DoD Awards $91.9M for Advanced Avionics Research to Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $91,936,763 ($91.9M)
Contractor: Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2021-09-20
End Date: 2026-09-19
Contract Duration: 1,825 days
Daily Burn Rate: $50.4K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: TASK ORDER W31P4Q-21-F-0285 (S3I CONTROL NUMBER 292-1A) IS ISSUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION H-14, ORDERING PROCEDURES OF THE BASIC CONTRACT, FOR THE (PWS) ENTITLED, " ADVANCED AVIONICS RESEARCH & SYSTEMS ENGINEERING FOR ARMY AVIATION PLATFORMS".
Place of Performance
Location: ATLANTA, FULTON County, GEORGIA, 30318
State: Georgia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $91.9 million to GEORGIA TECH APPLIED RESEARCH CORP for work described as: TASK ORDER W31P4Q-21-F-0285 (S3I CONTROL NUMBER 292-1A) IS ISSUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION H-14, ORDERING PROCEDURES OF THE BASIC CONTRACT, FOR THE (PWS) ENTITLED, " ADVANCED AVIONICS RESEARCH & SYSTEMS ENGINEERING FOR ARMY AVIATION PLATFORMS". Key points: 1. Significant investment in advanced avionics research for Army aviation platforms. 2. Sole-source award to Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp raises competition concerns. 3. Long-term contract (5 years) indicates a sustained need for these services. 4. Focus on R&D in physical, engineering, and life sciences, excluding nano/biotech.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $91.9M for a 5-year period is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price represents fair value compared to similar R&D services.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there was no market pressure to offer the best price.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for a nearly $92 million contract may result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for these advanced avionics research services.
Public Impact
Enhances capabilities of Army aviation platforms through advanced research. Potential for technological advancements with broad applications in aerospace. Long-term commitment to a single contractor may limit innovation from other entities.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Lack of competition
- High contract value
Positive Signals
- Focus on critical R&D
- Long-term strategic investment
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Federal spending in this sector is crucial for technological advancement, but often involves high costs and specialized expertise, making competitive benchmarking challenging.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp, a large entity. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses in the provided data.
Oversight & Accountability
The award was made under existing basic contract ordering procedures. Oversight will be critical to ensure the contractor meets performance requirements and that the fixed-fee structure remains appropriate throughout the contract's duration.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition.
- Potential for cost overruns without competitive pressure.
- Long-term contract duration may reduce flexibility.
- Lack of small business participation noted.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, ga, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $91.9 million to GEORGIA TECH APPLIED RESEARCH CORP. TASK ORDER W31P4Q-21-F-0285 (S3I CONTROL NUMBER 292-1A) IS ISSUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION H-14, ORDERING PROCEDURES OF THE BASIC CONTRACT, FOR THE (PWS) ENTITLED, " ADVANCED AVIONICS RESEARCH & SYSTEMS ENGINEERING FOR ARMY AVIATION PLATFORMS".
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GEORGIA TECH APPLIED RESEARCH CORP.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $91.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2021-09-20. End: 2026-09-19.
What is the justification for the sole-source award, and how was the price determined to be fair and reasonable without competition?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves specific circumstances like unique capabilities, urgent needs, or lack of other responsible sources. The contracting officer must still perform a price analysis using available data, such as historical pricing, commercial price lists, or independent government cost estimates, to determine if the proposed price is fair and reasonable.
What are the specific performance metrics and deliverables for this advanced avionics research, and how will their achievement be measured?
The Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines the specific research objectives, technical requirements, and expected outcomes for the advanced avionics research. Performance will likely be measured through milestones, technical reviews, prototype demonstrations, and final reports, with adherence to schedules and quality standards being key evaluation criteria.
What is the potential for technology transfer or broader application of the research findings beyond the specific Army aviation platforms?
Research and development contracts often include provisions for intellectual property rights and technology transfer. Findings from this avionics research could potentially lead to advancements applicable to other military branches, commercial aviation, or even related technological fields, depending on the nature of the discoveries and contractual agreements.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › General Science and Technology R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 505 10TH ST, ATLANTA, GA, 30318
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public)
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $92,197,429
Exercised Options: $91,936,763
Current Obligation: $91,936,763
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 9
Total Subaward Amount: $32,064,822
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: W31P4Q18D0002
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2021-09-20
Current End Date: 2026-09-19
Potential End Date: 2026-09-19 12:09:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-03
More Contracts from Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp
- Electronic Warfare Research, Analysis, and Testing — $102.5M (Department of Defense)
- ALQ 161A DSU Band 8 Reactivation — $99.7M (Department of Defense)
- Rdt&e Services to Provide Analysis, Research, and Engineering Support of Aviation Electronic Warfare — $91.3M (Department of Defense)
- ALQ-161 Band 8 Reactivation — $86.3M (Department of Defense)
- THE Objective of Task Order W31p4q-19-F-0259 IS to Provide Support to Aflcmc/Hbz to Enhance Live Training. to Meet ITS Mission, Aflcmc/Hbz Requires Gtri to Lead, Assist, or Inform ALL Phases in the Development, Procurement, Implementation, and Sustainment of the Live Mission Operations Capability (lmoc). the Lmoc IS an Enterprise-Wide Component of Lvc-Ot That Enables a Realistic Live-Synthetic Training Environment That Includes Exercise Scheduling, Scenario Development, Mission Planning, Briefing, Execution, Debrief, and Data Analysis and Archive. to Accomplish This Objective, Gtri Will Perform a Number of Tasks Including Analysis, Design, Modeling and Simulation (M&S), Software Development, Systems Engineering, Systems Prototyping, and Testing Across Multiple Platforms With a Common, Modular, Secure, Open-Systems Approach — $80.3M (Department of Defense)
View all Georgia Tech Applied Research Corp federal contracts →
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)