DoD's $102M 'BIG SAFARI' contract awarded to Sierra Nevada Company for unspecified technical services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $102,413,582 ($102.4M)
Contractor: Sierra Nevada Company, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2023-09-25
End Date: 2025-04-30
Contract Duration: 583 days
Daily Burn Rate: $175.7K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
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 $102.4 million to SIERRA NEVADA COMPANY, LLC for work described as: BIG SAFARI Key points: 1. Significant contract value of over $100 million. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and potential cost savings. 3. Long duration of 583 days suggests a complex or ongoing requirement. 4. Services fall under 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' (NAICS 541990).
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's value of $102.4 million for 583 days, with a reported base value of $1.76 million, lacks clear per-unit cost data. Without a competitive bidding process, it's difficult to assess if the pricing is optimal compared to market rates for similar technical services.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, indicating a lack of competition. This method limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for taxpayers compared to a fully competed procurement.
Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this award means taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible price due to the absence of competitive pressure.
Public Impact
Lack of transparency in the 'BIG SAFARI' program's objectives and deliverables. Potential for inflated costs due to sole-source award impacting taxpayer funds. Limited visibility into the specific technical services being procured. Questions arise about the necessity of a sole-source award for such a substantial contract.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- Unspecified services
- High contract value
Positive Signals
- Potential for specialized capabilities
- Long-term engagement
Sector Analysis
The 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' sector is broad, encompassing a wide range of specialized support. Without more detail on 'BIG SAFARI,' it's hard to benchmark against typical spending, but large sole-source awards in this category warrant scrutiny.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award, suggesting a missed opportunity for small business participation and economic development.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award necessitates robust oversight to ensure the contractor is delivering value and that the pricing remains fair throughout the contract's duration.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Air Force Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for cost overruns
- Limited transparency
- Unclear program objectives
- No small business participation
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 $102.4 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 $102.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-09-25. End: 2025-04-30.
What specific technical services does the 'BIG SAFARI' program entail, and why was a sole-source award deemed necessary?
The 'BIG SAFARI' program's specific technical services are not detailed in the provided data. A sole-source award is typically justified when only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services, often due to unique capabilities, urgent needs, or specific program requirements. However, without further information, the rationale for this sole-source decision remains unclear and warrants investigation to ensure it aligns with procurement regulations and best practices.
What is the estimated cost per day or per deliverable for the services provided under this contract?
The provided data does not offer a clear breakdown of costs per day or per deliverable. The total contract value is $102.4 million over 583 days. While a base value of $1.76 million is mentioned, the distribution of the remaining funds is not specified. This lack of granular cost data makes it challenging to assess the efficiency and value for money being achieved.
How does the performance of Sierra Nevada Company on this contract align with industry benchmarks for similar technical services?
Assessing Sierra Nevada Company's performance against industry benchmarks is difficult without knowing the specific technical services rendered under the 'BIG SAFARI' program. The sole-source nature of the award also limits comparative analysis. Future performance reviews and any available contract close-out data would be necessary to evaluate effectiveness relative to industry standards.
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: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 12500 BELFORD AVE, ENGLEWOOD, CO, 80112
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: $102,413,582
Exercised Options: $102,413,582
Current Obligation: $102,413,582
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 43
Total Subaward Amount: $5,985,714
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA862021G4009
IDV Type: BOA
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-09-25
Current End Date: 2025-04-30
Potential End Date: 2025-04-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-18
More Contracts from Sierra Nevada Company, LLC
- Survivable Airborne Operations Center (saoc) — $2.6B (Department of Defense)
- SNC Model DO 0001 — $655.3M (Department of Defense)
- Engineering&manufacturing Development — $495.7M (Department of Defense)
- BIG Safari — $442.6M (Department of Defense)
- BIG Safari — $429.7M (Department of Defense)
Other Department of Defense Contracts
- Federal Contract — $51.3B (Humana Government Business Inc)
- Lrip LOT 12 Advance Acquisition Contract — $35.1B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- SSN 802 and 803 Long Lead Time Material — $34.7B (Electric Boat Corporation)
- 200204!008532!1700!AF600 !naval AIR Systems Command !N0001902C3002 !A!N! !N! !20011026!20120430!008016958!008016958!834951691!n!lockheed Martin Corporation !lockheed Blvd !fort Worth !tx!76108!27000!439!48!fort Worth !tarrant !texas !+000026000000!n!n!018981928201!ac15!rdte/Aircraft-Eng/Manuf Develop !a1a!airframes and Spares !2ama!jast/Jsf !336411!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B! ! !A! !a!n!r!2!002!n!1a!a!n!z! ! !N!C!N! ! ! !a!a!a!a!000!a!c!n! ! ! !Y! !N00019!0001! — $34.2B (Lockheed Martin Corporation)
- KC-X Modernization Program — $32.0B (THE Boeing Company)