DoD's $39.7M Space Science Instruments Contract Awarded to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $39,713,372 ($39.7M)
Contractor: KBR Wyle Services, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2017-12-27
End Date: 2024-09-01
Contract Duration: 2,440 days
Daily Burn Rate: $16.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: PR 76-8049-16 SPACE SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS AND EXPERIMENTAL PAYLOADS SSIEP2
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20375
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $39.7 million to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC for work described as: PR 76-8049-16 SPACE SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS AND EXPERIMENTAL PAYLOADS SSIEP2 Key points: 1. Contract awarded for research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences. 2. Significant duration of 2440 days indicates a long-term project. 3. Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type suggests potential for cost overruns. 4. No small business set-aside indicates a focus on larger prime contractors. 5. The contract falls under the Research and Development sector, specifically for physical sciences. 6. Awarded by the Department of the Navy, highlighting a specific military branch's R&D needs.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific deliverables or comparable projects. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) structure, while common for R&D, can lead to higher final costs than fixed-price contracts if not managed carefully. The total award amount of approximately $39.7 million over roughly 6.7 years suggests an average annual spend of around $5.9 million, which appears moderate for complex R&D in the space science domain. Further analysis would require understanding the scope of work and the specific instruments and payloads being developed.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This approach generally fosters a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and innovation. The presence of two bidders suggests a reasonable level of competition for this specialized R&D requirement.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining the best value through a competitive bidding process, driving down costs and improving service quality.
Public Impact
Benefits the Department of the Navy by advancing space science capabilities. Delivers specialized instruments and experimental payloads for space-related research. Geographic impact is primarily tied to the contractor's facilities and Navy research centers. Workforce implications include specialized engineers, scientists, and technicians in the aerospace and R&D sectors.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type may lead to costs exceeding initial estimates if not closely monitored.
- Long contract duration (2440 days) increases the risk of scope creep or evolving technological requirements.
- Lack of specific performance metrics in the provided data makes it difficult to assess value for money definitively.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
- Contractor (KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC) likely possesses specialized expertise for this R&D effort.
- The contract supports critical research and development for national security and scientific advancement.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences (NAICS 541712). This sector is characterized by innovation, long development cycles, and significant investment in intellectual property. The market for space science instruments and experimental payloads is a niche within aerospace R&D, often driven by government agencies like the Department of Defense and NASA. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other DoD or NASA contracts for similar R&D efforts in space technology.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests that the requirement was likely beyond the scope or capabilities typically addressed by small business set-asides, or that the competition was open to all qualified large and small businesses. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses, which would be a key area for oversight to ensure small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Department of the Navy's contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures would be embedded in the Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract terms, requiring detailed reporting and justification of costs. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements, though specific project details might be sensitive. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Space Science Missions
- DoD Advanced Technology Development Programs
- National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Satellite Programs
- Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Space Projects
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to CPFF contract type.
- Long contract duration may lead to evolving requirements and scope creep.
- Lack of detailed performance metrics in public data hinders value assessment.
Tags
defense, department-of-defense, department-of-the-navy, research-and-development, space-science, instruments, experimental-payloads, cost-plus-fixed-fee, full-and-open-competition, kbr-wyle-services, district-of-columbia, long-term-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $39.7 million to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC. PR 76-8049-16 SPACE SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS AND EXPERIMENTAL PAYLOADS SSIEP2
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Navy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $39.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2017-12-27. End: 2024-09-01.
What is the specific scope of work for the 'SPACE SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS AND EXPERIMENTAL PAYLOADS' (SSIEP2) contract?
The provided data abbreviates the contract title as 'PR 76-8049-16 SPACE SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS AND EXPERIMENTAL PAYLOADS SSIEP2'. While the specific scope of work is not detailed in the provided data, the contract number and title suggest it pertains to the research, development, design, fabrication, testing, and integration of instruments and experimental payloads intended for use in space science applications. This could encompass a wide range of technologies, from sensors and detectors to communication systems and scientific experiment platforms, all aimed at advancing the Department of the Navy's capabilities in space-based research and operations.
How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type impact the final cost and risk for the government?
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type means the contractor is reimbursed for all allowable costs incurred, plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit. This structure is often used for research and development or when the scope of work is uncertain. For the government, the primary risk is that the final cost can exceed initial estimates if costs are higher than anticipated, although the fee (profit) is fixed. The government benefits from the contractor's incentive to control costs to maximize their profit margin within the fixed fee. Effective oversight and cost controls are crucial to mitigate the risk of cost overruns in CPFF contracts.
What is the historical spending pattern for KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC with the Department of the Navy?
Analyzing the historical spending patterns for KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC with the Department of the Navy requires access to comprehensive federal procurement databases. This single contract award of approximately $39.7 million represents a specific investment. To understand the broader pattern, one would need to examine all contracts awarded to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC by the Navy over several fiscal years, looking at the total value, types of services procured, and consistency of awards. Without this broader dataset, it's difficult to ascertain if this contract is typical, an outlier, or part of a sustained relationship.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate the success of this R&D contract?
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a contract focused on 'SPACE SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS AND EXPERIMENTAL PAYLOADS' would typically be defined within the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and Quality Assurance Surveillance Plan (QASP). These might include metrics related to the successful design, fabrication, and testing of instruments meeting specific technical requirements (e.g., sensitivity, accuracy, reliability), adherence to development schedules, successful integration with spacecraft or platforms, and performance during operational testing or initial deployment. Given the R&D nature, KPIs might also focus on innovation milestones or the successful demonstration of new technologies.
How does this contract align with the Department of the Navy's broader strategic goals in space science and technology?
This contract likely aligns with the Department of the Navy's strategic goals by enhancing its capabilities in space-based intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), communications, and navigation. Advancements in space science instruments and experimental payloads are critical for maintaining situational awareness, supporting naval operations, and ensuring technological superiority in the space domain. The investment in R&D signifies a commitment to future capabilities, potentially supporting next-generation satellite systems, advanced sensor technologies, or novel space-based experiments that contribute to national security and scientific understanding.
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: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › General Science and Technology R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Solicitation ID: N0017317RSE01
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Brown & Root Industrial Services Holdings, LLC
Address: 7701 GREENBELT RD STE 400, GREENBELT, MD, 20770
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $44,227,122
Exercised Options: $44,227,122
Current Obligation: $39,713,372
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 2
Total Subaward Amount: $4,900,000
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS00Q14OADU431
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2017-12-27
Current End Date: 2024-09-01
Potential End Date: 2024-09-01 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-25
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