DoD Awards $14M Contract for Tank Automotive Research to IIT Research Institute
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $23,546,772 ($23.5M)
Contractor: Alion Science and Technology Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2002-06-27
End Date: 2005-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,191 days
Daily Burn Rate: $19.8K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: 200212!002866!2100!AE07 !TACOM - WARREN !DAAE0702CL059 !A!N! !Y! !20020627!20040630!005447826!005447826!005447826!N!IIT RESEARCH INSTITUTE !10 WEST 35TH STREET !CHICAGO !IL!60616!14000!031!17!CHICAGO !COOK !ILLINOIS !+000003371000!N!N!000000000000!AC42!RDTE/TANK - AUTOMOTIVE-APPLIED RESEARCH !A4B!NON-COMBAT VEHICLES !1000!NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !20040630!B! ! !A! !D!N!U!1!001!N!1A!Z!Y!Z! ! !N!Z!N! ! ! ! ! !A!A!000!A!C!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001!
Place of Performance
Location: CHICAGO, COOK County, ILLINOIS, 60616
State: Illinois Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $23.5 million to ALION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION for work described as: 200212!002866!2100!AE07 !TACOM - WARREN !DAAE0702CL059 !A!N! !Y! !20020627!20040630!005447826!005447826!005447826!N!IIT RESEARCH INSTITUTE !10 WEST 35TH STREET !CHICAGO !IL!60616!14000!031!17!CHICAGO !COOK … Key points: 1. Contract awarded for research and development in tank automotive technology. 2. IIT Research Institute, a non-small business, secured the award. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, indicating potential cost overruns. 4. The sector is primarily R&D, with a focus on defense applications.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value is $14 million over approximately 3 years. Benchmarking is difficult without specific deliverables, but the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure warrants scrutiny for cost efficiency.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was not competed, listed as 'NOT COMPETED'. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: Lack of competition may result in higher prices than a fully competed contract, impacting taxpayer value.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be paying more due to the lack of competitive bidding. The research supports advancements in military vehicle technology. The contract duration of nearly 3 years suggests a significant R&D effort.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost-plus contract type
- Potential for cost overruns
Positive Signals
- Supports critical defense R&D
- Long-term research effort
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on tank and automotive technologies for the Department of Defense. Spending in this area is critical for military modernization but requires careful oversight to ensure value.
Small Business Impact
The awardee, IIT Research Institute, is not a small business. There is no indication of small business subcontracting in the provided data.
Oversight & Accountability
The limited competition and cost-plus contract type suggest a need for robust oversight to ensure the government receives fair value and that research objectives are met efficiently.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of full and open competition
- Cost-plus contract type increases risk of cost overruns
- Awardee is not a small business
- Limited transparency on specific research deliverables
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, il, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $23.5 million to ALION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION. 200212!002866!2100!AE07 !TACOM - WARREN !DAAE0702CL059 !A!N! !Y! !20020627!20040630!005447826!005447826!005447826!N!IIT RESEARCH INSTITUTE !10 WEST 35TH STREET !CHICAGO !IL!60616!14000!031!17!CHICAGO !COOK !ILLINOIS !+000003371000!N!N!000000000000!AC42!RDTE/TANK - AUTOMOTIVE-APPLIED RESEARCH !A4B!NON-COMBAT VEHICLES !1000!NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !20040630!B
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ALION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $23.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2002-06-27. End: 2005-09-30.
What specific research objectives were pursued under this contract, and how were they aligned with DoD modernization goals?
The contract focused on 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences' specifically related to 'RDTE/TANK - AUTOMOTIVE-APPLIED RESEARCH' and 'NON-COMBAT VEHICLES'. While the exact objectives are not detailed, the aim was likely to improve the performance, reliability, or capabilities of military ground vehicles, contributing to the overall modernization and operational effectiveness of the Army's fleet.
Given the limited competition, what mechanisms were in place to ensure the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure yielded a fair price for the research conducted?
With limited competition, the government relies heavily on pre-negotiated rates, historical cost data, and detailed audits to ensure fairness in cost-plus contracts. The contracting officer would have needed to justify the lack of competition and ensure the fixed fee was reasonable based on the anticipated effort and risk. Robust oversight during contract performance is crucial to monitor costs and prevent overruns.
How does the $14 million investment in tank automotive research compare to similar R&D investments within the DoD for non-combat vehicles?
Without specific benchmarks for comparable non-combat vehicle R&D contracts, it's challenging to definitively assess if $14 million is high or low. However, R&D investments in defense are substantial and vary widely based on technological complexity and program duration. This contract's value appears moderate for a multi-year R&D effort, but its true value depends on the criticality of the research and the outcomes achieved.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › C – National Defense R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 10 WEST 35TH ST, CHICAGO, IL, 60616
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2002-06-27
Current End Date: 2005-09-30
Potential End Date: 2005-09-30 12:09:00
Last Modified: 2016-11-23
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