DoD's $84M AC-208 Aircraft Manufacturing Contract Awarded to Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $84,006,004 ($84.0M)

Contractor: Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2018-03-09

End Date: 2020-05-28

Contract Duration: 811 days

Daily Burn Rate: $103.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: ACAT III BIG SAFARI AFGHANISTAN AC-208

Place of Performance

Location: POWAY, SAN DIEGO County, CALIFORNIA, 92064

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $84.0 million to ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS OPERATIONS LLC for work described as: ACAT III BIG SAFARI AFGHANISTAN AC-208 Key points: 1. Contract awarded for Aircraft Manufacturing (NAICS 336411). 2. Significant value of $84M over 811 days. 3. Awarded to Alliant Techsystems Operations LLC. 4. No small business participation noted. 5. Contract type is Firm Fixed Price.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $84M for AC-208 aircraft manufacturing appears substantial. Benchmarking against similar aircraft manufacturing contracts would be necessary to definitively assess pricing fairness, especially given the lack of competition.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source or limited competition award. This lack of competition raises concerns about price discovery and potentially higher costs for taxpayers.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition may lead to higher costs than a fully competed contract, impacting taxpayer value.

Public Impact

Supports Department of the Air Force operations. Potential impact on aviation manufacturing sector. Lack of competition may limit innovation and cost savings.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Lack of competition
No small business participation
Potential for overpricing due to sole-source award

Positive Signals

Firm Fixed Price contract type can provide cost certainty
Definitive contract provides clear terms

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Aircraft Manufacturing sector, a critical component of the defense industrial base. Spending in this sector is often driven by national security needs and technological advancements.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates no small business participation in this contract. This is a missed opportunity to support small businesses and could indicate a lack of outreach or specific capability requirements that favored larger firms.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is crucial for sole-source contracts to ensure fair pricing and performance. The Department of Defense's contracting officers are responsible for ensuring the contractor meets all requirements and delivers value.

Related Government Programs

Aircraft Manufacturing
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Air Force Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for cost overruns
Limited transparency in pricing
No small business involvement

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $84.0 million to ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS OPERATIONS LLC. ACAT III BIG SAFARI AFGHANISTAN AC-208

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is ALLIANT TECHSYSTEMS OPERATIONS 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 $84.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-03-09. End: 2020-05-28.

What was the justification for not competing this significant aircraft manufacturing contract?

The justification for not competing this $84M contract is not provided in the data. Typically, sole-source awards require a documented justification, such as a lack of available sources, urgent need, or specific proprietary technology. Further investigation into the contract file would be needed to understand the rationale.

How does the $84M contract value compare to similar AC-208 procurement or manufacturing efforts?

Without specific benchmarks for AC-208 manufacturing or similar aircraft programs, it's difficult to definitively assess the value. A comparative analysis with historical data or industry benchmarks for comparable aircraft systems would be necessary to determine if $84M represents a fair price, especially considering the lack of competitive bidding.

What is the expected operational effectiveness and sustainment plan for the AC-208 aircraft procured under this contract?

The provided data focuses on the contract award and financial aspects, not the operational effectiveness or sustainment plan for the AC-208 aircraft. Information regarding performance metrics, deployment, maintenance schedules, and long-term support would be required to assess these factors.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Manufacturing › Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing › Aircraft Manufacturing

Product/Service Code: AEROSPACE CRAFT AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 173 AMERICAN CONCOURSE, FORT WORTH, TX, 76106

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $85,322,110

Exercised Options: $85,322,110

Current Obligation: $84,006,004

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 34

Total Subaward Amount: $9,105,095

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline