FAA's $17.8M OARS Contract Awarded to Leidos for Safety Data Access Portal
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $17,777,811 ($17.8M)
Contractor: Leidos, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation
Start Date: 2020-11-19
End Date: 2025-04-30
Contract Duration: 1,623 days
Daily Burn Rate: $11.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: IT
Official Description: THE FAA WILL BE PROVIDED WITH OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS AND REPORTING SYSTEM (OARS) THAT WILL FUNCTION AS THE SAFETY DATA/INFORMATION ACCESS PORTAL BY PROVIDING CONTROLLABLE, TIERED LEVELS OF ACCESS TO SAFETY DATA AGGREGATED FROM MULTIPLE DATABASES.
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20024
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Transportation obligated $17.8 million to LEIDOS, INC. for work described as: THE FAA WILL BE PROVIDED WITH OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS AND REPORTING SYSTEM (OARS) THAT WILL FUNCTION AS THE SAFETY DATA/INFORMATION ACCESS PORTAL BY PROVIDING CONTROLLABLE, TIERED LEVELS OF ACCESS TO SAFETY DATA AGGREGATED FROM MULTIPLE DATABASES. Key points: 1. The contract aims to create a centralized safety data portal for the FAA. 2. Leidos, Inc. is the sole awardee for this definitive contract. 3. The contract runs for over 1600 days, indicating a significant, long-term project. 4. This falls under Computer Systems Design Services, a common IT procurement area.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking CPFF contracts for similar IT system development is difficult without more granular data on scope and complexity.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the specific price discovery mechanisms and the number of bids received are not detailed, making it hard to assess if the final price reflects optimal value.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to develop a critical safety data system for the FAA, which is intended to improve safety oversight and efficiency.
Public Impact
Enhances FAA's ability to manage and analyze safety data from various sources. Aims to improve aviation safety through better data accessibility and reporting. Potential for increased efficiency in safety investigations and trend analysis. Users will have tiered access, ensuring data security and appropriate information sharing.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- CPFF contract type risk
- Potential for scope creep in system development
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition
- Focus on critical safety data
- Long-term contract duration for system stability
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically computer systems design. Spending in this area is substantial across government, with a focus on modernizing legacy systems and developing new data management platforms.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses and the awardee, Leidos, Inc., is a large corporation. There is no explicit mention of small business participation or subcontracting goals.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract's duration and the nature of system development necessitate ongoing oversight to ensure performance, cost control, and adherence to requirements. The FAA will need robust project management and technical monitoring.
Related Government Programs
- Computer Systems Design Services
- Department of Transportation Contracting
- Federal Aviation Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost overrun risk due to CPFF structure
- Potential for vendor lock-in with a single system provider
- Complexity of integrating data from multiple disparate databases
- Ensuring long-term system maintainability and adaptability
- Effectiveness of tiered access controls in practice
Tags
computer-systems-design-services, department-of-transportation, dc, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Transportation awarded $17.8 million to LEIDOS, INC.. THE FAA WILL BE PROVIDED WITH OPERATIONAL ANALYSIS AND REPORTING SYSTEM (OARS) THAT WILL FUNCTION AS THE SAFETY DATA/INFORMATION ACCESS PORTAL BY PROVIDING CONTROLLABLE, TIERED LEVELS OF ACCESS TO SAFETY DATA AGGREGATED FROM MULTIPLE DATABASES.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is LEIDOS, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $17.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-11-19. End: 2025-04-30.
What is the expected return on investment for the OARS system in terms of improved safety outcomes or cost savings from more efficient data analysis?
The return on investment is primarily measured by enhanced aviation safety through better data-driven decision-making, potentially reducing accident rates and associated costs. Quantifying this in monetary terms is challenging but crucial for long-term value assessment. Efficiency gains in data processing and reporting are also expected.
What are the specific risks associated with the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type for this system development, and how are they being mitigated?
The primary risk of CPFF is that the contractor may not be incentivized to control costs, potentially leading to budget overruns if the fixed fee is substantial relative to effort. Mitigation involves stringent oversight, clear performance metrics, and detailed cost tracking by the FAA to ensure the contractor's efforts align with the fixed fee.
How will the tiered access levels for safety data be implemented and secured to prevent unauthorized access or data breaches?
Implementation will involve robust access control mechanisms, role-based permissions, and secure authentication protocols. The FAA must define clear data classification policies and ensure the system architecture supports granular control. Regular security audits and compliance checks will be essential to maintain data integrity and prevent breaches.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - COMPUTE
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SEALED BID
Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Leidos Holdings, Inc.
Address: 1750 PRESIDENTS ST, RESTON, VA, 20190
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $64,115,028
Exercised Options: $17,777,811
Current Obligation: $17,777,811
Actual Outlays: $17,353,374
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-11-19
Current End Date: 2025-04-30
Potential End Date: 2026-01-09 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-12-10
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