contractor compliance with terms and conditions, cost accountability, and performance standards. Transparency is facilitated through contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would fall under the Department of Defense's IG office, which can investigate allegations of fraud, waste, and abuse related to federal contracts.
Related Government Programs
- Department of Defense Research and Development Programs
- Social Science Research Grants
- Humanities Research Initiatives
- Federal R&D Spending
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type requires diligent oversight to manage allowable costs.
- Limited number of bidders (2) may warrant further investigation into market competitiveness.
- The specialized nature of R&D in social sciences and humanities can present unique challenges in defining and measuring success.
Tags
research-and-development, department-of-defense, defense-contract-management-agency, leidos-inc, cost-plus-fixed-fee, full-and-open-competition, social-sciences, humanities, virginia, definitive-contract, fy2010
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $27.0 million to LEIDOS, INC.. S120D20 BAA FY2010: RESEARCH AREA TOPIC TEC-18
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is LEIDOS, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Contract Management Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $27.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-03-30. End: 2013-07-18.
What is Leidos, Inc.'s track record with similar Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts within the Department of Defense?
Leidos, Inc. has a substantial history of performing on Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts across various federal agencies, including the Department of Defense. Analyzing their past performance on CPFF awards would involve reviewing metrics such as cost variances, schedule adherence, and the number of contract modifications. While specific data on all their CPFF contracts is not detailed here, their extensive experience suggests a familiarity with the nuances of this contract type. However, a deeper dive into their specific CPFF portfolio, particularly within R&D for social sciences and humanities, would be necessary to fully assess their historical success and potential risks associated with this particular award. This would include examining any instances of cost overruns or performance issues on comparable contracts.
How does the $26.95 million contract value compare to other federal R&D contracts in social sciences and humanities?
The $26.95 million contract value represents a significant investment in research and development within the social sciences and humanities. Without access to a comprehensive database of all federal R&D contracts specifically categorized under NAICS code 541720 (Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities), a precise benchmark is challenging. However, this amount suggests a large-scale, multi-year project likely involving extensive research, data collection, analysis, and reporting. Federal R&D spending can vary widely, with some projects costing millions and others billions. This particular award appears to be on the higher end for specialized R&D in this domain, indicating a substantial scope of work or a critical research objective for the Department of Defense.
What are the primary risks associated with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract for R&D in social sciences?
The primary risk with a CPFF contract for R&D in social sciences lies in the potential for cost overruns. While the fixed fee provides a ceiling for the contractor's profit, the government bears the risk of reimbursing all allowable costs. If the research proves more complex or time-consuming than initially estimated, costs can escalate significantly. For social science R&D, unpredictable factors like participant recruitment challenges, unforeseen data complexities, or the need for specialized analytical tools can drive up expenses. Effective oversight is crucial to scrutinize allowable costs and ensure the contractor is managing resources efficiently to stay within the anticipated total cost, even though the fee is fixed.
What is the expected program effectiveness or outcome for this R&D contract?
The expected program effectiveness and outcomes for this R&D contract are not explicitly detailed in the provided data. However, given the contract's focus on 'Research Area Topic TEC-18' within social sciences and humanities, and its award by the Department of Defense, the outcomes likely aim to provide actionable insights, policy recommendations, or foundational knowledge relevant to defense operations, national security, or societal factors impacting military readiness. The effectiveness will be measured by the quality, relevance, and applicability of the research findings to the stated objectives. The contract's duration and value suggest a comprehensive research effort designed to yield significant contributions to the field and inform decision-making within the DoD.
How has federal spending in R&D for social sciences and humanities evolved over the past five years?
Federal spending in R&D for social sciences and humanities has seen fluctuations over the past five years, influenced by budget priorities and national research agendas. While specific aggregate data for this niche category (NAICS 541720) is not readily available in summary form, broader trends in federal R&D investment indicate a continued, albeit sometimes debated, emphasis on understanding human behavior, societal dynamics, and policy implications, particularly as they relate to national security, public health, and economic competitiveness. Agencies like the National Science Foundation (NSF), Department of Defense, and others allocate funds to these areas. The $27 million awarded to Leidos suggests that specific, high-priority research needs within the DoD continue to drive substantial investment in this domain.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › General Science and Technology R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: BASIC RESEARCH
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Leidos Holdings, Inc. (UEI: 611641312)
Address: 1710 SAIC DR, MCLEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $28,442,264
Exercised Options: $28,442,264
Current Obligation: $26,950,516
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2010-03-30
Current End Date: 2013-07-18
Potential End Date: 2013-07-18 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-07-12
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