DOT's FAA Awards $18.7M for Pseudo Pilot Support Services Under Full and Open Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $18,736,094 ($18.7M)
Contractor: International Fire Service Accredation Congress
Awarding Agency: Department of Transportation
Start Date: 2007-08-23
End Date: 2012-07-31
Contract Duration: 1,804 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: PSEUDO PILOT SUPPORT SERVICES DESCRIBED IN THE PWS APPENDIX B. ESTIMATED PSEUDO PILOTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2007: SHIFT 1, QTY. 50, 19 TRAINING DAYS, @ $179.77 /PILOT DAY SHIFT 2, QTY. 26, 19 TRAINING DAYS, @ $193.23 PILOT/DAY
Place of Performance
Location: STILLWATER, PAYNE County, OKLAHOMA, 74078
State: Oklahoma Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Transportation obligated $18.7 million to INTERNATIONAL FIRE SERVICE ACCREDATION CONGRESS for work described as: PSEUDO PILOT SUPPORT SERVICES DESCRIBED IN THE PWS APPENDIX B. ESTIMATED PSEUDO PILOTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2007: SHIFT 1, QTY. 50, 19 TRAINING DAYS, @ $179.77 /PILOT DAY SHIFT 2, QTY. 26, 19 TRAINING DAYS, @ $193.23 PILOT/DAY Key points: 1. The contract, valued at $18.7 million, covers pseudo pilot support services for the FAA. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract duration is approximately 5 years, from August 2007 to July 2012. 4. Services include training days for pseudo pilots across different shifts.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The per-unit costs for pilot days vary between shifts ($179.77 and $193.23). Without benchmarks for similar training services, it's difficult to definitively assess if these prices are competitive.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust price discovery process. This method typically leads to more competitive pricing compared to limited or sole-source awards.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award is positive for taxpayers, as it likely resulted in a more favorable price for the required pilot support services.
Public Impact
Pilots undergoing training will benefit from specialized support services. The FAA ensures continuity of operations through contracted support. Educational support services are crucial for maintaining aviation safety standards.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of clear benchmarks for per-unit costs.
- Potential for cost escalation over the 5-year contract term.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical support services.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Long-term contract provides stability for service provision.
- Services directly support aviation training and safety.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Educational Support Services, specifically related to aviation training. Spending in this sector is critical for maintaining a skilled workforce and ensuring operational readiness within agencies like the FAA.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses had an opportunity to participate in the bidding process.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a standard procurement process. Oversight would involve monitoring contractor performance against the PWS and ensuring adherence to the firm fixed price terms.
Related Government Programs
- Educational Support Services
- Department of Transportation Contracting
- Federal Aviation Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns if initial estimates are significantly lower than actual needs.
- Lack of detailed cost breakdown for the total contract value.
- Limited information on the specific tasks included in 'Pseudo Pilot Support Services'.
- Contract duration extends over multiple fiscal years, requiring sustained funding.
Tags
educational-support-services, department-of-transportation, ok, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Transportation awarded $18.7 million to INTERNATIONAL FIRE SERVICE ACCREDATION CONGRESS. PSEUDO PILOT SUPPORT SERVICES DESCRIBED IN THE PWS APPENDIX B. ESTIMATED PSEUDO PILOTS FOR SEPTEMBER 2007: SHIFT 1, QTY. 50, 19 TRAINING DAYS, @ $179.77 /PILOT DAY SHIFT 2, QTY. 26, 19 TRAINING DAYS, @ $193.23 PILOT/DAY
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is INTERNATIONAL FIRE SERVICE ACCREDATION CONGRESS.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Transportation (Federal Aviation Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $18.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-08-23. End: 2012-07-31.
What is the total estimated cost for Shift 1 and Shift 2 pseudo pilot days over the contract period?
For Shift 1, 50 pseudo pilots trained for 19 days at $179.77/pilot day, totaling $170,779. For Shift 2, 26 pseudo pilots trained for 19 days at $193.23/pilot day, totaling $94,682. The total estimated cost for these specific training periods is approximately $265,461. The overall contract value is $18,736,094.2, suggesting these are just initial estimates or specific task orders within a larger contract.
How does the per-unit cost compare to industry standards for similar pilot training support services?
Without specific industry benchmarks for 'pseudo pilot support services' or comparable training day rates, a direct comparison is challenging. The provided rates of $179.77 and $193.23 per pilot day are specific to this contract. A thorough analysis would require researching market rates for similar contracted training support in the aviation sector.
What mechanisms are in place to ensure the effectiveness and quality of the pseudo pilot support services?
Effectiveness and quality are typically ensured through the Performance Work Statement (PWS) which details specific requirements and deliverables. The contract type (Firm Fixed Price) incentivizes the contractor to meet these requirements efficiently. The FAA would likely have a Contracting Officer's Representative (COR) responsible for monitoring performance and ensuring compliance with the PWS throughout the contract duration.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Educational Services › Educational Support Services › Educational Support Services
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › DEFENSE (OTHER) R&D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1700 W TYLER ST STE 102, STILLWATER, OK, 03
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Government, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, U.S. Regional/State Government
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $924,000,000
Exercised Options: $58,762,908
Current Obligation: $18,736,094
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: DTFAAC07D00052
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-08-23
Current End Date: 2012-07-31
Potential End Date: 2012-07-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2009-08-22
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