DoD's $32.7M Non-Personal Services Contract with MANTECH: Engineering Services Awarded Without Competition

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $32,711,514 ($32.7M)

Contractor: Mantech Advanced Systems International, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2015-06-06

End Date: 2016-03-31

Contract Duration: 299 days

Daily Burn Rate: $109.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Number of Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF LABOR FOR NON-PERSONAL SERVICES

Place of Performance

Location: FORT HUACHUCA, COCHISE County, ARIZONA, 85613

State: Arizona Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $32.7 million to MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF LABOR FOR NON-PERSONAL SERVICES Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $32.7 million for engineering services. 2. Awarded to MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. without competition. 3. Potential risk associated with sole-source procurement and lack of price discovery. 4. Engineering Services sector, NAICS 541330, often involves complex technical requirements.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the $32.7 million price reflects fair market value.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for the government compared to a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition raises concerns about potential overspending of taxpayer funds on engineering services.

Public Impact

Taxpayers may be paying a premium due to the absence of competitive bidding. The Department of the Army received engineering services, but the value proposition is unclear without a competitive benchmark. The sole-source nature of this award warrants scrutiny regarding justification and potential alternatives.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Sole-source award
Cost Plus Award Fee contract type
Lack of competition
No small business participation indicated

Positive Signals

Contract awarded to a specific company for engineering services.
Contract duration was 299 days.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Engineering Services (NAICS 541330), a sector often characterized by specialized expertise and high technical demands. Spending in this sector can vary widely based on project complexity and agency needs.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates that this contract was not awarded to a small business (sb: false). There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this award.

Oversight & Accountability

The sole-source nature of this award suggests a need for robust oversight to ensure the contractor is delivering services effectively and that costs are reasonable, despite the lack of competition.

Related Government Programs

Engineering Services
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Army Programs

Risk Flags

Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
Cost Plus Award Fee structure can increase costs.
No small business participation identified.
Potential for insufficient oversight on sole-source contracts.
Lack of transparency regarding justification for sole-source award.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $32.7 million to MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, INC.. IGF::OT::IGF LABOR FOR NON-PERSONAL SERVICES

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is MANTECH ADVANCED SYSTEMS INTERNATIONAL, 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 $32.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2015-06-06. End: 2016-03-31.

What was the justification for awarding this significant engineering services contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative procurement methods considered?

The justification for a sole-source award is critical for understanding why competition was bypassed. Agencies typically require detailed documentation outlining the necessity for a specific contractor, such as unique capabilities or urgent requirements. Without this justification, it's difficult to assess if taxpayer funds were used efficiently or if competitive alternatives were overlooked, potentially leading to suboptimal pricing and value.

How were the award fee criteria established and evaluated to ensure fair compensation and contractor performance under this Cost Plus Award Fee contract?

The effectiveness of a Cost Plus Award Fee contract hinges on well-defined award fee criteria that align with program objectives. The agency must have a robust process for evaluating contractor performance against these criteria to determine the award fee. Without transparency into this process, there's a risk of the fee not accurately reflecting actual performance or potentially inflating costs beyond what is justified by the services rendered.

What specific engineering services were procured, and how does their cost compare to industry benchmarks for similar, competitively procured services?

Determining the value of this $32.7 million contract requires understanding the specific engineering services rendered and comparing their cost to market rates. Without competitive bids, establishing a reliable benchmark is challenging. If similar services were procured competitively elsewhere, analyzing those contract values could reveal whether this sole-source award was cost-effective or if taxpayers potentially overpaid due to the lack of market pressure.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › DEFENSE (OTHER) R&D

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Solicitation ID: W91RUS15R0045

Offers Received: 1

Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: Mantech International Corporation (UEI: 053518312)

Address: 12015 LEE JACKSON MEMORIAL HWY, FAIRFAX, VA, 22033

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $38,016,653

Exercised Options: $38,016,653

Current Obligation: $32,711,514

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 20

Total Subaward Amount: $6,619,787

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline