General Dynamics awarded $12.1M for Landsat flight operations and maintenance, extending through July 2026
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $12,126,888 ($12.1M)
Contractor: General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2025-07-02
End Date: 2026-07-07
Contract Duration: 370 days
Daily Burn Rate: $32.8K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: TASK ORDER 15 - LANDSAT FLIGHT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Place of Performance
Location: GREENBELT, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20771
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $12.1 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC. for work described as: TASK ORDER 15 - LANDSAT FLIGHT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE Key points: 1. Contract awarded via full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF), which incentivizes performance but requires careful oversight. 3. Operations and maintenance for a critical Earth observation program indicate a stable, long-term need. 4. The contract duration of approximately one year suggests a focus on immediate operational needs. 5. The award is a delivery order under a larger contract vehicle, typical for ongoing service needs. 6. The specific NAICS code (541330) points to engineering services, aligning with the technical nature of satellite operations.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The award amount of $12.1 million for a one-year period for flight operations and maintenance of the Landsat program appears reasonable given the critical nature of Earth observation satellites. Benchmarking against similar long-term satellite operations and maintenance contracts would provide further context, but the cost-plus award fee structure allows for performance-based incentives. Without detailed cost breakdowns, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging, but the competitive award process is a positive indicator.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders were likely solicited and evaluated. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but this procurement method generally fosters price discovery and allows the government to select the best value offer. The competitive nature suggests that the pricing is likely to be more aligned with market rates than a sole-source award.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the most cost-effective solution for essential satellite operations, reducing the risk of overpayment.
Public Impact
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and its Landsat program benefit directly, ensuring the continuity of critical Earth observation data. The public benefits from uninterrupted access to Landsat data, which is vital for environmental monitoring, resource management, agriculture, and disaster response. The contract supports specialized engineering and technical services, potentially impacting a skilled workforce in the aerospace and defense sector. Geographic impact is global, as Landsat data is used worldwide for scientific research and policy-making.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contracts require robust oversight to ensure award fees are justified and that costs remain controlled.
- The relatively short duration of this delivery order (approx. 1 year) may indicate a need for more frequent re-competition or potential instability in long-term planning if not part of a larger, multi-year strategy.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a robust and fair bidding process.
- The contract supports a vital national asset (Landsat program), ensuring continuity of critical scientific data.
- The contractor, General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc., is a well-established entity in the aerospace and defense sector, suggesting experience.
Sector Analysis
The aerospace and defense sector, particularly the segment focused on space systems and engineering services, is characterized by high technical complexity and significant government investment. Contracts for satellite operations and maintenance are crucial for maintaining national capabilities in Earth observation, scientific research, and national security. General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc. is a major player in this market. Spending in this area is often driven by long-term program needs and technological advancements.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). As a delivery order under a larger contract, it's possible that subcontracting opportunities for small businesses may exist, particularly for specialized components or services. However, the primary awardee is a large corporation, suggesting the direct contract value may not significantly benefit the small business ecosystem unless specific subcontracting plans are mandated and fulfilled.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract would typically be managed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) contracting officers and technical monitors. The CPAF structure necessitates performance monitoring against defined criteria to justify award fees. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply to investigations of fraud, waste, or abuse related to the contract.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Earth Science Programs
- NOAA Satellite Operations
- Department of Defense Space Systems
- National Reconnaissance Office Programs
- Commercial Satellite Services
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) requires diligent oversight to manage costs and ensure performance.
- Potential for cost overruns if performance metrics are not clearly defined or monitored.
- Short duration of delivery order may indicate need for further strategic planning or potential contract fragmentation.
Tags
engineering-services, satellite-operations, earth-observation, landsat-program, usgs, department-of-the-interior, cost-plus-award-fee, full-and-open-competition, delivery-order, maryland, aerospace-and-defense, scientific-research
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $12.1 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC.. TASK ORDER 15 - LANDSAT FLIGHT OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS MISSION SYSTEMS, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (U.S. Geological Survey).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $12.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-07-02. End: 2026-07-07.
What is the historical spending trend for Landsat flight operations and maintenance, and how does this award compare?
Analyzing historical spending for Landsat flight operations and maintenance requires accessing detailed contract databases over multiple years. The current award of $12.1 million for a roughly one-year period (July 2025 - July 2026) represents a specific task order. To understand trends, one would need to aggregate spending on similar operations and maintenance contracts for the Landsat program across different fiscal years and contract vehicles. Comparing this $12.1M figure to the total annual budget allocated for Landsat operations, or to previous task orders for similar services, would reveal if spending is increasing, decreasing, or remaining stable. Factors like satellite age, technological upgrades, and the number of active satellites in the constellation can influence these costs over time. Without access to a comprehensive historical dataset specifically for Landsat O&M, a precise trend analysis is not possible from the provided data alone.
