DoD's $84.7M Research Contract with LINQUEST CORPORATION: A Deep Dive into Value and Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $84,659,397 ($84.7M)
Contractor: Linquest Corporation
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2017-03-24
End Date: 2020-03-28
Contract Duration: 1,100 days
Daily Burn Rate: $77.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: IGF::CT::IGF METIS
Place of Performance
Location: HERNDON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20171
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $84.7 million to LINQUEST CORPORATION for work described as: IGF::CT::IGF METIS Key points: 1. The contract awarded to LINQUEST CORPORATION for R&D services represents a significant investment by the Department of the Air Force. 2. Full and open competition after exclusion of sources suggests a structured procurement process, but the specific rationale for exclusion warrants scrutiny. 3. The firm fixed-price contract type aims to control costs, but the final value of $84.7M needs comparison against industry benchmarks. 4. The R&D sector, particularly in physical, engineering, and life sciences, is dynamic and requires continuous evaluation of technological advancements and market competitiveness.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's final value of $84.7 million for R&D services needs to be benchmarked against similar contracts within the physical, engineering, and life sciences sector. Without specific comparable data, assessing its pricing fairness is challenging.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The procurement method 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' indicates that while competition was sought, certain sources were excluded. This could impact price discovery and potentially limit the most competitive offers from reaching the government.
Taxpayer Impact: The final price of $84.7 million represents taxpayer funds allocated to R&D. Ensuring this expenditure yielded optimal value and was competitively priced is crucial for responsible fiscal management.
Public Impact
Taxpayers funded $84.7 million for research and development services for the Department of the Air Force. The contract supported advancements in physical, engineering, and life sciences, excluding biotechnology. LINQUEST CORPORATION was the awarded contractor for this significant R&D effort.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Exclusion of sources in a 'full and open' competition needs clarification.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes value assessment difficult.
- Contract duration and delivery order structure could impact cost control.
Positive Signals
- Firm fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty.
- Awarded to a single entity, potentially allowing for focused expertise.
- Contract supports critical R&D for the Department of Defense.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector, excluding biotechnology. Spending in this area is critical for technological advancement but can be subject to high variability and long development cycles, making benchmarking complex.
Small Business Impact
The provided data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract's oversight would typically involve the Department of the Air Force ensuring deliverables meet research objectives and financial accountability. The 'exclusion of sources' clause warrants specific attention from oversight bodies to ensure fairness and prevent potential impropriety.
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
- Potential for limited competition due to source exclusion.
- Lack of clear performance metrics for value assessment.
- Need for detailed cost benchmarking against industry standards.
- Uncertainty regarding small business participation.
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 $84.7 million to LINQUEST CORPORATION. IGF::CT::IGF METIS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is LINQUEST CORPORATION.
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 $84.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2017-03-24. End: 2020-03-28.
What was the specific justification for excluding certain sources in this 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' procurement, and did this exclusion impact the final price or quality o
The justification for excluding sources is critical for understanding the competitive landscape and potential impact on value. If legitimate technical or specialized capability reasons existed, the price might be justified. However, if the exclusion was arbitrary, it could have limited competition, potentially leading to a higher price than achievable through broader competition and impacting the overall value for taxpayers.
How does the $84.7 million final award value compare to industry benchmarks for similar R&D projects in physical, engineering, and life sciences, considering the specific scope and duration?
Benchmarking this $84.7 million contract requires detailed analysis of comparable R&D projects within the specified scientific domains. Factors like project complexity, technological novelty, duration, and contractor expertise influence costs. Without access to proprietary industry data or detailed project scope, a precise comparison is difficult, but a significant deviation from established benchmarks would raise concerns about cost-effectiveness.
What were the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how effectively were they met to ensure the R&D services delivered optimal value and advanced the Department of the Air Force's o
The effectiveness of the R&D services hinges on clearly defined KPIs and their successful achievement. Without knowing these specific metrics, it's impossible to definitively assess value. Ideally, KPIs would measure scientific breakthroughs, technological readiness levels, or contributions to strategic defense goals. Evaluating performance against these metrics is essential for determining if the $84.7 million investment yielded the intended strategic and technological benefits.
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: 4
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2551 DULLES VIEW DR STE 200, HERNDON, VA, 20171
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $94,014,488
Exercised Options: $94,014,488
Current Obligation: $84,659,397
Actual Outlays: $7,550,682
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 85
Total Subaward Amount: $56,710,045
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS00Q14OADS607
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2017-03-24
Current End Date: 2020-03-28
Potential End Date: 2021-03-28 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-25
More Contracts from Linquest Corporation
- Procuring Systems Engineering, Integration,and Test Support for Military Satellite Communication — $642.2M (Department of Defense)
- Systems Engineering&intergration Support Services (SE&I) for the Milsatcom Systems Directorate — $318.1M (Department of Defense)
- 200608!000043!5700!fa8808!smc/Mlk !FA880806C0002 !A!N! !Y! !p00005!20060112!20110930!140389763!140389763!140389763!n!linquest Corporation !6701 Center Drive West, Su!los Angeles !ca!90045!44000!037!06!los Angeles !LOS Angeles !california!+000000583000!n!n!000000000000!r414!systems Engineering Services !S1 !services !000 !NOT Discernable !541710!E! !3! ! !C! ! !99990909!b!f!n!a! !d!n!r!1!001!n!1g!z!y!z! ! !n!b!n!n! ! !Z! !a!a!000!a!b!n! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! ! — $134.8M (Department of Defense)
- Provide Technical Support Services for the Remote Sensing System Directorate — $97.1M (Department of Defense)
- Digital Engineering Research and Development for Aflcmc Sbir Phase III Task Order 002 — $82.7M (General Services Administration)
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)