DoD's $25M R&D Contract with General Dynamics: Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $25,168,686 ($25.2M)
Contractor: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2012-10-18
End Date: 2017-10-17
Contract Duration: 1,825 days
Daily Burn Rate: $13.8K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: BASE EFFORT
Place of Performance
Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22033
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $25.2 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC. for work described as: BASE EFFORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc. for $25.17M. 2. The contract falls under NAICS code 541712 (Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences). 3. Awarded as a 'NOT COMPETED' definitive contract, raising questions about competition. 4. The contract duration is 1825 days, ending October 17, 2017. 5. This contract is classified under the 'Research and Development' sector.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the $25.17M price represents fair market value.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was explicitly 'NOT COMPETED', indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there was no market pressure to offer the best price.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition suggests taxpayers may have paid a premium for the research and development services provided.
Public Impact
Taxpayers funded $25.17 million for R&D services. The contract was awarded to a single vendor, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc. The research area is specific to Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. The contract has concluded, with services rendered between October 2012 and October 2017.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
- Potential for inflated costs due to sole-source award
Positive Signals
- Specific R&D focus
- Contract completed as awarded
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the Research and Development sector, specifically NAICS 541712. Spending in this sector is crucial for innovation but requires careful oversight to ensure value for money, especially in sole-source awards.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any involvement of small businesses in this contract. The award was made to General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc., a large corporation.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'NOT COMPETED' status suggests limited oversight on price justification. Further review of the justification for sole-sourcing and the cost-plus fixed fee structure would be beneficial for accountability.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Defense Contract Management Agency Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure may inflate costs.
- Lack of transparency in justification for non-competition.
- Potential for reduced innovation due to limited market engagement.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, va, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $25.2 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC.. BASE EFFORT
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 (Defense Contract Management Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $25.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-10-18. End: 2017-10-17.
What was the specific justification for not competing this $25.17M R&D contract?
The provided data states the contract was 'NOT COMPETED'. A full analysis would require accessing the contract's justification for other than full and open competition (JOFOC) to understand the rationale, such as unique capabilities or urgent needs, that precluded competitive bidding. Without this, the lack of competition raises concerns about potential cost inefficiencies.
How did the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure impact the final cost compared to a fixed-price contract for this R&D effort?
Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts allow the contractor to recover costs plus a predetermined fixed fee. While providing flexibility for R&D, this structure shifts cost risk to the government. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to ascertain if the final cost was optimized, as the contractor had less incentive to control expenses compared to a fixed-price scenario.
What were the key research outcomes or deliverables from this $25.17M contract, and did they justify the investment?
The provided data does not detail the specific research outcomes or deliverables. To assess the effectiveness and value, a review of the contract's final reports, technical evaluations, and any subsequent utilization of the R&D findings would be necessary. This would determine if the $25.17 million investment yielded tangible benefits for the Department of Defense.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › C – National Defense R&D Services
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
Parent Company: General Dynamics Corp
Address: 1200 JOE HALL DR, YPSILANTI, MI, 48197
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $257,236,084
Exercised Options: $30,313,407
Current Obligation: $25,168,686
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 51
Total Subaward Amount: $70,631,227
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2012-10-18
Current End Date: 2017-10-17
Potential End Date: 2017-10-17 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-03-28
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