What specific performance metrics are tied to the 'Award Fee' component of this Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract?
The specific performance metrics tied to the 'Award Fee' component of this Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract are not detailed in the provided summary data. Typically, for CPAF contracts, the Performance Work Statement (PWS) outlines objective and subjective criteria against which the contractor's performance is evaluated. These metrics often include factors such as on-time delivery of services, system uptime and reliability, adherence to safety protocols, responsiveness to anomalies, quality of maintenance performed, and successful completion of scheduled maintenance activities. The government's evaluation board assesses the contractor's performance against these metrics, and a portion of the fee is awarded based on the level of performance achieved (e.g., excellent, good, fair). Detailed information on these metrics would be found within the contract's PWS and associated award fee plan.
How does the engineering service cost for Landsat operations compare to similar government satellite maintenance contracts?
Benchmarking the engineering service cost for Landsat operations against similar government satellite maintenance contracts is complex due to variations in satellite complexity, mission duration, operational tempo, and contract structures. The $12.1 million award for approximately one year of operations and maintenance for the Landsat program, managed by General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc. under a CPAF structure, provides a data point. To compare effectively, one would need to identify contracts for similar Earth observation or scientific satellite programs (e.g., NASA's Terra/Aqua, NOAA's JPSS) and analyze their annual operational costs per satellite or per year. Factors such as the number of ground stations, data processing requirements, and the age of the satellites significantly influence costs. Without specific comparable contract data, it's difficult to definitively state if this cost is high, low, or average, though the competitive award process suggests a reasonable market-based price was sought.
What is the track record of General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc. in managing complex satellite operations and maintenance contracts for the government?
General Dynamics Mission Systems, Inc. (GDMS) has a substantial track record in managing complex defense, intelligence, and civil government programs, including those involving satellite systems. They have been involved in various aspects of space systems, from ground segment development and operations to mission support and integration. Their experience often spans large-scale, mission-critical programs requiring high levels of technical expertise and reliability. While specific details on their performance for Landsat operations prior to this award would require further investigation into past contract performance reports (e.g., CPARS), GDMS's position as a prime contractor on numerous significant government space-related contracts indicates a demonstrated capability to handle such demanding requirements. Their history suggests they possess the necessary infrastructure, personnel, and processes to manage satellite operations and maintenance effectively.
What are the potential risks associated with the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract type for this specific service?
The primary risk associated with a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract for Landsat flight operations and maintenance lies in the potential for cost growth if not adequately managed and overseen. While the 'award fee' component incentivizes performance, the 'cost-plus' aspect means the government reimburses the contractor's allowable costs plus a fee that is earned based on performance. Risks include: 1) Inadequate definition of performance criteria, leading to disputes over award fees or the contractor not being sufficiently motivated. 2) Difficulty in accurately estimating costs upfront, potentially leading to higher-than-expected expenditures. 3) The need for intensive government oversight to monitor costs, verify performance, and ensure the contractor is operating efficiently. If oversight is insufficient, costs could escalate without commensurate performance improvements. The government must ensure clear metrics and robust monitoring to mitigate these risks.
How critical is the Landsat program to ongoing scientific research and environmental monitoring, and what is the impact of potential service disruptions?
The Landsat program is exceptionally critical to ongoing scientific research and environmental monitoring globally. As the longest continuous record of Earth's surface from space, dating back to 1972, it provides invaluable data for understanding long-term trends in land use, deforestation, agricultural productivity, water resources, climate change impacts, and natural disaster impacts. Potential service disruptions, even short ones, could interrupt critical data streams used by thousands of researchers, government agencies (like USGS, EPA, NOAA), and international partners. This could delay scientific discoveries, hinder effective resource management decisions, impede disaster response planning, and compromise the integrity of climate change assessments. Ensuring uninterrupted flight operations and maintenance, as this contract aims to do, is therefore paramount for maintaining scientific continuity and supporting evidence-based policy.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: General Dynamics Corp
Address: 8201 E MCDOWELL ROAD, SCOTTSDALE, AZ, 85257
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $12,412,748
Exercised Options: $12,412,748
Current Obligation: $12,126,888
Actual Outlays: $5,073,989
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 6
Total Subaward Amount: $4,312,236
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: ING17PC00017
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-07-02
Current End Date: 2026-07-07
Potential End Date: 2026-07-07 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-04
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