DoD awards $16M for DTCS-RO PLUS IRIDIUM ANTENNA to General Dynamics C4 Systems, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $16,051,000 ($16.1M)
Contractor: General Dynamics C4 Systems, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2010-02-16
End Date: 2010-07-15
Contract Duration: 149 days
Daily Burn Rate: $107.7K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: DTCS-RO PLUS IRIDIUM ANTENNA
Place of Performance
Location: FALLS CHURCH, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22041
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $16.1 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS C4 SYSTEMS, INC. for work described as: DTCS-RO PLUS IRIDIUM ANTENNA Key points: 1. Contract awarded for specialized communication equipment. 2. General Dynamics C4 Systems, Inc. is a major defense contractor. 3. No competition was utilized for this award. 4. The contract falls under 'Other Computer Related Services' NAICS code.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The award amount of $16,051,000 for a 149-day duration appears high without competitive pricing. Benchmarking against similar specialized antenna systems is difficult due to limited public data.
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 taxpayers as there was no market pressure.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in taxpayers paying a premium for this specialized equipment.
Public Impact
Ensures critical communication capabilities for the Department of Defense. Supports advanced satellite communication systems. Potential for increased costs due to sole-source nature.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Limited duration
- No small business participation
Positive Signals
- Essential defense capability
- Award to established contractor
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT and Defense sectors, specifically for communication systems. Spending benchmarks for highly specialized, sole-source defense equipment are difficult to establish due to unique requirements and limited market visibility.
Small Business Impact
The contract data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this award, as the 'sb' field is false. This suggests the prime contractor is not a small business and no subcontracting plan for small businesses was evident.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny to ensure the price paid was fair and reasonable. Oversight should focus on the justification for not competing the requirement and the negotiation process.
Related Government Programs
- Other Computer Related Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Defense Information Systems Agency Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
- Potential for overpayment due to lack of competition.
- No small business participation.
- Limited contract duration may indicate a specific, short-term need or a phased approach.
Tags
other-computer-related-services, department-of-defense, va, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $16.1 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS C4 SYSTEMS, INC.. DTCS-RO PLUS IRIDIUM ANTENNA
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS C4 SYSTEMS, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Information Systems Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $16.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-02-16. End: 2010-07-15.
What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent needs where only one source can fulfill the requirement. Without further documentation, it's presumed that General Dynamics C4 Systems, Inc. possessed the exclusive ability to provide the DTCS-RO PLUS IRIDIUM ANTENNA system, making competition impractical or impossible.
How does the $16M price compare to similar specialized communication systems?
Benchmarking this $16 million contract is challenging due to its specialized nature and sole-source award. Publicly available data on comparable DTCS-RO PLUS IRIDIUM ANTENNA systems is scarce. A thorough review would require access to internal DoD cost analyses or market research reports that assess the reasonableness of the price against similar, albeit potentially less advanced or differently configured, communication solutions.
What is the long-term strategic value of this antenna system for the DoD?
The long-term strategic value likely lies in its contribution to secure and reliable command and control communications, particularly in environments where traditional infrastructure is unavailable or compromised. The 'DTCS-RO PLUS IRIDIUM ANTENNA' suggests a robust satellite communication capability, crucial for maintaining operational effectiveness across dispersed forces and diverse mission sets, ensuring information superiority.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Other Computer Related Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: HC104707R0021
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: General Dynamics Corp (UEI: 001381284)
Address: 8201 E MCDOWELL RD, SCOTTSDALE, AZ, 01
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $16,051,000
Exercised Options: $16,051,000
Current Obligation: $16,051,000
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: HC104708D0002
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2010-02-16
Current End Date: 2010-07-15
Potential End Date: 2010-07-15 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2010-04-14
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