The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) was awarded a $3 billion contract to continue to operate the Lincoln Laboratory Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC), the Air Force said on Monday.
The indefinite delivery/indefinite-quantity contract was awarded as a sole-source acquisition and $600,000 in Fiscal 2015 operations and maintenance funds were obligated at the time of award.
MIT is to apply advanced technology to problems of national security in this indefinite delivery/indefinite-quantity contract. Lincoln Laboratory research and development activities focus on both long-term technology development and rapid system prototyping and demonstration, the Air Force said.
As an FFRDC sponsored by the Department of Defense, the MIT Lincoln Laboratory assists “the U.S. government with scientific research and analysis, systems development, and systems acquisition to provide novel, cost-effective solutions to complex government problems,” the laboratory explained.
FFRDCs ensure objectivity and technical expertise by being organized as independent, not-for-profit entities that are prohibited from manufacturing products, competing with industry, or working with commercial companies.
The contract work is to be performed in Lexington, Mass., with expected completion by March 31, 2020.
The contracting activity is the Air Force Lifecycle Management Center, Hanscom AFB, Mass.