DoD's $151M Rotary Wing Training Contract Awarded to Amentum Services, Inc. for Fort Rucker

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $151,037,846 ($151.0M)

Contractor: Amentum Services, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2012-10-01

End Date: 2016-09-17

Contract Duration: 1,447 days

Daily Burn Rate: $104.4K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: ROTARY WING FLIGHT TRAINING SERVICES, FORT RUCKER, ALABAMA

Place of Performance

Location: FORT RUCKER, DALE County, ALABAMA, 36362

State: Alabama Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $151.0 million to AMENTUM SERVICES, INC. for work described as: ROTARY WING FLIGHT TRAINING SERVICES, FORT RUCKER, ALABAMA Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is a definitive contract with a firm fixed price, which helps control costs. 3. The duration of the contract was over 4 years, indicating a long-term need for these services. 4. The contract was awarded to a single vendor, Amentum Services, Inc. 5. The contract's value of $151 million over its term suggests a significant investment in pilot training. 6. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 611512 points to specialized flight training services.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $151 million over approximately four years for rotary wing flight training services at Fort Rucker appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized military training. Benchmarking against similar large-scale military training contracts is challenging due to the unique nature of rotary wing instruction and specific DoD requirements. However, the firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government. The absence of detailed cost breakdowns makes a precise value-for-money assessment difficult without further data.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The fact that it resulted in a definitive contract awarded to Amentum Services, Inc. suggests that while competition was open, one offer was ultimately selected. The number of bidders is not specified, but the 'full and open' designation implies a robust process designed to solicit multiple proposals.

Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to better pricing and service quality. It ensures that the government explores a wide range of options before selecting a contractor.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are U.S. Army aviators undergoing rotary wing flight training. The services delivered include essential flight instruction for helicopters. The geographic impact is concentrated at Fort Rucker, Alabama, the primary flight training center for Army aviation. This contract supports the training and readiness of military pilots, impacting national defense capabilities. It sustains a specialized workforce of instructors and support personnel within the aviation training sector.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for vendor lock-in if follow-on contracts are not competitively bid.
Reliance on a single contractor for critical flight training could pose a risk if performance issues arise.
The long duration of the contract may limit opportunities for newer, potentially more innovative training providers.

Positive Signals

Firm fixed-price contract structure helps manage cost overruns.
Full and open competition suggests a deliberate effort to secure competitive pricing.
The contract supports a vital military training mission, ensuring pilot readiness.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the broader aerospace and defense training sector, specifically focusing on specialized aviation instruction. The market for military flight training is often dominated by a few large defense contractors capable of meeting stringent government requirements. Spending in this area is driven by defense budgets and the need to maintain a skilled aviation force. Comparable spending benchmarks would likely involve other large-scale military training programs, though direct comparisons are difficult due to the specialized nature of rotary wing training.

Small Business Impact

Information regarding small business set-asides or subcontracting plans for this specific contract is not provided in the data. However, large defense contracts often include provisions for small business participation, either through direct subcontracting or by encouraging small businesses to bid on specific components of the work.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this Department of Defense contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the relevant Army contracting command. Accountability measures are inherent in the contract terms, including performance standards and payment schedules. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.

Related Government Programs

Rotary Wing Training
Military Pilot Training
Aviation Instruction Services
Department of Defense Training Contracts
Fort Rucker Operations

Risk Flags

Long-term contract duration may limit flexibility for future training needs.
Single award could indicate limited market interest or specific contractor capabilities required.
Dependence on one provider for critical training infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $151.0 million to AMENTUM SERVICES, INC.. ROTARY WING FLIGHT TRAINING SERVICES, FORT RUCKER, ALABAMA

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is AMENTUM SERVICES, 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 $151.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-10-01. End: 2016-09-17.

What is the historical spending trend for rotary wing flight training services at Fort Rucker?

Analyzing historical spending trends for this specific contract requires access to historical contract data beyond the provided snippet. The current contract, valued at approximately $151 million, ran from October 1, 2012, to September 17, 2016. To understand trends, one would need to examine prior contracts for similar services at Fort Rucker, looking at their values, durations, and awarded contractors. This would reveal whether spending has increased, decreased, or remained relatively stable over time, and if there have been shifts in contracting approaches (e.g., from sole-source to competitive bids). Without this historical context, it's difficult to assess if the $151 million award represents a typical investment or a significant deviation.

How does the per-unit cost of training compare to industry benchmarks for civilian flight schools?

A direct comparison of the per-unit cost of training under this $151 million contract to civilian flight school benchmarks is challenging without specific data on the number of training hours, students, or aircraft utilized. Military training often involves more extensive curricula, specialized aircraft, and higher operational tempo than civilian programs. Civilian flight schools might charge anywhere from $300 to $600 per hour for helicopter training, depending on the aircraft type and location. If this contract trained thousands of pilots over its four-year duration, the effective per-student or per-hour cost might be lower than civilian rates due to economies of scale and bulk purchasing power. However, the complexity and scope of military training could also drive costs higher in certain aspects.

What is Amentum Services, Inc.'s track record with similar DoD flight training contracts?

Amentum Services, Inc. (and its predecessor DynCorp International, which Amentum acquired) has a significant track record in providing aviation support and training services to the Department of Defense and other government agencies. They have historically been involved in large-scale aviation training and maintenance contracts, including rotary wing operations, in various locations globally. Assessing their specific performance on this $151 million Fort Rucker contract would involve reviewing performance evaluations, any contract modifications, and past performance questionnaires. Their broader experience suggests they possess the capability to manage complex aviation training programs, but specific success metrics for this particular contract would require deeper data analysis.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of this training contract?

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a contract like this typically focus on the effectiveness and efficiency of the training program. These could include metrics such as student graduation rates, pilot proficiency scores upon completion, adherence to training schedules, aircraft availability and maintenance rates, safety incident rates (e.g., accidents or near misses), and instructor qualifications. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract implies that meeting these performance standards is crucial for the contractor to achieve profitability. The government would likely monitor these KPIs closely to ensure the training meets military readiness requirements and provides good value.

Were there any significant contract modifications or overruns during the life of this contract?

Determining if there were significant contract modifications or cost overruns for this $151 million definitive contract requires examining the contract's official modification history. Definitive contracts, especially those with longer durations like this one (over 4 years), often undergo modifications to adjust scope, funding, or timelines. Without access to the contract's modification log, it's impossible to state definitively whether substantial changes occurred. However, the firm fixed-price structure generally aims to limit overruns, placing more risk on the contractor. Any significant modifications would typically be publicly documented and could indicate unforeseen challenges or changes in requirements.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Educational Services › Technical and Trade Schools › Flight Training

Product/Service Code: EDUCATION AND TRAINING › EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: W9124G12R0005

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: AECOM (UEI: 153561212)

Address: 20501 SENECA MEADOWS PKWY STE 300, GERMANTOWN, MD, 20876

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $151,341,005

Exercised Options: $151,037,846

Current Obligation: $151,037,846

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline