DoD Awards $23.9M King Air Contract to Textron Aviation for Foreign Military Sales
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $23,931,276 ($23.9M)
Contractor: Textron Aviation Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2023-09-28
End Date: 2026-09-25
Contract Duration: 1,093 days
Daily Burn Rate: $21.9K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Defense
Official Description: FIVE-YEAR FIRM-FIXED PRICE INDEFINITE DELIVERY INDEFINITE QUANTITY CONTRACT FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF A NEW KING AIR B300 SERIES, FOR FOREIGN MILITARY SALES REQUIREMENTS.
Place of Performance
Location: WICHITA, SEDGWICK County, KANSAS, 67215
State: Kansas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $23.9 million to TEXTRON AVIATION INC for work described as: FIVE-YEAR FIRM-FIXED PRICE INDEFINITE DELIVERY INDEFINITE QUANTITY CONTRACT FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF A NEW KING AIR B300 SERIES, FOR FOREIGN MILITARY SALES REQUIREMENTS. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Textron Aviation for new King Air B300 series aircraft. 2. Purpose is to fulfill Foreign Military Sales requirements. 3. Contract type is Firm Fixed Price with an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity structure. 4. The contract has a duration of approximately 3 years.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract is a firm-fixed-price IDIQ, which provides cost certainty. However, without competition, it's difficult to assess if the pricing is optimal compared to market rates for similar aircraft.
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 is no competitive pressure to offer the best price.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in a higher cost to the government and, consequently, to the foreign military sales recipients.
Public Impact
Supports critical foreign military sales requirements, enhancing international partnerships. Procurement of new aircraft ensures modern capabilities for allied forces. Potential for follow-on contracts or orders could extend the overall value. The contract supports the aircraft manufacturing sector.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Sole-source award
Positive Signals
- Supports foreign military sales
- Firm-fixed-price contract
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Aircraft Manufacturing sector, specifically for specialized aircraft like the King Air B300 series. Spending in this sector is often driven by defense needs and foreign military sales.
Small Business Impact
This contract was awarded directly to Textron Aviation Inc., a large business. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within the provided data.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by the Department of the Army, a component of the Department of Defense. Oversight will focus on delivery schedules, specifications, and adherence to the firm-fixed-price terms.
Related Government Programs
- Aircraft Manufacturing
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- Sole-source award
- Potential for higher costs
- Limited transparency on pricing justification
Tags
aircraft-manufacturing, department-of-defense, ks, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $23.9 million to TEXTRON AVIATION INC. FIVE-YEAR FIRM-FIXED PRICE INDEFINITE DELIVERY INDEFINITE QUANTITY CONTRACT FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF A NEW KING AIR B300 SERIES, FOR FOREIGN MILITARY SALES REQUIREMENTS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is TEXTRON AVIATION INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $23.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-09-28. End: 2026-09-25.
What is the justification for the sole-source award, and were any market research efforts conducted to ensure fair and reasonable pricing?
The justification for a sole-source award typically stems from unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent requirements where only one source can meet the need. While the data indicates 'NOT COMPETED,' it does not provide the specific justification. Market research is crucial in sole-source situations to validate pricing against industry benchmarks and ensure the government isn't overpaying. Without this information, assessing the value proposition is challenging.
What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source procurement for specialized military aircraft?
Sole-source procurements carry inherent risks, including the potential for inflated pricing due to the absence of competitive pressure. There's also a risk of vendor lock-in, where the government becomes overly reliant on a single supplier, potentially limiting future flexibility and negotiation power. Furthermore, without competitive benchmarking, it's harder to ensure the technology and features provided are the most advanced or cost-effective available on the market.
How does this procurement align with broader U.S. foreign policy and defense objectives regarding the recipient nation?
This procurement directly supports U.S. foreign policy by providing key allies with essential military capabilities, thereby strengthening partnerships and enhancing regional security. The King Air B300 series offers versatile platforms for various missions, potentially including surveillance, transport, or light attack roles, depending on the specific configuration for the foreign military sales customer. This aligns with U.S. objectives to bolster the defense capacity of allied nations.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing › Aircraft Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: AEROSPACE CRAFT AND STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: W58RGZ23R0043
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Textron Inc
Address: 1 CESSNA BLVD, WICHITA, KS, 67215
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $23,931,276
Exercised Options: $23,931,276
Current Obligation: $23,931,276
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: W58RGZ23D0032
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-09-28
Current End Date: 2026-09-25
Potential End Date: 2026-09-25 12:09:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-22
More Contracts from Textron Aviation Inc
- Mets A/C Full Rate Production LOT I — $675.1M (Department of Defense)
- 18 Beechcraft Aircraft for Flight Program Operations (AJF) the Total Estimated Potential Value (tepv) IS Established AT an Amount of $282.6M. Funding Will BE Obligated Upon the Execution of Task Orders (TOS) — $133.9M (Department of Transportation)
- Procure Components for Modified Commercial King AIR 360ER Aircraft - Fpfm P2 — $38.9M (Department of Transportation)
- This Contract IS FAR Part 12, Commercial Item Contract to Acquire Three Textron/Beechcraft King AIR 350ER Aircraft to Support the Canadian Manned Airborne Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Requirement for the Canada — $37.7M (Department of Defense)
- Federal Contract — $35.8M (Department of Defense)
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)