DoD's $16.45M R&D contract to OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC for warfighter decision support

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $16,450,016 ($16.5M)

Contractor: Oasis Systems, LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2021-04-01

End Date: 2026-03-31

Contract Duration: 1,825 days

Daily Burn Rate: $9.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: ACC/A5JI MISSION IS TO IMPROVE WARFIGHTER CAPABILITY TO GET DECISION-QUALITY INFORMATION TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

Place of Performance

Location: HAMPTON, HAMPTON CITY County, VIRGINIA, 23665

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $16.5 million to OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC for work described as: ACC/A5JI MISSION IS TO IMPROVE WARFIGHTER CAPABILITY TO GET DECISION-QUALITY INFORMATION TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME. Key points: 1. Contract aims to enhance warfighter decision-making through improved information delivery. 2. OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC, a relatively small entity, secured this significant R&D award. 3. The contract is structured as a Firm Fixed Price delivery order, indicating defined scope and cost. 4. Performance period spans 5 years, suggesting a long-term need for these capabilities. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541715 points to specialized R&D services. 6. This award falls under the broader category of Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 7. The contract is a delivery order against a larger indefinite-delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract, likely OASIS.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $16.45 million over five years suggests a moderate investment in R&D for decision support systems. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts in defense requires detailed analysis of scope and deliverables, but the fixed-price nature provides cost certainty. The award to OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC, a company with a smaller federal contracting footprint compared to prime defense contractors, warrants attention regarding their capacity and past performance on similar scale projects. Further analysis would involve comparing the specific technical requirements and expected outcomes against industry standards and other government R&D efforts.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit offers. The presence of 4 bids suggests a reasonable level of competition for this specialized R&D requirement. While not a large number of bidders, it demonstrates that multiple firms were interested and capable of meeting the government's needs. This competitive process is expected to drive fair pricing and encourage innovation from the participating contractors.

Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to more cost-effective solutions and better value for the government's investment.

Public Impact

Directly benefits warfighters by providing decision-quality information. Enhances operational effectiveness through timely and accurate data dissemination. Supports the Department of the Air Force's mission objectives. Potential for technology transfer and broader application in defense intelligence. May involve a specialized workforce of researchers, engineers, and technical experts.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Contractor's track record on similarly complex R&D projects needs verification.
Ensuring the delivered technology meets the evolving needs of the warfighter.
Potential for scope creep in R&D contracts if not tightly managed.

Positive Signals

Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost predictability.
Long-term performance period (5 years) indicates sustained government need and potential for stable R&D investment.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. The market for defense-related R&D is substantial, driven by the need for technological superiority. Companies like OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC operate in a niche that requires specialized expertise. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other DoD contracts for advanced research in areas like data analytics, command and control systems, and intelligence support, which often involve significant R&D investment.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses, nor does it indicate any subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. The prime contractor, OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC, is a small business, which is a positive signal for the small business ecosystem. However, the lack of explicit subcontracting goals means the broader impact on the small business supply chain for this specific contract is not detailed.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of the Air Force, as the contracting activity, will oversee this contract. Oversight mechanisms would typically include regular progress reviews, technical evaluations of deliverables, and financial audits. Accountability is ensured through the firm fixed-price contract terms, requiring OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC to deliver specified outcomes within the agreed budget. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements, though specific project details may be sensitive.

Related Government Programs

Defense Intelligence Support
Command and Control Systems R&D
Warfighter Information Systems
Advanced Technology Development
Air Force Research Laboratory Programs

Risk Flags

Potential for technology obsolescence in rapidly evolving R&D field.
Dependence on a single small business prime contractor for critical capability enhancement.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $16.5 million to OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC. ACC/A5JI MISSION IS TO IMPROVE WARFIGHTER CAPABILITY TO GET DECISION-QUALITY INFORMATION TO THE RIGHT PEOPLE AT THE RIGHT TIME.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC.

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 $16.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2021-04-01. End: 2026-03-31.

What is the specific technological capability OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC is expected to develop or enhance under this contract?

The provided data indicates the contract's purpose is to 'improve warfighter capability to get decision-quality information to the right people at the right time.' While the exact technological solution is not detailed, it implies advancements in areas such as data fusion, real-time analytics, secure communication networks, or advanced visualization tools. The NAICS code 541715 suggests the R&D will likely involve physical sciences, engineering, or life sciences applications, potentially leading to new hardware, software, or integrated systems that enhance situational awareness and decision-making speed and accuracy for military personnel.

How does the $16.45 million contract value compare to typical R&D spending for similar defense intelligence support capabilities?

The $16.45 million contract value over five years, averaging approximately $3.29 million per year, represents a moderate investment for a specialized R&D effort within the Department of Defense. Defense R&D spending can range from millions to billions of dollars depending on the scope, technological maturity, and strategic importance. For a specific capability enhancement like improving decision-quality information flow, this funding level is plausible for focused research and development activities. However, without knowing the precise technical objectives and the maturity of the proposed solutions, a direct comparison to 'typical' spending is challenging. It is not an exceptionally large award, suggesting a targeted research effort rather than a broad system development program.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or metrics used to evaluate the success of this contract?

Specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for this contract are not detailed in the provided summary data. However, given the contract's objective to 'improve warfighter capability to get decision-quality information to the right people at the right time,' success metrics would likely revolve around improvements in information timeliness, accuracy, accessibility, and the resulting impact on decision-making speed and effectiveness. This could be measured through user feedback from warfighters, performance testing of the developed systems under simulated or real-world conditions, reduction in information latency, and successful integration into existing command and control architectures. The contracting officer's representative (COR) would typically define and monitor these KPIs throughout the contract performance period.

What is OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC's experience and track record with similar government R&D contracts?

The provided data identifies OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC as the contractor but does not detail their specific experience or track record with similar government R&D contracts. As a small business, their portfolio might be more specialized or focused on specific technological niches. To assess their capability, one would need to review their past performance information, including previous awards, contract values, client satisfaction ratings (e.g., CPARS), and the complexity of projects they have successfully executed. Their ability to secure a full and open competition award suggests they met the minimum qualifications, but a deeper dive into their history is necessary to fully gauge their suitability for this particular R&D endeavor.

What is the potential risk associated with this contract, and what mitigation strategies are in place?

Potential risks for this R&D contract include technical challenges in developing novel solutions, potential for schedule delays, cost overruns (though mitigated by FFP), and the risk that the developed technology may not be adopted or prove effective in operational environments. Mitigation strategies would involve robust project management by OASIS SYSTEMS, LLC, clear and achievable technical milestones, regular government oversight and feedback, and thorough testing and validation processes. The firm fixed-price structure incentivizes the contractor to manage costs effectively. The Air Force's contracting and technical teams would also monitor progress closely to identify and address issues proactively.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

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

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 200 SUMMIT DR STE 510, BURLINGTON, MA, 01803

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $21,674,860

Exercised Options: $17,900,515

Current Obligation: $16,450,016

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 13

Total Subaward Amount: $3,019,138

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 47QRAD20DU314

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline