DoD's Missile Defense Agency awards $48.5M R&D contract to Teledyne Brown Engineering for SETA support
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $48,490,498 ($48.5M)
Contractor: Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2008-09-19
End Date: 2012-02-29
Contract Duration: 1,258 days
Daily Burn Rate: $38.5K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: R&D
Official Description: SETA SUPPORT FOR DEPUTY FOR TEST (DT)
Place of Performance
Location: HUNTSVILLE, MADISON County, ALABAMA, 35805
State: Alabama Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $48.5 million to TELEDYNE BROWN ENGINEERING, INC. for work described as: SETA SUPPORT FOR DEPUTY FOR TEST (DT) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Teledyne Brown Engineering, Inc. for SETA support. 2. The contract falls under Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 3. Awarded by the Department of Defense's Missile Defense Agency. 4. Contract duration spans from September 2008 to February 2012. 5. The contract was not competed.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract is a Time and Materials type, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. The total award value is $48.5 million, but without specific unit costs or benchmarks for SETA support, a precise value assessment is difficult.
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 compared to a competitive process.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a nearly $50 million contract raises concerns about whether taxpayers received the best possible value.
Public Impact
Missile defense research and development funding impacts national security. SETA support is crucial for program management and technical oversight. The non-competitive nature of the award may limit opportunities for other qualified firms. Long contract duration suggests a sustained need for these services.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Time and Materials contract type
- No small business participation indicated
Positive Signals
- Supports critical missile defense mission
- Long-term engagement with a specific contractor
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the R&D sector, specifically NAICS code 541712. Spending in this area is critical for technological advancement but requires careful oversight to ensure efficiency and effectiveness, especially when awarded non-competitively.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this contract award (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the prime contractor is likely a large business, and there's no explicit information on subcontracting to small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
The non-competitive award raises questions about the oversight processes that led to this decision. Further review would be needed to understand the justification for sole-sourcing and the mechanisms in place to ensure accountability and value for money.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Missile Defense Agency Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
- Time and Materials contract type poses cost overrun risk.
- No indication of small business subcontracting.
- Significant award value without clear benchmarks.
- Long contract duration without competitive re-evaluation.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, al, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $48.5 million to TELEDYNE BROWN ENGINEERING, INC.. SETA SUPPORT FOR DEPUTY FOR TEST (DT)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is TELEDYNE BROWN ENGINEERING, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Missile Defense Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $48.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2008-09-19. End: 2012-02-29.
What was the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive strategies considered?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, urgent needs, or a lack of available competition. Without access to the contract file and associated documentation, it's impossible to determine the specific reasons. However, the Missile Defense Agency's mission is highly specialized, which can sometimes lead to sole-source awards if only one contractor possesses the required expertise or technology.
How was the 'Time and Materials' pricing structure managed to prevent cost overruns and ensure fair pricing for the government?
Time and Materials (T&M) contracts require robust government oversight to control costs. This includes closely monitoring labor hours, ensuring that personnel are working efficiently, and verifying that material costs are reasonable and necessary. The government likely established ceiling prices and conducted regular reviews to manage expenditures and ensure the contractor's performance aligned with the contract's objectives and budget.
What specific SETA support functions were provided, and how did they contribute to the overall effectiveness of the Missile Defense Agency's test programs?
SETA (Systems Engineering and Technical Assistance) support typically encompasses a range of services, including program management, systems engineering, technical analysis, and acquisition support. For the Missile Defense Agency's test directorate, this support would be critical for planning, executing, and analyzing complex missile defense tests, ensuring the reliability and effectiveness of the systems under development and contributing directly to national security objectives.
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: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (UEI: 112358432)
Address: 300 SPARKMAN DR NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL, 35805
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $57,759,247
Exercised Options: $57,759,247
Current Obligation: $48,490,498
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HQ014708D0006
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2008-09-19
Current End Date: 2012-02-29
Potential End Date: 2012-02-29 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2018-08-13
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