DoD Awards $196.7M for Blossom Point Tracking Facility Node R&D to Parsons Government Services

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $196,707,369 ($196.7M)

Contractor: Parsons Government Services Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2019-05-17

End Date: 2024-05-16

Contract Duration: 1,826 days

Daily Burn Rate: $107.7K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: BLOSSOM POINT TRACKING FACILITY NODE

Place of Performance

Location: CENTREVILLE, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20120

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $196.7 million to PARSONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES INC. for work described as: BLOSSOM POINT TRACKING FACILITY NODE Key points: 1. Significant R&D investment in a specialized facility. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about price discovery. 3. Long-term contract duration (5 years) suggests ongoing needs. 4. High value contract in the Research and Development sector.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the $196.7M price represents fair value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, indicating a lack of competition. This limits the government's ability to leverage market forces for better pricing and potentially higher quality.

Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition for this large contract may result in taxpayers paying a premium compared to a competitively bid scenario.

Public Impact

Supports advanced research and development capabilities for the Air Force. Potential for technological advancements stemming from the facility's operations. Long-term commitment indicates strategic importance for national security.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Positive Signals

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is crucial for innovation but requires careful oversight due to its complex and often less predictable nature.

Small Business Impact

There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this sole-source award, suggesting limited opportunities for small business participation in this specific contract.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award warrants close oversight to ensure cost controls and performance meet expectations. Transparency in reporting and milestone achievement will be critical.

Related Government Programs

Risk Flags

Tags

research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, va, definitive-contract, 100m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $196.7 million to PARSONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES INC.. BLOSSOM POINT TRACKING FACILITY NODE

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PARSONS GOVERNMENT SERVICES 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 $196.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2019-05-17. End: 2024-05-16.

What justification was provided for the sole-source award, and how does it align with federal procurement regulations for R&D?

The provided data does not include the specific justification for the sole-source award. Federal regulations typically allow sole-source procurement when only one responsible source can satisfy agency requirements. For R&D, this might be due to unique expertise, proprietary technology, or critical urgency. A thorough review of the justification is needed to ensure it meets the stringent criteria and that alternatives were adequately considered.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will their achievement be measured to ensure value for money?

The data does not specify the KPIs for this Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract. Effective oversight would require clearly defined technical and programmatic milestones. The government should actively monitor progress against these KPIs, ensuring that the fixed fee is earned through demonstrable achievements and that costs remain within projected bounds, especially given the lack of competitive pressure.

How does the $196.7M award compare to similar R&D facility development or operational contracts within the DoD or other federal agencies?

Benchmarking this $196.7M award is challenging without more specific details on the scope of work, facility size, and technological capabilities. However, for large-scale R&D infrastructure projects, this figure represents a substantial investment. A comparative analysis would require access to similar contract data, ideally from competitively sourced efforts, to establish a reliable benchmark for cost-effectiveness.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesScientific Research and Development ServicesResearch and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTSpace R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Parsons Corporation

Address: 5875 TRINITY PKWY STE 230, CENTREVILLE, VA, 20120

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $248,291,294

Exercised Options: $248,291,294

Current Obligation: $196,707,369

Actual Outlays: $18,159,974

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 47

Total Subaward Amount: $17,820,233

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline

Start Date: 2019-05-17

Current End Date: 2024-05-16

Potential End Date: 2024-05-16 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2025-09-18

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