FAA awards $440K for engine repair due to foreign object debris damage

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $440,947 ($440.9K)

Contractor: Standardaero Atlantic, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation

Start Date: 2025-07-25

End Date: 2025-08-22

Contract Duration: 28 days

Daily Burn Rate: $15.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Other

Official Description: ** AOG** N80 ENGINE CHANGE DUE TO FOD DAMAGE

Place of Performance

Location: OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA County, OKLAHOMA, 73169

State: Oklahoma Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Transportation obligated $440,946.55 to STANDARDAERO ATLANTIC, INC. for work described as: ** AOG** N80 ENGINE CHANGE DUE TO FOD DAMAGE Key points: 1. Contract awarded for urgent engine repair, indicating potential safety or operational risks. 2. Single-source award suggests limited competition, potentially impacting price. 3. Short duration of contract points to an immediate need for services. 4. The nature of the repair (FOD damage) highlights operational hazards in aviation. 5. Focus on engine maintenance underscores the importance of aircraft airworthiness.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $440,946.55 for engine repair appears reasonable given the specialized nature of aviation maintenance and the urgency implied by the need for repair due to FOD damage. However, without specific details on the extent of the damage and the exact services required, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. Benchmarking against similar engine repair contracts for this aircraft type would provide a clearer picture of whether the pricing is competitive.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning only one vendor was solicited. This approach is typically used when there is a compelling justification, such as a unique capability, an urgent and compelling need, or when only one source is capable of meeting the requirement. The lack of competition means that the FAA did not benefit from a range of offers, which could have led to a lower price or better terms.

Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards limit the government's ability to leverage market competition to secure the best possible pricing for taxpayers. This can result in higher costs compared to a competitively bid contract.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the operational readiness and safety of the aircraft requiring the engine repair. Services delivered include specialized engine maintenance and repair to address damage caused by foreign object debris. The geographic impact is localized to the operational base of the affected aircraft. Workforce implications are minimal, likely involving a small team of specialized technicians from the awarded contractor.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award limits price discovery and potentially increases costs for taxpayers.
Urgency of the repair may have necessitated a non-competitive award, raising questions about proactive maintenance planning.
FOD damage indicates potential risks in operational procedures or maintenance protocols.

Positive Signals

Contract addresses an immediate operational need, ensuring aircraft availability.
Specialized repair services are being provided by a presumably capable contractor.
The contract is a firm-fixed-price type, providing cost certainty for the government.

Sector Analysis

The aviation maintenance sector is highly specialized, with a significant portion of the market dominated by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and authorized service centers. Contracts for engine repair, especially those addressing damage from foreign object debris (FOD), require specific technical expertise and certifications. The FAA's spending in this area is critical for ensuring the safety and efficiency of the national airspace system. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve analyzing the cost of similar engine repairs across different aircraft models and maintenance providers.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not awarded to a small business, nor does it appear to have a small business set-aside component. There is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses within this specific award. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem from this particular contract is likely negligible.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under the Federal Aviation Administration's contracting officers and program managers. As a purchase order, it is a less complex instrument than a large prime contract, but still subject to standard procurement regulations and internal agency oversight. Transparency is generally maintained through contract databases, though specific details of the repair and justification for the sole-source award may be limited in public disclosures.

Related Government Programs

Aircraft Engine Repair
Aviation Maintenance Services
Foreign Object Debris (FOD) Mitigation
Federal Aviation Administration Procurement

Risk Flags

Sole-source award
Potential safety implications of FOD damage
Urgent need for repair

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Transportation awarded $440,946.55 to STANDARDAERO ATLANTIC, INC.. ** AOG** N80 ENGINE CHANGE DUE TO FOD DAMAGE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is STANDARDAERO ATLANTIC, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $440,946.55.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-07-25. End: 2025-08-22.

What is the specific type of aircraft and engine model requiring repair, and what is the typical cost range for such repairs?

The provided data does not specify the aircraft or engine model. However, the contract value of $440,946.55 suggests a significant repair, potentially for a commercial or military transport-grade engine. Costs for engine repairs can vary dramatically based on the model, the extent of damage, and whether components need replacement or can be refurbished. For large turbofan engines, major overhauls or repairs due to significant damage like FOD can easily run into hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars. Without the specific model, precise benchmarking is difficult, but the awarded amount falls within the plausible range for substantial engine work.

What is the justification for the sole-source award, and were alternative solutions considered?

The data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures), and the award type is 'PURCHASE ORDER'. While not explicitly stating 'sole-source', the absence of competition under SAP and the single awardee strongly imply a sole-source or limited-source justification. Typical reasons for sole-source awards in aviation maintenance include unique manufacturer support agreements, highly specialized repair capabilities possessed by only one entity, or urgent and compelling circumstances where only one vendor can respond in time. The FAA would have internal documentation justifying this approach, likely related to the specific technical requirements of repairing FOD damage on a particular engine type or an urgent need to return the aircraft to service.

What is the historical spending pattern with STANDARDAERO ATLANTIC, INC. for similar services?

The provided data does not include historical spending information for STANDARDAERO ATLANTIC, INC. To assess their track record and pricing consistency, one would need to access broader federal procurement databases (like FPDS or USASpending.gov) to review past contracts awarded to this vendor. Analyzing their previous awards for engine repair, maintenance, or related aviation services would reveal patterns in contract values, competition levels, and performance history, providing context for the current award.

What are the potential risks associated with Foreign Object Debris (FOD) damage to aircraft engines?

Foreign Object Debris (FOD) refers to any object foreign to an aircraft that can cause damage. In jet engines, FOD ingestion can lead to catastrophic failures. Risks include blade damage (cracks, nicks, bending), reduced engine efficiency, increased vibration, and in severe cases, complete engine failure, which poses a significant safety hazard to the aircraft, its occupants, and people on the ground. The need for repair due to FOD damage highlights the critical importance of rigorous FOD prevention programs at airports and during aircraft operations and maintenance.

How does this contract's value compare to the overall FAA budget for aircraft maintenance?

The FAA's budget is substantial, encompassing a wide range of activities including air traffic control, safety regulation, infrastructure grants, and aircraft operations. A single engine repair contract valued at approximately $440,000 represents a relatively small fraction of the FAA's overall annual budget, which can be in the tens of billions of dollars. While this specific contract is significant for the repair itself, its proportion within the entire FAA financial landscape is modest. Benchmarking against the FAA's total maintenance expenditure would require detailed budget breakdowns, but this contract is likely a routine operational expense rather than a major capital investment.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Support Activities for Air Transportation › Other Support Activities for Air Transportation

Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP

Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 800 AEROSPACE BLVD, SUMMERSIDE

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Foreign-Owned and U.S.-Incorporated Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $440,947

Exercised Options: $440,947

Current Obligation: $440,947

Actual Outlays: $48,972

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES

Timeline