DoD's $442.6M 'BIG SAFARI' Contract Awarded to Sierra Nevada Company for Technical Services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $442,591,905 ($442.6M)
Contractor: Sierra Nevada Company, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2018-10-31
End Date: 2022-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,430 days
Daily Burn Rate: $309.5K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: BIG SAFARI
Place of Performance
Location: ENGLEWOOD, DENVER County, COLORADO, 80112
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $442.6 million to SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, LLC for work described as: BIG SAFARI Key points: 1. Significant contract value of over $442 million awarded to a single vendor. 2. Limited competition due to 'NOT COMPETED' status raises questions about price discovery. 3. Potential risk associated with sole-source awards and lack of competitive pressure. 4. Services fall under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' sector.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's cost-plus-fixed-fee structure, combined with a 'NOT COMPETED' award, makes a direct pricing assessment difficult without further data. Benchmarking against similar sole-source contracts in this broad service category is challenging.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis ('NOT COMPETED'), indicating a lack of competitive bidding. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for taxpayers compared to a fully competed contract.
Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this large award suggests potential for overpayment and reduced value for taxpayer funds.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the absence of competitive bidding. Lack of transparency in the procurement process could obscure the true value received. The broad nature of 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' makes it difficult to assess specific impacts without more detail on the services provided.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- Cost-plus contract type
- Broad service category
Positive Signals
- Contract awarded to a specific company, potentially indicating specialized capabilities.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the broad 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' category. Spending in this sector can vary widely, but large sole-source awards like this warrant scrutiny to ensure fair pricing and necessity.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses, suggesting a focus on larger, established contractors for these specialized services.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'NOT COMPETED' status and sole-source award necessitate robust oversight to ensure the contractor is delivering value and that the pricing is justified, despite the lack of competition.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Air Force Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for inflated costs due to sole-source award.
- Lack of transparency in the procurement process.
- Difficulty in benchmarking pricing against competitors.
- Risk of vendor lock-in.
- Broad service category may obscure specific value.
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, department-of-defense, co, delivery-order, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $442.6 million to SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, LLC. BIG SAFARI
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, 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 $442.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-10-31. End: 2022-09-30.
What specific technical services are included under 'BIG SAFARI' to justify a sole-source award of this magnitude?
Without detailed documentation on the 'BIG SAFARI' program, it's impossible to ascertain the specific technical services. However, such large sole-source awards typically involve highly specialized, proprietary, or urgent requirements where only one vendor possesses the necessary expertise or technology, justifying the lack of competition.
What mechanisms are in place to ensure cost control and value for money in this cost-plus-fixed-fee, sole-source contract?
In cost-plus-fixed-fee sole-source contracts, value for money is typically ensured through stringent oversight, detailed performance metrics, and negotiation of the fixed fee based on estimated costs and profit. Regular audits and reviews of incurred costs are crucial to prevent overruns and ensure the government receives the intended value.
How does the Department of the Air Force ensure accountability and performance for 'BIG SAFARI' given the limited competition?
Accountability and performance are managed through rigorous contract administration, including regular progress reports, milestone tracking, and performance evaluations. The Air Force likely employs technical experts to monitor the contractor's adherence to the statement of work and the achievement of program objectives, even without competitive pressure.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT 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
Parent Company: Sierra Nevada Corporation
Address: 444 SALOMON CIR, SPARKS, NV, 89434
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $453,086,289
Exercised Options: $453,086,289
Current Obligation: $442,591,905
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 283
Total Subaward Amount: $70,631,866
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA862016G3013
IDV Type: BOA
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-10-31
Current End Date: 2022-09-30
Potential End Date: 2022-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-06-20
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