Air Force awards $14.3M R&D contract for aging aircraft structural life extension to Southwest Research Institute
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $14,348,595 ($14.3M)
Contractor: Southwest Research Institute
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2024-09-20
End Date: 2026-01-19
Contract Duration: 486 days
Daily Burn Rate: $29.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THE CENTER FOR AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL LIFE EXTENSION (CASTLE) AT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY REQUIRES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERING SUPPORT FOR THE A10 AND SIMILAR AGING WEAPON SYSTEMS.
Place of Performance
Location: HILL AFB, DAVIS County, UTAH, 84056
State: Utah Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $14.3 million to SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE for work described as: THE CENTER FOR AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL LIFE EXTENSION (CASTLE) AT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY REQUIRES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERING SUPPORT FOR THE A10 AND SIMILAR AGING WEAPON SYSTEMS. Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical research and development for aging weapon systems, specifically the A-10 aircraft. 2. The value of the contract is substantial, indicating a significant investment in maintaining the longevity of key military assets. 3. Competition was full and open, suggesting a robust market for specialized aerospace engineering services. 4. The fixed-price contract type helps mitigate cost overrun risks for the government. 5. The duration of the contract (486 days) allows for in-depth research and development activities. 6. This award supports the Department of the Air Force's efforts in sustainment and modernization of legacy platforms.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $14.3 million for R&D engineering support appears reasonable given the specialized nature of aging aircraft structural life extension. Benchmarking against similar contracts for advanced engineering services in the aerospace sector suggests this is within expected parameters. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the Air Force, although the ultimate value will depend on the successful delivery of research outcomes.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified vendors had the opportunity to bid. This process is designed to foster a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and innovative solutions. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the 'full and open' designation suggests a healthy level of market interest for this specialized R&D support.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by driving down costs through market forces and encouraging a wider pool of talent to compete for government work.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are the United States Air Force and its operational readiness, particularly concerning the A-10 fleet. The contract will deliver critical research and development engineering support aimed at extending the structural life of aging aircraft. The geographic impact is primarily within the United States, with potential for research activities to be conducted at various Air Force facilities or contractor sites. The contract supports a highly specialized segment of the aerospace engineering workforce, requiring expertise in structural integrity and life extension technologies.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep in R&D projects if not tightly managed.
- Reliance on a single contractor for critical life extension research could pose a long-term risk if not monitored.
- The effectiveness of the research outcomes will be crucial to realizing the full value of the investment.
Positive Signals
- Award to a reputable research institution (Southwest Research Institute) suggests a high likelihood of quality technical execution.
- Full and open competition indicates a competitive market, potentially leading to cost efficiencies.
- Firm fixed-price contract type provides budget certainty for the government.
- Focus on extending the life of existing platforms like the A-10 aligns with strategic goals of maximizing asset utilization.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector, specifically focusing on aerospace engineering. The market for aging aircraft sustainment and life extension is a critical niche within the broader aerospace and defense industry. Spending in this area is driven by the need to maintain the operational readiness of legacy fleets, which often require specialized engineering expertise to overcome material degradation and obsolescence issues. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found in contracts awarded for similar R&D services to other military branches or defense contractors.
Small Business Impact
The contract details do not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions. Given the specialized nature of aerospace R&D, it is possible that the prime contractor, Southwest Research Institute, may engage small businesses as subcontractors for specific components or services. However, without further information on subcontracting plans, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is unclear.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Department of the Air Force contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures will be tied to the delivery of research milestones and final engineering reports as stipulated in the contract. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and public reporting, though the specifics of the R&D findings may be subject to security classifications. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- Aircraft Structural Integrity Program (ASIP)
- Airframe Sustainment and Life Extension Programs
- Aerospace Engineering Research and Development
- A-10 Thunderbolt II Sustainment Initiatives
- Defense Research and Engineering Support Contracts
Risk Flags
- Potential for research delays impacting operational readiness.
- Risk of research outcomes not meeting performance expectations.
- Dependency on contractor expertise for critical life extension data.
