BLOG / 🇺🇸 United States · · daily

Mega Contracts Monitor ($100M+) — September 09, 2026

Mega Contracts Monitor ($100M+)

By Gunpowder Editorial ·

2 total filings analysed

Executive Summary

This digest covers two civilian mega-contracts totaling $218M with zero defense exposure, indicating a purely civilian-sector theme. The dominant signal is a bullish $110.6M DHS/CBP delivery order to Astrophysics Inc. for border security inspection systems, which is 84% outlayed and runs through 2027, suggesting strong execution and cash flow visibility.

However, the Magellan Healthcare $107.4M HHS contract (2014-2022) presents a neutral-to-bearish risk due to its non-competitive award, high pricing risk, and low outlay of only 12%, implying potential underperformance or execution challenges. Key risk: Magellan's outlay rate raises questions about contract fulfillment and revenue recognition.

Materiality, sentiment, and priority are scored by Gunpowder’s analysis pipeline. How we score filings →

Tracking the trend? Catch up on the prior Mega Contracts Monitor ($100M+) digest from September 08, 2026.

Investment Signals (2)

  • Astrophysics Inc. wins $110.6M DHS/CBP non-intrusive inspection contract with high outlay rate (HIGH)

    Contract is 84% outlayed ($92.8M of $110.6M), indicating strong execution and cash flow. Performance through 2027 with potential extension to 2033 provides multi-year revenue visibility of ~$18.4M annually.

  • Magellan Healthcare $107.4M HHS contract shows low outlay (12%) and high pricing risk (MEDIUM)

    Only $13.2M outlayed against $107.4M total, with firm-fixed-price structure on a non-competitive award. This raises execution risk and potential revenue recognition delays.

Risk Flags (2)

  • Execution [HIGH RISK]

    Magellan Healthcare's HHS contract has only 12% outlayed ($13.2M/$107.4M) despite spanning 2014-2022, suggesting possible underperformance or scope changes.

  • Competition [MEDIUM RISK]

    Astrophysics Inc. contract was full and open competition with no set-aside, potentially exposing the firm to future pricing pressure on recompete.

Opportunities (2)

  • Astrophysics Inc.'s $110.6M DHS contract with potential extension to 2033 positions it for sustained growth in border security inspection technology, a stable DHS priority.

  • The Magellan Healthcare contract, despite flaws, shows long-term HHS commitment to employee assistance programs, potentially benefiting behavioral health services providers.

Sector Themes (2)

  • Astrophysics Inc.'s $110.6M DHS/CBP contract for non-intrusive inspection systems underscores sustained federal funding for border security technology, despite the fully obligated nature and competitive award.

  • Magellan's $107.4M, 8.7-year HHS contract for EAP services illustrates the stable, non-competitive nature of civilian social services contracts, but the low outlay rate signals potential execution challenges.

Watch List (2)

  • 👁

    {"entity" => "Astrophysics Inc.", "reason" => "84% outlayed DHS contract provides strong cash flow visibility but full competition invites future pricing pressure.", "trigger" => "DHS budget cycle for border security technology; recompete of delivery order"}

  • 👁

    {"entity" => "Magellan Healthcare Inc.", "reason" => "Low outlay rate (12%) on $107.4M HHS contract raises execution concerns; contract ends December 2022.", "trigger" => "Contract end date; any recompetition announcement or modification"}

Get daily alerts with 2 investment signals, 2 risk alerts, 2 opportunities and full AI analysis of all 2 filings

$30/mo after a 14-day free trial — no credit card required. See pricing or explore intelligence streams.

More from: Mega Contracts Monitor ($100M+)

🇺🇸 More from United States

View all →