DoD's $16.8M EW Support Contract Awarded to SAIC Amidst Full and Open Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $16,801,378 ($16.8M)
Contractor: Science Applications International Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2010-06-24
End Date: 2014-12-31
Contract Duration: 1,651 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE LEVEL OF EFFORT
Sector: Defense
Official Description: JOINT ELECTRONIC WARFARE CENTER - NEVADA (JEWC-N) ENGINEERING, TEST, AND ANALYSIS SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: NELLIS AFB, CLARK County, NEVADA, 89191, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
State: Nevada Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $16.8 million to SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION for work described as: JOINT ELECTRONIC WARFARE CENTER - NEVADA (JEWC-N) ENGINEERING, TEST, AND ANALYSIS SUPPORT Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a large, established defense contractor, indicating a focus on proven capabilities. 2. The fixed-price level-of-effort contract type suggests a defined scope of work with payment tied to effort expended. 3. Competition was robust, with 3 bidders participating in a full and open process, likely driving competitive pricing. 4. The contract duration of over 4 years implies a significant, ongoing need for these specialized engineering and analysis services. 5. Performance is located in Nevada, potentially impacting local technical workforce and economic activity. 6. The contract falls under 'Other Management Consulting Services,' a broad category that may warrant further scrutiny for specificity.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract's total value of $16.8 million over approximately 4.5 years averages around $3.7 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar engineering, test, and analysis support contracts for the Department of Defense is challenging without more specific service details. However, the presence of three bidders in a full and open competition suggests that the pricing was likely competitive. The fixed-price level-of-effort structure aims to control costs by defining the scope of work and the effort required.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The solicitation attracted three bidders, suggesting a healthy level of interest and competition for this type of specialized support. A competitive environment like this generally benefits the government by encouraging lower prices and higher quality offerings as contractors vie for the award.
Taxpayer Impact: The full and open competition with multiple bidders is beneficial for taxpayers as it likely resulted in a more cost-effective award compared to a sole-source or limited competition scenario. This process helps ensure that government funds are used efficiently.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are the Department of Defense, specifically the Air Force, receiving critical engineering, test, and analysis support for electronic warfare capabilities. The services delivered are essential for maintaining and advancing the nation's electronic warfare systems, contributing to national security. The geographic impact is concentrated in Nevada, where the Joint Electronic Warfare Center - Nevada (JEWC-N) is located. The contract supports a specialized technical workforce in the aerospace and defense sector, likely requiring engineers, analysts, and technicians.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- The broad 'Other Management Consulting Services' NAICS code (541618) may obscure the specific nature and cost drivers of the services provided, making detailed value analysis difficult.
- Lack of specific performance metrics or outcome-based evaluations in the provided data makes it hard to assess the true effectiveness and value delivered beyond effort expended.
Positive Signals
- The contract was awarded through a full and open competition with multiple bidders, indicating a competitive marketplace for these services.
- The fixed-price level-of-effort contract type provides a degree of cost control for the government, provided the effort is well-defined and managed.
- The contract duration suggests a stable, long-term need for these critical electronic warfare support functions within the DoD.
Sector Analysis
The contract falls within the broader professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on management consulting and engineering support. This sector is a significant component of federal contracting, particularly for defense agencies. The market for electronic warfare support is specialized, involving advanced technology and expertise. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within defense R&D and technical support services, where contracts often range from millions to hundreds of millions of dollars depending on scope and duration.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) is a large prime contractor. There is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans or actual subcontracting to small businesses. Without this data, it's difficult to assess the impact on the small business ecosystem, though large prime contracts often include subcontracting opportunities.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting agency (Department of the Air Force) and the requiring activity (JEWC-N). Accountability measures are inherent in the fixed-price level-of-effort structure, which ties payment to delivered effort. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.
Related Government Programs
- Electronic Warfare Systems Support
- Defense Engineering Services
- Aerospace Technical Consulting
- DoD Test and Evaluation Support
- Joint Electronic Warfare Center Operations
Risk Flags
- Broad NAICS code may obscure specific technical services.
- Lack of detailed performance metrics in summary data.
- Potential for scope definition issues with 'consulting' classification.
Tags
defense, department-of-defense, air-force, science-applications-international-corporation, joint-electronic-warfare-center-nevada, engineering-services, test-and-analysis, electronic-warfare, management-consulting, fixed-price-level-of-effort, full-and-open-competition, nevada
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $16.8 million to SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. JOINT ELECTRONIC WARFARE CENTER - NEVADA (JEWC-N) ENGINEERING, TEST, AND ANALYSIS SUPPORT
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $16.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-06-24. End: 2014-12-31.
What is the specific nature of the 'Other Management Consulting Services' provided under this contract, and how do they relate to electronic warfare?
The NAICS code 541618, 'Other Management Consulting Services,' is a broad category. In the context of the Joint Electronic Warfare Center - Nevada (JEWC-N), these services likely encompass a range of specialized support functions critical to electronic warfare (EW) operations. This could include strategic planning for EW capabilities, policy development, organizational analysis, process improvement for EW systems development and deployment, and potentially program management consulting related to EW technologies. While not directly R&D or hardware development, these consulting services are crucial for the effective integration, utilization, and strategic direction of EW assets and missions within the Department of Defense.
How does the $16.8 million contract value compare to historical spending on similar EW support services by the Department of Defense?
Comparing the $16.8 million total value of this contract requires context regarding the specific services rendered and the duration. Over its approximately 4.5-year period (June 2010 - Dec 2014), the annual average spend was roughly $3.7 million. This figure is moderate for specialized defense support contracts. Larger, more complex EW programs or system development contracts can easily reach hundreds of millions or even billions of dollars. However, for focused engineering, test, and analysis support at a specific center like JEWC-N, this level of funding appears reasonable, especially given the competitive award process. Historical data from FPDS-NG or agency budget documents would be needed for a precise comparison against similar contracts.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the success of Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) under this contract?
The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate SAIC's performance. However, given the contract type ('FIXED PRICE LEVEL OF EFFORT'), performance evaluation would likely focus on the satisfactory completion of the defined level of effort and adherence to task requirements. This typically involves meeting deadlines for specific analyses, providing timely and accurate reports, demonstrating technical competence in engineering and testing, and ensuring the availability of personnel as required. Formal performance assessments, such as Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System (CPARS) reports, would contain detailed evaluations, but these are not included in the summary data.
What is the potential risk associated with the 'Other Management Consulting Services' classification for a contract supporting electronic warfare?
The primary risk associated with classifying critical electronic warfare support under 'Other Management Consulting Services' (NAICS 541618) is a lack of specificity and potential for scope creep or misinterpretation of requirements. This broad category might not fully capture the highly technical and specialized nature of EW engineering, testing, and analysis. It could lead to challenges in accurately benchmarking costs, assessing contractor expertise, and ensuring that the services procured directly align with the complex technical needs of EW operations. While consulting is part of the process, the core functions likely involve deep technical expertise that might be better represented by more specific engineering or scientific service codes.
How has the Department of Defense's spending on electronic warfare support services evolved over the period encompassing this contract (2010-2014) and beyond?
Spending on electronic warfare (EW) support services by the Department of Defense has generally seen fluctuations but has been on an upward trend, particularly in recent years, driven by evolving threats and the increasing reliance on the electromagnetic spectrum. During the period of this contract (2010-2014), the DoD was already investing significantly in EW capabilities, but the focus has intensified since then due to advancements by near-peer adversaries. Increased funding has been allocated towards modernizing legacy systems, developing next-generation EW technologies, and enhancing training and analysis capabilities. This contract represents a specific, localized investment within that broader trend, supporting the operational needs of a particular EW center.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Management, Scientific, and Technical Consulting Services › Other Management Consulting 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
Solicitation ID: FA460007R0005
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE LEVEL OF EFFORT (B)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1710 SAIC DR, MCLEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $18,247,641
Exercised Options: $18,247,641
Current Obligation: $16,801,378
Contract Characteristics
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA460008D9004
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2010-06-24
Current End Date: 2014-12-31
Potential End Date: 2014-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2015-09-22
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