DoD's $34M ISR/SOF Advisory Services Contract Awarded to Whitney Bradley & Brown, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $34,032,375 ($34.0M)
Contractor: Whitney Bradley & Brown, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2015-08-06
End Date: 2020-11-30
Contract Duration: 1,943 days
Daily Burn Rate: $17.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 9
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF ACATI ENGINEERING, PROFESSIONAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES (EPASS) ADVISORY AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES (A&AS) SUPPORT IN SUPPORT OF INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE / SPECIAL OPERATION FORCES (ISR/SOF) DIRECTORATE GLOBAL HAWK DIVISION (AFLCMC/WIG)
Place of Performance
Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20170
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $34.0 million to WHITNEY BRADLEY & BROWN, INC. for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF ACATI ENGINEERING, PROFESSIONAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES (EPASS) ADVISORY AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES (A&AS) SUPPORT IN SUPPORT OF INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE / SPECIAL OPERATION FORCES (ISR/SOF) DIRECTORATE GLOBAL HAWK DIVISION (AFLCMC/WIG) Key points: 1. Contract supports critical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) and Special Operations Forces (SOF) missions. 2. Whitney Bradley & Brown, Inc. secured the award, indicating strong capabilities in specialized advisory services. 3. The contract falls under Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, suggesting a focus on innovation. 4. The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' method warrants scrutiny regarding its impact on price discovery.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's 'COST NO FEE' pricing structure is unusual and requires further investigation to understand its implications for value and contractor incentive. Benchmarking against similar R&D advisory contracts is difficult without more cost data.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' suggests a limited competition, potentially impacting the government's ability to secure the best possible price. The rationale for excluding sources needs to be clearly understood.
Taxpayer Impact: The limited competition may result in higher costs for taxpayers compared to a truly open competition, though the specific impact is unclear without further cost analysis.
Public Impact
Supports critical national security missions related to ISR and SOF. The contract's duration (2015-2020) suggests a long-term need for these specialized advisory services. Awardee's expertise is crucial for the success of advanced ISR/SOF programs. The specific nature of 'advisory and assistance services' implies a role in strategic planning, technical guidance, or program management.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition raises concerns about price reasonableness.
- Unusual 'COST NO FEE' pricing structure requires deeper analysis.
- Lack of detailed cost breakdown hinders value assessment.
Positive Signals
- Supports critical national security ISR/SOF missions.
- Awardee is a specialized firm with relevant expertise.
- Contract duration indicates sustained need for services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. Spending in this area often involves high-risk, high-reward initiatives aimed at technological advancement. Benchmarks for advisory services in this niche can vary significantly based on project complexity and required expertise.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small business participation was sought or achieved through subcontracting.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' method suggests a specific justification was made, which should be documented and auditable. Oversight is needed to ensure the exclusion of sources was appropriate and did not unduly restrict competition.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Air Force Programs
Risk Flags
- Limited competition may have inflated costs.
- Unclear pricing structure ('COST NO FEE') obscures value.
- Rationale for excluding sources needs verification.
- Potential for reduced contractor incentive due to fee structure.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, va, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $34.0 million to WHITNEY BRADLEY & BROWN, INC.. IGF::CL::IGF ACATI ENGINEERING, PROFESSIONAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES (EPASS) ADVISORY AND ASSISTANCE SERVICES (A&AS) SUPPORT IN SUPPORT OF INTELLIGENCE, SURVEILLANCE AND RECONNAISSANCE / SPECIAL OPERATION FORCES (ISR/SOF) DIRECTORATE GLOBAL HAWK DIVISION (AFLCMC/WIG)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WHITNEY BRADLEY & BROWN, INC..
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 $34.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2015-08-06. End: 2020-11-30.
What was the specific justification for excluding certain sources in this 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' award, and how did this impact the final price?
The justification for excluding sources in this type of competition typically relates to specific technical requirements, proprietary data, or unique capabilities that only a limited number of contractors possess. This exclusion can limit price competition, potentially leading to higher costs for the government if not carefully managed through negotiation and market research. A thorough review of the solicitation documents and award justification would be necessary to understand the precise reasons and their pricing implications.
How does the 'COST NO FEE' pricing structure affect the perceived value and risk for the government in this R&D advisory contract?
The 'COST NO FEE' structure is atypical for advisory services and raises questions about contractor incentives and the government's ability to ensure value. It suggests the contractor's fee is already incorporated into the cost structure, or perhaps waived. This could reduce the government's direct financial risk related to fees but might also diminish the contractor's motivation to control costs or deliver exceptional value, potentially increasing the risk of cost overruns or suboptimal performance.
What is the effectiveness of Whitney Bradley & Brown, Inc. in delivering advisory and assistance services for ISR/SOF programs, based on past performance and contract outcomes?
Assessing the effectiveness of Whitney Bradley & Brown, Inc. requires examining their past performance records, any available CPARS (Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System) data, and the specific outcomes achieved under this contract. Without access to these detailed performance metrics, it's difficult to definitively state their effectiveness. However, their selection for this critical ISR/SOF support role suggests a level of confidence from the Department of the Air Force in their capabilities.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 9
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Serco Limited
Address: 12930 WORLDGATE DR STE 600, HERNDON, VA, 20170
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $45,150,923
Exercised Options: $42,487,008
Current Obligation: $34,032,375
Actual Outlays: $1,539,363
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS00Q14OADS740
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2015-08-06
Current End Date: 2020-11-30
Potential End Date: 2020-11-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2024-05-23
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