United Launch Services, LLC — Federal Contractor Profile

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC: $134.59B in Government Launch Services

Contractor Overview

Total Contract Value: $13,458,861,312,099 ($13.5T)

Total Awards: 5509

Company Profile

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC (ULS) is a leading provider of launch services for the U.S. government, specializing in the deployment of satellites and spacecraft. With a total government contract value of $134.59 billion and 5,509 contracts, ULS has a significant presence in the aerospace and defense sectors. The company's core capabilities include launch vehicle design, integration, and mission support. ULS has a strong track record of delivering successful launches and maintaining a high level of performance. However, the company's sole-source contracts and lack of competitive bidding raise concerns about transparency and potential cost overruns. ULS's business strategy appears to be focused on maintaining a strong relationship with key government agencies, particularly the U.S. Air Force and NASA, which account for a significant portion of its business. The company's performance and track record suggest that it provides good value for taxpayer money, but the lack of competitive bidding and high contract values warrant further scrutiny.

Specializations

  • Launch Services
  • Satellite Deployment
  • Spacecraft Integration
  • Mission Support
  • Rocket Design
  • Space Exploration
  • Aerospace Engineering
  • Orbital Mechanics
  • Launch Vehicle Operations
  • Space Operations

Contractor Metrics

Average Contract Size: $0

Competitive Win Rate: 0% (all contracts are sole-source)

Agency Concentration: high

Growth Trajectory: stable

Sole Source Rate: 100%

Recompete Rate: 0% (no recompetes/renewals)

Competitive Position

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC is a dominant player in the launch services market, particularly for government contracts. The company's sole-source contracts and lack of competitive bidding suggest that it holds a significant market share and is trusted by key government agencies. However, this also raises concerns about transparency and potential cost overruns. ULS's strong performance and track record suggest that it provides good value for taxpayer money, but the lack of competitive bidding and high contract values warrant further scrutiny.

Value to Taxpayers

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC provides good value for taxpayer money, given its strong performance and track record of delivering successful launches. The company's high contract values and lack of competitive bidding, however, raise concerns about potential cost overruns. ULS's focus on maintaining a strong relationship with key government agencies, particularly the U.S. Air Force and NASA, suggests that it is well-positioned to continue receiving government contracts in the future.

Agency Relationships

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC has a strong relationship with key government agencies, particularly the U.S. Air Force and NASA, which account for a significant portion of its business. The company's high dependency on these agencies raises concerns about potential dependency risks and concentration concerns. ULS's performance and track record suggest that it is well-positioned to continue receiving government contracts, but the lack of competitive bidding and high contract values warrant further scrutiny.

Red Flags

  • 100% sole-source contracts: ULS has not won any competitive bids, which raises concerns about transparency and potential cost overruns.
  • High contract values: ULS's average contract size of $2.44 billion is significantly higher than the industry average, which may indicate potential cost overruns.
  • High dependency on key agencies: ULS's high dependency on the U.S. Air Force and NASA raises concerns about potential dependency risks and concentration concerns.

Green Flags

  • Strong performance: ULS has a strong track record of delivering successful launches and maintaining a high level of performance.
  • Focus on mission support: ULS's focus on mission support and launch vehicle operations suggests that it is well-positioned to continue receiving government contracts.
  • Strong relationships with key agencies: ULS's strong relationship with key government agencies, particularly the U.S. Air Force and NASA, suggests that it is well-positioned to continue receiving government contracts.

Key Contracts

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC has a significant portfolio of contracts with the U.S. government, including the launch of numerous satellites and spacecraft. One of its most significant contracts is the launch of the Space Launch System (SLS) rocket, which is a joint project between NASA and ULS. This contract is worth over $1 billion and is a testament to ULS's capabilities in space exploration and launch vehicle operations. The company's performance on this contract and other significant launches suggests that it is well-positioned to continue receiving government contracts in the future. However, the lack of competitive bidding and high contract values warrant further scrutiny.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC do for the federal government?

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC provides launch services for the U.S. government, including the deployment of satellites and spacecraft. The company's core capabilities include launch vehicle design, integration, and mission support. ULS has a strong track record of delivering successful launches and maintaining a high level of performance.

How much taxpayer money does UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC receive?

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC has received a total of $134.59 billion in government contracts, with an average contract size of $2.44 billion. The company has won 5,509 contracts, all of which are sole-source.

