DoD's $110M Iraq Vehicle Support Contract with DynCorp Faces Scrutiny for Lack of Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $109,976,733 ($110.0M)

Contractor: Dyncorp International LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2015-08-06

End Date: 2018-08-05

Contract Duration: 1,095 days

Daily Burn Rate: $100.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: Defense

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF CONTRACTOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR MULTIPLATFORM VEHICLES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ.

Place of Performance

Location: CHANTILLY, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20151

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $110.0 million to DYNCORP INTERNATIONAL LLC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF CONTRACTOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR MULTIPLATFORM VEHICLES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ. Key points: 1. Significant spending of $110M on technical support for Iraqi vehicles. 2. Sole-source award raises concerns about price discovery and value for money. 3. Lack of small business participation noted. 4. Contract spans three years, indicating a substantial, ongoing need.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract's Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure, combined with a lack of competition, makes it difficult to assess value. Without benchmarks or competitive bids, it's hard to determine if the $110M price is reasonable for the services provided.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning no other vendors were considered. This significantly limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers as there was no competitive pressure to offer the best price.

Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this large contract raises concerns about whether taxpayer funds were used efficiently and if a better price could have been achieved through competition.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may have overpaid due to the absence of competitive bidding. The effectiveness of the technical support in Iraq is difficult to independently verify. Lack of transparency in the sole-source award process can erode public trust.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
No small business participation
Cost-plus contract type

Positive Signals

Contract awarded to a known entity
Clear duration and end date

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services, specifically supporting military vehicles. Spending in this sector can vary widely, but large sole-source contracts for foreign military support warrant close examination for efficiency.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates no small business participation (sb: false). This suggests that opportunities for small businesses to contribute to this significant defense contract were missed, potentially limiting broader economic impact.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this contract necessitates robust oversight to ensure the contractor is delivering services effectively and that costs are reasonable. Without competition, accountability relies heavily on the contracting agency's diligence.

Related Government Programs

All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Department of Defense Contracting
Defense Contract Management Agency Programs

Risk Flags

Lack of competition
Potential for cost overruns
Limited transparency
No small business involvement
Difficulty in verifying value for money

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $110.0 million to DYNCORP INTERNATIONAL LLC. IGF::OT::IGF CONTRACTOR TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR MULTIPLATFORM VEHICLES FOR THE GOVERNMENT OF IRAQ.

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DYNCORP INTERNATIONAL LLC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Contract Management Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $110.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2015-08-06. End: 2018-08-05.

What specific technical support services were provided under this contract, and how were they essential for the government of Iraq's multiplatform vehicles?

The contract details are limited, but 'All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services' suggests a broad range of support. This could include maintenance, repair, training, logistics, or specialized technical advice for various vehicle types used by Iraqi forces. The essential nature would depend on the operational readiness and strategic importance of these vehicles to Iraqi security operations.

What justification was provided for awarding this substantial $110M contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive strategies considered?

Sole-source justifications typically cite reasons like urgency, lack of qualified sources, or specific proprietary capabilities. Without the specific justification document, it's impossible to know the rationale. However, the absence of competition for a contract of this magnitude raises questions about whether a competitive process was truly infeasible or if it was simply bypassed.

How was the performance of DynCorp International LLC monitored to ensure effective service delivery and prevent cost overruns, especially given the cost-plus contract type?

Performance monitoring for cost-plus contracts relies heavily on the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) and the Contracting Officer's Representative (COR). They would track deliverables, milestones, and expenditures against the fixed fee. However, the effectiveness of this oversight is harder to gauge without specific performance reports or audits, particularly concerning the 'value for money' aspect.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE SVCS. › TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT AVAILABLE FOR COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: W56HZV15R0132

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Amentum Services, Inc.

Address: 13500 HERITAGE PKWY, FORT WORTH, TX, 76177

Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $109,976,733

Exercised Options: $109,976,733

Current Obligation: $109,976,733

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 13

Total Subaward Amount: $33,979,542

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline