DoD Awards $12.2M for Joint Strike Fighter Aircrew Masks to Gentex Corp, Not Competed

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $12,239,850 ($12.2M)

Contractor: Gentex Corp

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2025-07-30

End Date: 2026-09-30

Contract Duration: 427 days

Daily Burn Rate: $28.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: JOINT SERVICE AIRCREW MASK JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER (JSAM-JSF) DELIVERY ORDER

Place of Performance

Location: RANCHO CUCAMONGA, SAN BERNARDINO County, CALIFORNIA, 91730

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $12.2 million to GENTEX CORP for work described as: JOINT SERVICE AIRCREW MASK JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER (JSAM-JSF) DELIVERY ORDER Key points: 1. High value contract for critical aircrew equipment. 2. Sole supplier for JSAM-JSF masks. 3. Risk of price escalation due to lack of competition. 4. Sector: Defense/Aerospace.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract value of $12.2M for aircrew masks is significant. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price is optimal compared to potential market alternatives or previous contracts for similar specialized equipment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for the government as there is no market pressure to offer the best price.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in taxpayers paying a premium for these essential aircrew masks.

Public Impact

Ensures critical safety equipment for JSF pilots. Potential for higher costs due to sole-source award. Limited visibility into the justification for sole-source procurement.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Lack of price competition
Potential for cost overruns

Positive Signals

Provides essential equipment for aircrew safety
Supports advanced fighter aircraft operations

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Defense sector, specifically aerospace manufacturing. Spending benchmarks for specialized aircrew equipment can vary widely based on technological complexity and production volume.

Small Business Impact

The awardee, Gentex Corp, is a large business. There is no indication in the provided data that small businesses were involved in this specific contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors.

Oversight & Accountability

The justification for a sole-source award requires robust oversight to ensure it is truly necessary and that the government is still obtaining fair and reasonable pricing through negotiation.

Related Government Programs

Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Army Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competition.
Potential for inflated pricing.
Limited transparency on procurement justification.
Dependency on a single supplier.
Risk of future price increases.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $12.2 million to GENTEX CORP. JOINT SERVICE AIRCREW MASK JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER (JSAM-JSF) DELIVERY ORDER

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is GENTEX CORP.

Which agency awarded this contract?

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

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-07-30. End: 2026-09-30.

What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and has a thorough market research been conducted to confirm no other capable sources exist?

The provided data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED' and awarded as a 'sole-source'. A comprehensive justification and approval (J&A) document should detail the specific reasons, such as unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent need, and confirm that extensive market research was performed to validate the absence of viable alternatives.

How does the per-unit cost of these JSAM-JSF masks compare to similar aircrew protective equipment procured by other military branches or allied nations?

Without access to the specific unit pricing and detailed specifications of the JSAM-JSF masks, a direct comparison is challenging. However, given the sole-source nature, it is crucial for the DoD to benchmark this against other specialized aviation equipment contracts to ensure fair pricing and identify potential cost savings.

What measures are in place to ensure the long-term availability and affordability of these critical aircrew masks, especially if the sole-source situation persists?

To ensure long-term availability and affordability, the DoD should explore options such as negotiating longer-term agreements with price adjustment clauses, incentivizing the contractor to reduce costs through efficiency improvements, or actively seeking to develop alternative sources or technologies over time.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing › Other Aircraft Parts and Auxiliary Equipment Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: AEROSPACE CRAFT COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 9859 7TH ST, RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA, 91730

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $12,239,850

Exercised Options: $12,239,850

Current Obligation: $12,239,850

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: W911SR16D0021

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline