NASA awards $405.6M contract to TRAX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION for logistics and technical information services over 7 years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $405,614,169 ($405.6M)
Contractor: Trax International Corporation
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2017-08-01
End Date: 2024-07-31
Contract Duration: 2,556 days
Daily Burn Rate: $158.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF GODDARD LOGISTICS AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICES PLACE OF PERF: GSFC, WFF AND NASA HQ *THIS CONTRACT IS REISSUED FROM NNG17AZ11C*
Place of Performance
Location: GREENBELT, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20771
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $405.6 million to TRAX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF GODDARD LOGISTICS AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICES PLACE OF PERF: GSFC, WFF AND NASA HQ *THIS CONTRACT IS REISSUED FROM NNG17AZ11C* Key points: 1. The contract's value of over $405 million represents a significant investment in essential support services for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, and Headquarters. 2. TRAX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION, the incumbent contractor, has secured this reissued contract, indicating a continued reliance on their established performance and expertise. 3. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type suggests that while TRAX's costs are reimbursed, a predetermined profit margin is applied, which can incentivize cost control. 4. The duration of 2556 days (approximately 7 years) points to a long-term need for these services, allowing for sustained operational support and potential for efficiency gains. 5. The contract's focus on administrative services and logistics is critical for the smooth functioning of NASA's scientific and operational missions. 6. The absence of small business set-asides suggests this contract was awarded based on best value to the government, potentially favoring larger, specialized firms.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total contract value of $405.6 million over seven years averages to approximately $57.9 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale support service contracts for federal agencies is challenging without more granular data on the specific services provided. However, the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure, while common, requires careful oversight to ensure costs remain reasonable and the fixed fee provides adequate profit without excessive risk to the government. The reissuance from a previous contract (NNG17AZ11C) suggests a degree of continuity and potentially a competitive process that yielded this pricing.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. The fact that it is a reissuance suggests a competitive process was previously conducted and has now been repeated. The number of bidders is not explicitly stated, but full and open competition generally aims to maximize the number of potential offerors to drive down prices and improve quality.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally beneficial for taxpayers as it fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service quality. It ensures that the government is not limited to a single provider and can leverage the market to obtain the best value.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are NASA's scientific and operational missions, which rely on efficient logistics and administrative support to achieve their objectives. Services delivered include administrative support, logistics management, and technical information services, crucial for maintaining NASA's facilities and programs. The geographic impact is concentrated around NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, and NASA Headquarters, supporting critical infrastructure. The contract supports a workforce involved in administrative, logistical, and technical roles, ensuring continuity of operations and specialized expertise within these NASA centers.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts require diligent oversight to manage potential cost overruns and ensure the fixed fee remains appropriate.
- The long contract duration necessitates ongoing performance monitoring to ensure continued value and alignment with NASA's evolving needs.
- Reissuance of contracts can sometimes indicate issues with the original award or performance, though in this case, it may simply reflect a standard procurement cycle.
Positive Signals
- The contract's full and open competition basis suggests a robust bidding process aimed at securing the best value.
- TRAX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION's incumbency implies a proven track record and established operational efficiencies, potentially leading to smoother service delivery.
- The long-term nature of the contract allows for strategic planning and investment in service improvements by the contractor.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on administrative and logistics support. This is a broad category that underpins the operations of many government agencies. The market for such services is competitive, with numerous firms capable of providing these essential functions. NASA's spending in this area is consistent with its need for specialized support to manage complex facilities and research programs, ensuring that scientific and engineering personnel can focus on their core missions.
Small Business Impact
The contract does not indicate any specific small business set-asides, suggesting that the competition was open to all responsible sources without preferential treatment for small businesses. This implies that the primary evaluation criteria likely focused on technical capability and price. While there are no direct set-asides, the prime contractor may engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill certain aspects of the contract, contributing to the broader small business ecosystem.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract will likely be managed by the contracting officer and their representatives within NASA. Performance metrics and deliverables will be key to monitoring TRAX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION's adherence to contract terms. Transparency is facilitated through contract award databases and public reporting. While specific Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction isn't detailed here, NASA's Office of Inspector General typically has oversight over agency contracts to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Logistics Management Support
- NASA Administrative Services Contracts
- Federal IT and Technical Support Services
- Government Wide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) for Support Services
- Department of Defense Logistics and Technical Services
Risk Flags
- Cost Overrun Risk (CPFF)
- Performance Monitoring Intensity
- Long-Term Contract Management
Tags
nasa, logistics-support, technical-services, administrative-services, cost-plus-fixed-fee, full-and-open-competition, definitive-contract, maryland, federal-contract, professional-services, multi-year-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $405.6 million to TRAX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. IGF::OT::IGF GODDARD LOGISTICS AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION SERVICES PLACE OF PERF: GSFC, WFF AND NASA HQ *THIS CONTRACT IS REISSUED FROM NNG17AZ11C*
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is TRAX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $405.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2017-08-01. End: 2024-07-31.
What is the historical spending trend for similar logistics and technical information services at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center?
Analyzing historical spending trends for similar services at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) requires examining past contract awards for logistics, administrative, and technical information support. While the provided data focuses on the current $405.6 million contract awarded to TRAX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION (NNG17AZ11C reissue), a comprehensive trend analysis would involve looking at predecessor contracts, other similar contracts awarded by GSFC, and potentially other NASA centers. Factors influencing spending include mission scope, facility expansions or consolidations, technological advancements requiring new support, and overall budget allocations. For instance, if GSFC has been expanding its research capabilities or launching new missions, the demand for logistics and technical support would likely increase, leading to higher spending. Conversely, budget constraints or program cancellations could lead to reduced spending. Without access to a detailed historical database of GSFC's procurement for these specific services, it's difficult to provide precise figures, but generally, agencies like NASA aim for stable or optimized spending through competitive contracting and efficient service delivery over multi-year periods.
How does the pricing structure (Cost Plus Fixed Fee) compare to other contract types for similar services, and what are the implications for value?
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type, used here, reimburses the contractor for allowable costs plus a fixed fee representing profit. This structure is often employed when the scope of work is not precisely defined or involves research and development, offering flexibility but also potential for cost growth if not managed tightly. Compared to Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contracts, CPFF shifts more cost risk to the government but can be advantageous when flexibility is paramount. For logistics and administrative services, FFP contracts are often preferred for well-defined requirements as they provide cost certainty. However, for complex, evolving technical information services, CPFF can incentivize the contractor to perform the necessary work without being penalized by unforeseen cost increases. The value derived from CPFF hinges heavily on robust government oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and the fixed fee adequately compensates the contractor without being excessive. If managed effectively, CPFF can ensure critical services are delivered even with evolving requirements, but it demands vigilant cost monitoring to prevent overspending compared to a well-defined FFP contract.
What is TRAX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION's performance history with NASA on previous contracts of this nature?
TRAX INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION's incumbency on this reissued contract (NNG17AZ11C) strongly suggests a satisfactory performance history with NASA. Re-awarding a significant contract, especially after a full and open competition, typically indicates that the contractor met or exceeded performance expectations on the previous iteration. NASA's procurement regulations generally favor incumbent contractors who have demonstrated reliability, quality of service, and adherence to contract terms. While specific performance metrics from the prior contract are not detailed in the provided data, the continuity of service implies that TRAX has successfully managed the logistics and technical information services required by the Goddard Space Flight Center, Wallops Flight Facility, and NASA Headquarters. A thorough review would involve examining past performance evaluations, any contract modifications, and any documented issues or commendations related to their previous work under NNG17AZ11C.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) likely being used to measure the success of this contract?
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for a contract like this, focused on logistics and technical information services, would likely revolve around efficiency, timeliness, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness. For logistics, KPIs might include on-time delivery rates of supplies and equipment, inventory accuracy, and cost per shipment. For technical information services, KPIs could involve response times to information requests, accuracy and completeness of documentation, and successful implementation of information management systems. Given the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure, cost control KPIs would also be critical, such as adherence to projected budgets for specific tasks and overall cost efficiency. NASA would also likely track contractor responsiveness to issues, personnel qualifications and retention, and overall customer satisfaction among the NASA personnel utilizing these services. These KPIs are essential for ensuring the contractor meets the defined objectives and provides value for the government.
How does the $405.6 million contract value compare to NASA's overall IT and administrative support spending?
The $405.6 million contract value represents a substantial portion of NASA's spending on logistics and technical information services over a seven-year period. To contextualize this against NASA's overall IT and administrative support spending, one would need to compare it to the agency's total budget allocated for these categories annually or over similar multi-year periods. NASA's total budget is in the tens of billions of dollars, with significant allocations for research, development, space operations, and aeronautics. IT and administrative support are critical enablers for all these functions. This specific contract, while large in absolute terms, is one of many supporting NASA's vast operations. Its proportion of the total IT/administrative budget would depend on how broadly those categories are defined. However, it clearly signifies a major investment in maintaining the operational infrastructure and information backbone necessary for NASA's complex missions.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Office Administrative Services › Office Administrative Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: NNG16569107R
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 8337 W SUNSET RD STE 190, LAS VEGAS, NV, 89113
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $466,629,221
Exercised Options: $451,016,698
Current Obligation: $405,614,169
Actual Outlays: $287,037,456
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2017-08-01
Current End Date: 2024-07-31
Potential End Date: 2024-10-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-30
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