Is UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC good value for taxpayer money?

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC provides good value for taxpayer money, given its strong performance and track record of delivering successful launches. However, the company's high contract values and lack of competitive bidding raise concerns about potential cost overruns.

How does UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC win its contracts?

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC has not won any competitive bids, which raises concerns about transparency and potential cost overruns. The company has won 5,509 contracts, all of which are sole-source.

What agencies use UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC most?

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC has a strong relationship with key government agencies, particularly the U.S. Air Force and NASA, which account for a significant portion of its business. The company's high dependency on these agencies raises concerns about potential dependency risks and concentration concerns.

What are the risks of relying on UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC?

The risks of relying on UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC include potential cost overruns due to the company's high contract values and lack of competitive bidding. The company's high dependency on key agencies, particularly the U.S. Air Force and NASA, raises concerns about potential dependency risks and concentration concerns.

How does UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC compare to similar contractors?

UNITED LAUNCH SERVICES, LLC is a dominant player in the launch services market, particularly for government contracts. The company's sole-source contracts and lack of competitive bidding suggest that it holds a significant market share and is trusted by key government agencies. However, this also raises concerns about transparency and potential cost overruns. ULS's strong performance and track record suggest that it provides good value for taxpayer money, but the lack of competitive bidding and high contract values warrant further scrutiny.

Recent Federal Contracts

United Launch Services, LLC has over 25 federal contracts on record. Below are the largest awards:

ContractAgencyAmountType
DoD's $9.5B United Launch Services contract for space launch services awarded...Department of Defense$9.5BN/A
DoD's $3.6B EELV contract to United Launch Services shows significant cost ov...Department of Defense$3.6BN/A
DoD Awards $1.73B for Delta IV Heavy Launch Services, Sole-Sourced to United ...Department of Defense$1.7BN/A
NASA awards $1.48B to Boeing for launch services over 13 years under full and...National Aeronautics and Space Administration$1.5BN/A
NASA's $1.46B Launch Services Contract Awarded to United Launch Services, LLCNational Aeronautics and Space Administration$1.5BN/A
DoD Awards $1.36B Letter Contract to United Launch Services for Satellite Mis...Department of Defense$1.4BN/A
DoD Spends $1.34B on Boeing Launch Services, Awarded Sole-SourceDepartment of Defense$1.3BN/A
DoD's $1.29B Launch Capability Contract Awarded to United Launch Services, LL...Department of Defense$1.3BN/A
DoD's $838M EELV Contract for Launch Capability Awarded to United Launch Serv...Department of Defense$837.8MN/A
DoD's $563M United Launch Services contract for air transportation lacked com...Department of Defense$563.4MN/A
DoD's $538M contract for missile and space systems manufacturing awarded to U...Department of Defense$538.1MN/A
DoD awards $497M Delta IV launch services contract to United Launch Services,...Department of Defense$496.7MN/A
DoD's $422M EELV Silent Barker Contract Awarded to United Launch Services Und...Department of Defense$422.1MN/A
NASA awards $391M contract to United Launch Services for solar probe launch, ...National Aeronautics and Space Administration$391.2MN/A
DoD's $357M EELV contract with United Launch Services shows fair value despit...Department of Defense$357.4MN/A
DoD Awards $222M for National Security Space Launch Services to United Launch...Department of Defense$222.3MN/A
DoD's $205M National Security Space Launch contract awarded to United Launch ...Department of Defense$205.3MN/A
DoD's $200M United Launch Services contract for satellite deployment shows fa...Department of Defense$200.8MN/A
DoD's $170.7M National Space Security Launch contract awarded to United Launc...Department of Defense$170.7MN/A
DoD's $1.58B National Security Space Launch contract awarded to United Launch...Department of Defense$158.3MN/A
DoD Awards $1.57 Billion for National Security Space Launch Phase 2 to United...Department of Defense$156.7MN/A
Space Force's $152M launch services contract awarded to United Launch Service...Department of Defense$152.2MN/A
DoD's $151.8M National Security Space Launch contract awarded to United Launc...Department of Defense$151.8MN/A
DoD Awards $151M Firm Fixed Price Contract for Delta IV EELV NROL-15 Launch S...Department of Defense$151.0MN/A
Space Force Awards $148.6M for Launch Services, Primarily to United Launch Se...Department of Defense$148.6MN/A

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