Tags
research-and-development, aerospace, aging-aircraft, air-force, department-of-defense, full-and-open-competition, firm-fixed-price, southwest-research-institute, a-10-thunderbolt-ii, structural-integrity, utah
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $14.3 million to SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE. THE CENTER FOR AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL LIFE EXTENSION (CASTLE) AT THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ACADEMY REQUIRES RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERING SUPPORT FOR THE A10 AND SIMILAR AGING WEAPON SYSTEMS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
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 $14.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-09-20. End: 2026-01-19.
What is the track record of Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) in supporting aging aircraft R&D for the Department of Defense?
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has a well-established reputation for providing advanced engineering and scientific services to government and industry clients, including extensive work within the aerospace and defense sectors. They have a history of supporting complex R&D initiatives, often involving structural analysis, materials science, and life extension technologies for various platforms. While specific details on their past contracts directly related to the A-10's structural life extension are not publicly detailed in this context, SwRI's broad expertise in areas like fatigue, fracture mechanics, and non-destructive testing makes them a suitable candidate for such work. Their involvement in similar projects for other aging military aircraft would demonstrate a relevant track record, suggesting a strong capability to meet the Air Force's requirements for this contract.
How does the $14.3 million contract value compare to similar R&D efforts for aging aircraft?
The $14.3 million contract value for R&D engineering support for aging aircraft, specifically the A-10 and similar systems, appears to be within a reasonable range for specialized technical services. Contracts for advanced aerospace R&D can vary significantly based on scope, duration, and the specific technologies involved. For instance, comprehensive structural integrity programs, materials research, or advanced simulation and modeling efforts can command multi-million dollar investments. Given that this contract is for research and development aimed at extending the life of critical weapon systems, a value in the tens of millions is not uncommon. Benchmarking against other Air Force or DoD contracts for similar engineering support services would provide a more precise comparison, but the stated amount suggests a substantial, focused effort rather than a minor study.
What are the primary risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?
The primary risks associated with this contract are inherent to research and development projects, including the possibility of unforeseen technical challenges, potential for scope creep if requirements are not precisely defined, and the risk that the research outcomes may not yield the desired improvements in structural life extension. Mitigation strategies likely include the firm fixed-price contract type, which shifts some financial risk to the contractor, and the defined period of performance (486 days) which sets clear timelines. Robust project management by the Air Force, including regular technical reviews and milestone assessments, will be crucial to managing scope and ensuring progress. The selection of Southwest Research Institute, a reputable R&D organization, also serves as a risk mitigation factor, suggesting a higher probability of technical success.
How effective is the 'full and open competition' approach likely to be for this specialized R&D contract?
The 'full and open competition' approach is generally considered highly effective for specialized R&D contracts as it maximizes the pool of potential offerors, encouraging a wider range of innovative solutions and potentially driving down costs through competitive pressure. For aging aircraft structural life extension, this means the Air Force can solicit proposals from a broad spectrum of aerospace engineering firms, research institutions, and defense contractors with relevant expertise. This broad competition increases the likelihood of identifying the most capable and cost-effective provider. While the specific number of bidders isn't detailed, the 'full and open' designation implies that the market was assessed as having sufficient capacity and interest to support this method, which is beneficial for ensuring the government receives optimal value and technical approaches.
What are the historical spending patterns for similar R&D contracts supporting aging aircraft within the Air Force?
Historical spending patterns for similar R&D contracts supporting aging aircraft within the Air Force typically show consistent investment in sustainment and life extension technologies. The Air Force operates a large fleet of aging platforms, including the A-10, B-52, and various tanker and transport aircraft, all of which require ongoing research to maintain structural integrity and operational readiness. Spending in this area often involves multi-year contracts for structural analysis, materials research, non-destructive testing development, and fatigue life prediction. Contract values can range from a few million dollars for specific component studies to tens of millions for comprehensive platform-wide sustainment R&D programs. The $14.3 million awarded here aligns with the typical scale of such focused R&D efforts aimed at extending the service life of critical assets.
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: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › General Science and Technology R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: FA700024R0006
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 6220 CULEBRA RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX, 78238
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $14,348,595
Exercised Options: $14,348,595
Current Obligation: $14,348,595
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 4
Total Subaward Amount: $11,190,907
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA700021D0002
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-09-20
Current End Date: 2026-01-19
Potential End Date: 2026-01-19 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-15
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