Army's DCGS-A ISR Technical Support contract awarded to ManTech for over $239M, spanning three years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $239,252,340 ($239.3M)
Contractor: Mantech Advanced Systems International, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2009-09-23
End Date: 2012-09-22
Contract Duration: 1,095 days
Daily Burn Rate: $218.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS
Sector: Defense
Official Description: DISTRIBUTED COMMON GROUND SYSTEM - ARMY (DCGS-A) INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE RECONNAISSANCE (ISR) TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO SWA
Place of Performance
Location: RED BANK, MONMOUTH County, NEW JERSEY, 07701, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $239.3 million to MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: DISTRIBUTED COMMON GROUND SYSTEM - ARMY (DCGS-A) INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE RECONNAISSANCE (ISR) TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO SWA Key points: 1. Contract value of $239.25M for technical support of intelligence systems. 2. Full and open competition was utilized for this award. 3. Contract duration of 1095 days (3 years). 4. Awarded under NAICS code 541330 (Engineering Services). 5. Contract type is Time and Materials. 6. The contract supports Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) functions.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of over $239 million for three years of technical support for the DCGS-A ISR program appears substantial. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale ISR technical support contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the Time and Materials pricing structure can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely managed, suggesting a need for vigilant oversight to ensure value for money.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The fact that it was competed openly suggests a healthy market for these specialized technical support services. The number of bidders is not specified, but open competition generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more competitive pricing for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of receiving competitive pricing and ensures that the government explores a wide range of potential solutions and providers.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are the U.S. Army's intelligence units relying on the DCGS-A system for ISR data processing and analysis. Services delivered include technical support for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems. The geographic impact is likely focused on military installations and operational theaters where the Army deploys DCGS-A. Workforce implications include the need for specialized technical personnel to support complex ISR systems.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Time and Materials contract type can lead to cost escalation if not managed tightly.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes it difficult to assess efficiency.
- The broad scope of 'technical support' may obscure specific areas of potential inefficiency.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.
- Supports critical Army intelligence and ISR capabilities.
- Contract duration provides stability for service delivery.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, specifically supporting advanced defense intelligence systems. The market for technical support of ISR platforms is highly specialized, involving a limited number of contractors with the requisite security clearances and technical expertise. Spending in this area is driven by national security requirements and the ongoing need for sophisticated intelligence gathering and analysis capabilities.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no explicit mention of subcontracting requirements for small businesses. This suggests that the primary award went to a large business, and the direct impact on the small business ecosystem may be limited unless ManTech actively engages small businesses as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight would typically be managed by the Department of the Army contracting and program management offices responsible for DCGS-A. Accountability measures would be tied to contract performance clauses and deliverables. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases, though detailed performance data may be restricted due to national security sensitivities.
Related Government Programs
- Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) Programs
- Distributed Common Ground System - Army (DCGS-A)
- Army Aviation and Missile Command (AMCOM) Support Contracts
- Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) Support Services
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to Time and Materials pricing.
- Complexity of DCGS-A system requires specialized expertise.
- Geographic focus on SWA may indicate high-operational tempo and associated risks.
Tags
defense, department-of-the-army, intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, technical-support, time-and-materials, full-and-open-competition, engineering-services, mantech-advanced-systems-international-inc, southwest-asia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $239.3 million to MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.. DISTRIBUTED COMMON GROUND SYSTEM - ARMY (DCGS-A) INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE RECONNAISSANCE (ISR) TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO SWA
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, 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 $239.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2009-09-23. End: 2012-09-22.
What specific technical support tasks were included under this contract for DCGS-A ISR?
The contract data indicates 'Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance (ISR) Technical Support to SWA' for the Distributed Common Ground System - Army (DCGS-A). While specific tasks are not detailed in the provided summary, typical technical support for such systems includes software maintenance, hardware support, system integration, testing, troubleshooting, and potentially training. Given the ISR focus, this likely involved ensuring the operational readiness and effectiveness of systems used for collecting, processing, and analyzing intelligence data from various surveillance and reconnaissance platforms.
How does the $239.25M contract value compare to other ISR technical support contracts for the Army?
Without access to a comprehensive database of all Army ISR technical support contracts, a direct comparison is difficult. However, $239.25 million over three years represents a significant investment, averaging over $79 million annually. This figure suggests a substantial scope of work, likely encompassing complex systems and a considerable number of personnel. Larger ISR programs often command multi-million dollar contracts, and this award appears to be in that range, reflecting the critical nature of intelligence support to military operations.
What are the potential risks associated with a Time and Materials (T&M) contract for this type of service?
Time and Materials contracts carry inherent risks for the government, primarily related to cost control. Unlike fixed-price contracts, T&M contracts reimburse the contractor for the actual cost of labor and materials, plus a fixed fee or hourly rate. This structure can lead to cost overruns if the scope of work expands or if labor hours are not efficiently utilized. For a complex system like DCGS-A ISR, effective oversight, detailed tracking of hours, and robust management are crucial to mitigate the risk of the contract exceeding its ceiling and to ensure value for taxpayer money.
What is the significance of the 'SWA' designation in the contract description?
The 'SWA' designation in the contract description, 'DISTRIBUTED COMMON GROUND SYSTEM - ARMY (DCGS-A) INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE RECONNAISSANCE (ISR) TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO SWA', typically refers to the 'Southwest Asia' region. This indicates that the technical support services provided under this contract were specifically intended for or deployed in support of military operations and intelligence gathering activities within the Southwest Asia theater of operations. This geographic focus implies a direct link to ongoing military campaigns or strategic interests in that region.
What is the track record of ManTech Advanced Systems International, Inc. in supporting similar defense intelligence systems?
ManTech Advanced Systems International, Inc. has a significant history of providing technical support, systems engineering, and IT services to various U.S. defense and intelligence agencies. Their portfolio often includes work on complex command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR) systems. While specific details of their past performance on DCGS-A prior to this award would require deeper investigation, their general experience in the defense sector suggests they possess the capabilities and clearances necessary for such a contract. Government contract databases and past performance reviews would offer more granular insights.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: TIME AND MATERIALS (Y)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Mantech International Corporation (UEI: 053518312)
Address: 12015 LEE JACKSON MEMORIAL HWY, FAIRFAX, VA, 22033
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $239,252,340
Exercised Options: $239,252,340
Current Obligation: $239,252,340
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: W15P7T06DE403
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2009-09-23
Current End Date: 2012-09-22
Potential End Date: 2012-09-22 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-04-19
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