WHAT IS THIS?

This is a contract worth about $912.6 million awarded to Leidos, Inc., a technology and defense company based in Virginia. Leidos will research, design, build, test, field, and maintain C5ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems for the U.S. military.

WHY WAS THIS FUNDED?

This contract is funded by the Department of Defense (DoD), which is responsible for equipping U.S. military forces with the technology they need to operate effectively. It was processed through the General Services Administration (GSA), which often handles contracting on behalf of other federal agencies.

WHAT PUBLIC PROBLEM IS IT TRYING TO SOLVE?

The U.S. military depends on advanced systems to gather information, communicate securely, and coordinate forces in complex and dangerous environments. This contract is meant to ensure those systems are developed, kept up to date, and working reliably.

WHO BENEFITS?

U.S. military personnel benefit by getting better tools for communication, intelligence gathering, and battlefield coordination. Leidos employees and subcontractors involved in defense technology work also benefit through jobs created or sustained by this contract.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

With nearly $1 billion spread over four years and a contract type listed as unknown, it can be difficult for the public and oversight bodies to assess whether the government is getting good value. Large, long-term defense contracts can also face risks like cost overruns, schedule delays, or changing military needs that make original plans less relevant.

WHAT HAPPENS IF FUNDING IS REMOVED?

If this contract were cancelled, the military systems it supports could fall behind in development, maintenance, or upgrades, potentially leaving troops with outdated or unreliable technology. Work being done by Leidos and its partners would stop, affecting jobs and ongoing defense programs.

ARGUMENTS FOR

• •Modern C5ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Cyber, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) systems are considered essential to U.S. military readiness, and sustained investment helps keep those capabilities current.
• •Centralizing this work with one experienced contractor may lead to more coordinated and efficient development compared to splitting it among many smaller contracts.
• •Long-term contracts can provide stability for complex technical work, allowing teams to build expertise and deliver more reliable results over time.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST

• •Nearly $1 billion going to a single contractor raises questions about competition in the market and whether the government could have gotten a better deal by having more companies bid.
• •The contract type is listed as unknown, which limits transparency and makes it harder to hold the contractor accountable for costs and performance.
• •Large, multi-year defense contracts have a history of cost overruns and delays, meaning the final price or timeline could end up significantly different from what was originally planned.