DoD Awards $14.1M for Fuel Research to Southwest Research Institute, Lacking Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $14,094,119 ($14.1M)
Contractor: Southwest Research Institute
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2021-01-04
End Date: 2026-11-12
Contract Duration: 2,138 days
Daily Burn Rate: $6.6K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THE GOVERNMENT WILL SATISFY REQUIREMENTS BY WORK DIRECTIVES TO BE PERFORMED WITHIN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: BASIC RESEARCH, EXPLORATORY DEVELOPMENT, ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT, AND ENGINEERING IN THE FIELD OF FUELS AND FUEL COMBUSTION.
Place of Performance
Location: SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR County, TEXAS, 78238
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $14.1 million to SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE for work described as: THE GOVERNMENT WILL SATISFY REQUIREMENTS BY WORK DIRECTIVES TO BE PERFORMED WITHIN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: BASIC RESEARCH, EXPLORATORY DEVELOPMENT, ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT, AND ENGINEERING IN THE FIELD OF FUELS AND FUEL COMBUSTION. Key points: 1. Significant award for R&D in fuels and combustion. 2. Sole-source award raises questions about price discovery. 3. Potential for higher costs due to limited competition. 4. Focus on basic, exploratory, advanced development, and engineering.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $14.1 million for R&D services is substantial. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if this price is optimal compared to similar research contracts. Benchmarking is challenging due to the specialized nature of the work.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This significantly limits price discovery and may lead to a higher cost for the government as there was no market pressure to offer the best price.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition could result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for these research and development services.
Public Impact
Advances in fuel technology could have broad applications. Research may lead to more efficient and cleaner energy solutions. Investment in scientific advancement supports national energy security. Potential for spin-off technologies benefiting the private sector.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost-plus contract type
- Long performance period
Positive Signals
- Focus on critical R&D area
- Experienced contractor
- Potential for technological advancement
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the Research and Development sector, specifically NAICS code 541715. Federal spending in this area supports innovation and technological advancement. Benchmarks for R&D contracts vary widely based on scope and complexity.
Small Business Impact
This contract was awarded to Southwest Research Institute, a large business. There is no indication that small businesses were involved as subcontractors or partners in this specific award.
Oversight & Accountability
The Department of Defense is responsible for oversight. The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure requires careful monitoring of costs and performance to ensure value for money and prevent cost overruns.
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
- Cost-plus contract type
- Long contract duration
- Lack of small business participation
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, tx, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $14.1 million to SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE. THE GOVERNMENT WILL SATISFY REQUIREMENTS BY WORK DIRECTIVES TO BE PERFORMED WITHIN THE FOLLOWING AREAS: BASIC RESEARCH, EXPLORATORY DEVELOPMENT, ADVANCED DEVELOPMENT, AND ENGINEERING IN THE FIELD OF FUELS AND FUEL COMBUSTION.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $14.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2021-01-04. End: 2026-11-12.
What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
The provided data does not specify the justification for the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source contracts are used when only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services, or in cases of urgent and compelling need. Further investigation would be required to understand the specific rationale behind this decision.
How will the government ensure cost control with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract for R&D?
With a CPFF contract, the government reimburses the contractor for allowable costs plus a fixed fee representing profit. Oversight will involve rigorous review of incurred costs, ensuring they are reasonable, allocable, and allowable. The fixed fee provides some incentive for the contractor to manage costs efficiently, as it does not increase with actual costs.
What are the potential risks associated with a long-duration R&D contract without competition?
A long duration (over 5 years) R&D contract without competition carries risks of cost escalation, potential for scope creep, and the possibility that the contractor's approach may become outdated. Without competitive pressure, there's also a reduced incentive for maximum efficiency and innovation throughout the contract's life.
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 › C – National Defense R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: W56HZV21R0002
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 6220 CULEBRA RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX, 78238
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $19,126,455
Exercised Options: $14,094,119
Current Obligation: $14,094,119
Actual Outlays: $306,894
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 25
Total Subaward Amount: $1,693,041
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2021-01-04
Current End Date: 2026-11-12
Potential End Date: 2026-11-12 12:11:00
Last Modified: 2025-12-30
More Contracts from Southwest Research Institute
- TAS::80 0120::TAS AS the Principal Investigator (PI) Institution for the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Instrument Suite Science Team (isst), the Contractor IS Responsible for Leading the Solving Magnetospheric Acceleration Reconnection and Turbulence (smart) Team Through ALL Mission Phases. the Scope of Work Shall Include, BUT NOT BE Limited, to the Following: - Manage the Smart Team Through Phases B Through E of the MMS Mission, - Defining Science Goals and Objectives - Assist the MMS Project and HQ Science Mission Directorate Heliophysics Division in the Preparation of Level 1 Requirements for the MMS Mission - Flow-Down of Top-Level Mission Requirements to the Appropriate Elements of the Instrument Suite - Design, Fabrication, Integration, Calibration, Testing and Delivery of Four Fully Qualified, Flight Instrument Suites to Observatory Integration and Test (I&T) Plus Spares - Design, Development, Integration and Testing of the SOC - Support Observatory-Level I&T Activities - Provide Sustaining Engineering and I&T Support of the Instrument Suites After Delivery to Nasa - Responsibility for the On-Orbit Operation, Health and Safety of the Instrument Suites - Responsibility for Operating and Maintaining the SOC Post-Launch - Establishing and Managing Subcontracts With Instrument Suite Team Members - Establishing and Maintaining the Required International Traffic in Arms Regulations (itar) and Export Control Documentation Necessary for Working With ITS International Team Members - Implementation of an EPO Program for the MMS Mission — $383.4M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- THE National Aeronautics and Space Administration HAS Selected Juno NEW Frontiers Mission Under the Direction of Principal Investigator (PI) DR. Scott Bolton to Continue Development With the Expectation That the Juno Mission Will Enter Phase B in Early Fiscal Year 2006. the Juno Mission Will BE Managed by the Marshall Space Flight Center, NEW Frontiers Program Office. KEY Juno Team Members Include DR. Bolton's Home Institution, the Southwest Research Institute (swri), the Juno Implementation Team Leader JET Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the Spacecraft BUS Provider the Lockheed Martin Space Systems Division (lm/Ss). the PI'S Team AT Swri Needs to Begin Work on a Subset of Phase B Activities AS Early in FY06 AS Possible. This SOW Provides a List of Activities That ARE Necessary to Begin Work in FY06 and Their Associated Deliverables. the Juno Mission IS a Collaboration Between Southwest Research Institute (swri), JPL, Lockheed Martin (LM), and a Complementary Team of Universities and Field Centers. the Principal Investigator, DR. Scott Bolton, IS AT Southwest Research Institute (swri) and IS Responsible to Nasa for ALL Aspects of the Mission Including Achieving ALL Scientific Objectives and Mission Goals. JPL Provides the Project Manager WHO Oversees the Day-To-Day Management of the Project and Will Report to the PI. Principal Investigator (PI) DR. Scott Bolton IS Responsible to Nasa for Meeting the Scientific Objectives of the Juno Mission Within Cost and Schedule. AS PI, DR. Bolton HAS Direct Accountability to the Nasa NEW Frontiers Program Office for the Implementation of Juno. ALL Juno Science Co-Is, the Deputy PI and Project Scientist, the Science Investigation Office Manager, the E/PO Effort, the Juno Advisory Board and the PM Report Directly to DR. Bolton. the PI Delegates the Day-To-Day Management of the Project to the Project Manager (PM), Rick Grammier. the Project System Engineer, Payload Manager, Flight System Manager, Mission Manager, Science OPS Center, Business Manager, LM Contract CTM, and Mission Assurance Manager ALL Report Directly to the PM — $184.3M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- NEW Horizon -- Pluto Mission Phase B — $166.9M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- Under This Contract, the Contractor Will Provide the Personnel, Materials, Equipment, and Facilities Necessary to Produce the Polarimeter to Unify the Corona Heliosphere (punch) Phase a Concept Study. the Scope of This Effort