DoD awards $16.4M for new wireless telecom nodes, raising questions on value and competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $16,406,439 ($16.4M)
Contractor: Miscellaneous Foreign Awardees
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2010-06-10
End Date: 2011-12-28
Contract Duration: 566 days
Daily Burn Rate: $29.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: [PIIN: W91B4N-10-C-5013] MLOS (NEW NODES)
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $16.4 million to MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES for work described as: [PIIN: W91B4N-10-C-5013] MLOS (NEW NODES) Key points: 1. Spending of $16.4M on wireless telecommunications carriers. 2. Contract awarded to miscellaneous foreign awardees, limiting domestic competition. 3. Potential risk due to lack of transparency in foreign awardee selection. 4. Sector is Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite).
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $16.4M for wireless telecommunications services is difficult to assess without specific performance metrics or benchmarks. The lack of detailed information on the services provided and the foreign awardees makes it challenging to compare pricing against similar domestic contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, but the awardees are listed as 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES.' This broad categorization raises concerns about the transparency of the price discovery process and whether the most cost-effective solutions were truly identified.
Taxpayer Impact: The $16.4M spent on this contract represents taxpayer funds. The lack of clear justification for awarding to foreign entities and the limited insight into pricing efficiency could mean taxpayers did not receive the best value.
Public Impact
Taxpayer funds of $16.4M allocated to foreign awardees for wireless services. Limited public information available on the specific services rendered and performance. Concerns regarding the effectiveness of 'full and open competition' when awardees are broadly categorized as foreign.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of transparency in foreign awardee selection.
- Unclear performance metrics and value for money.
- Potential for higher costs due to foreign awardees.
Positive Signals
- Contract awarded under full and open competition.
- Services provided to the Department of Defense.
Sector Analysis
The wireless telecommunications sector is dynamic and critical for modern operations. Spending benchmarks vary widely based on technology, service level agreements, and geographic scope. This $16.4M award falls within the broader IT and communications infrastructure spending of the DoD.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not awarded to small businesses, as indicated by 'sb': false. The focus on 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES' further suggests that domestic small businesses were not primary recipients or participants in this specific procurement.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight is challenging due to the limited public data. The 'MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES' designation hinders specific accountability. Further investigation into the selection process and performance monitoring is warranted.
Related Government Programs
- Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of specific service details.
- Ambiguous awardee classification ('MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES').
- Limited transparency in the procurement process.
- Difficulty in assessing value for money.
- Potential national security implications.
Tags
wireless-telecommunications-carriers-exc, department-of-defense, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $16.4 million to MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES. [PIIN: W91B4N-10-C-5013] MLOS (NEW NODES)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is MISCELLANEOUS FOREIGN AWARDEES.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $16.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-06-10. End: 2011-12-28.
What specific wireless telecommunications services were procured, and how was the $16.4M value determined to be fair and reasonable?
The provided data lacks specifics on the exact services rendered under PIIN W91B4N-10-C-5013. The value of $16.4M is a total award amount. Without detailed service descriptions, performance metrics, or comparisons to similar contracts, it is difficult to ascertain if this price represents fair market value or optimal taxpayer investment.
What risks are associated with awarding a significant contract to 'miscellaneous foreign awardees' without more detailed public justification?
Awarding to 'miscellaneous foreign awardees' without clear justification poses several risks. These include potential national security concerns, difficulties in enforcing contract terms or quality standards, challenges in dispute resolution, and a lack of transparency that can obscure potential conflicts of interest or less competitive pricing compared to domestic options.
How effective was the 'full and open competition' in ensuring the best value for the government in this case?
While the contract was designated as 'full and open competition,' the subsequent award to 'miscellaneous foreign awardees' raises questions about its effectiveness. This broad categorization suggests that the competition may not have yielded the most competitive bids or the best value, as the specific capabilities and pricing of potential domestic providers might have been overlooked or inadequately assessed.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) › Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite)
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2011 CRYSTAL DR STE 911, ARLINGTON, VA, 22202
Business Categories: Category Business, Foreign Owned, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $16,406,439
Exercised Options: $16,406,439
Current Obligation: $16,406,439
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NOT OBTAINED - WAIVED
Timeline
Start Date: 2010-06-10
Current End Date: 2011-12-28
Potential End Date: 2011-12-28 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-09-28
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