Includes, BUT IS NOT Limited TO: 1. Principal Investigator Program Office 2. Instrument System Engineering, Including Instrument Mission Assurance 3. Design of a Flight Qualified Punch Instrument Meeting Mission and Science Requirements 4. Develop Plans in Support of Integration and Test of the Punch Instrument Flight System 5. Develop Plans in Support of Essential Field Operations 6. Develop Plans in Support of Launch Operations and Flight Operations 7. Develop Plans for Lead the Punch Science Investigation AS Well AS the Generation of Resulting Data Products the Contractor Shall Provide a Briefing on the Punch Science and Science Implementation Plan AT the Phase a Site Visit. the Contractor Shall Provide an Organization Chart Defining Contractor Roles and Responsibilities, Reporting Procedures, and ALL Lines of Authority. the Contractor Shall Participate in Defining the Relationships Between the Contractor's Program Office and the Nasa Explorers Program Office. the Contractor Shall Develop a Punch Instrument Systems Requirements Document and a Punch Mission Systems Requirements Document. the Contractor Will Also Develop Detailed Block Diagrams and Technical Descriptions of ALL Instrument Systems. the Contractor Will Conduct In-Depth Instrument-Level Reviews of the Proposed Instrument Design. They Will Conduct Essential Trade Studies, Analyses, Modeling and Simulations to Assure Compliance With Instrument Requirements. the Contractor Will Lead the Science Team and Develop an Instrument-Level Test Plan and Participate in Planning for Integration and Test. the Contractor Shall Prepare a Detailed Instrument Development Schedule Covering ALL Mission Phases, Listing Major Milestones, Including a Defined Critical Path and Schedule Reserves. the Contractor Will Prepare Updated Instrument Budgets AS Well AS Review and Approve the Overall Punch Budget. Finally, the Contractor Shall Prepare and Submit the Concept Study Report — $139.2M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- TAS::80 0120::TAS the Contractor Shall BE Responsible for the Conduct of ALL Phases and Aspects of the Ibex Mission Including: 1) Life-Cycle Project Management; 2) Design, Test, Development, and Operations (payload, Spacecraft, Launch Vehicle, Spacecraft to Launch-Vehicle Interfaces, Launch and Flight Operations); and 3) Post-Operations Data Analysis and Archiving. in Performance of This Effort, the Ibex Team Shall: a. Manage the Project, Provide Cost and Schedule Information to Nasa AS Specified in 3.0 Management, Above. B. Provide Day-To-Day Management and Coordination of the Project AS Delegated by the PI to the Project Manager (PM), Including Monitoring and Reporting Technical Progress and Financial Status, Implementing the Risk Management Plan and Conducting Mission Level Reviews AS Specified in Section 4.3, System Level Reviews. C. Conduct Reviews for ALL Payload Sensors, Payload Support Infrastructure and Associated GSE. D. Perform Scientific Analyses in Support of the Mission Science Requirements. E. Perform Systems Engineering to Coordinate the Design of the Instrument Complement and Spacecraft BUS Components; and to Ensure the Compatibility of the Space-To-Ground and Network Communications. F. Perform Trade Studies to Eliminate and Mitigate Risks G. Deliver the Ibex Flight Segment to Vandenberg AIR Force Base (vafb), Support Integration With the Launch Vehicle, and Assist the Launch Operations; H. Establish the Mission Control Center (MCC) and Ibex Science Operations and Data Analysis Center (isoc) Including ALL Computers, Networks, and Operating Software, Instrument Databases and Procedures Necessary to Functionally Test and Later Control the Spacecraft; I. Hold Science Team Meetings AS Well AS Technical Interchange Meetings. J. Baseline the Science Requirements and Science Analysis Plan Into an Ibex Mission Definition Requirements Agreement (mdra) and the Ibex Data Management Plan. K. Implement an Approved Mission Assurance Plan. L. Implement a Systems Engineering Function to Verify Performance Specification Compliance to the Mission Science Requirements. M. Design, Fabricate, Integrate and Test the Payload, Spacecraft, Solid Rocket Motor and Launch Vehicle Adapter, and Integrate the Ibex Flight Segment With the Launch Vehicle. N. Implement a Safety Program Including the Generation of the Missile System Pre-Launch Safety Package (mspsp). O. Support Launch, Perform On-Orbit Checkout, and Establish On-Orbit Data Acquisition Contact With the Payload. Within the First 30 Days After Launch, Initial Engineering and Science Checkout and Verification of Spacecraft In-Flight Operation Will BE Performed. P. Provide the Services of the MCC and the Isoc. Q. Conduct the E/PO Program in Cooperation With the Identified Team Members — $116.1M (National Aeronautics and Space 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)