NASA awards $308M contract to BAE Systems for Wide Field Instrument for WFIRST mission
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $307,899,595 ($307.9M)
Contractor: BAE Systems Space & Mission Systems Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2018-05-24
End Date: 2027-01-31
Contract Duration: 3,174 days
Daily Burn Rate: $97.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Defense
Official Description: THE WOMA REQUIREMENT WAS ISSUED AS A FULL AND OPEN COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT TO DESIGN, ANALYZE, DEVELOP, FABRICATE, INTEGRATE, TEST, AND EVALUATE THE WIDE FIELD INSTRUMENT (WFI) OPTO-MECHANICAL ASSEMBLY (WOMA) FOR THE WIDE FIELD INFRARED SURVEY TELESCOPE (WFIRST) MISSION. IN ADDITION, IT DEFINES THE TASKS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE SUBSEQUENT INTEGRATION, TEST, EVALUATION, AND VALIDATION OF THE WFI. IT DEFINES THE POST-DELIVERY SUPPORT TO PAYLOAD AND OBSERVATORY INTEGRATION AND TEST, AND TO PRE-LAUNCH, LAUNCH AND COMMISSIONING ACTIVITIES AT THE MISSION OPERATIONS CENTER (MOC) AND TO SUPPLY AND MAINTAIN THE INSTRUMENT GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT (GSE).
Place of Performance
Location: BOULDER, BOULDER County, COLORADO, 80301
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $307.9 million to BAE SYSTEMS SPACE & MISSION SYSTEMS INC. for work described as: THE WOMA REQUIREMENT WAS ISSUED AS A FULL AND OPEN COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT TO DESIGN, ANALYZE, DEVELOP, FABRICATE, INTEGRATE, TEST, AND EVALUATE THE WIDE FIELD INSTRUMENT (WFI) OPTO-MECHANICAL ASSEMBLY (WOMA) FOR THE WIDE FIELD INFRARED SURVEY TELESCOPE (WFIRST) MISSION. IN ADDIT… Key points: 1. Contract aims to design, develop, and integrate a critical instrument for the WFIRST space telescope. 2. BAE Systems, a major aerospace contractor, will lead the effort. 3. The contract spans nearly a decade, indicating a long-term, complex project. 4. This award represents significant investment in space-based astronomical research. 5. The project involves advanced opto-mechanical assembly and integration. 6. Post-delivery support is included, covering integration, testing, and launch activities.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $308 million for the Wide Field Instrument (WFI) opto-mechanical assembly (WOMA) appears reasonable given the complexity and duration of the project, spanning from design to post-launch support. While direct comparisons are difficult without more granular cost breakdowns, the scope includes design, development, fabrication, integration, testing, and evaluation, along with ground support equipment and post-delivery support. This comprehensive approach suggests a thorough, albeit potentially costly, endeavor for a mission-critical component of the WFIRST telescope.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under a full and open competitive procurement process, indicating that multiple interested parties had the opportunity to bid. The presence of two bids suggests a competitive environment, though the specific details of the bidding process and the number of proposals received are not fully detailed. A competitive process is generally expected to yield better pricing and value for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition provides taxpayers with assurance that the government sought the best possible value by allowing all qualified vendors to participate, potentially driving down costs through market forces.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are the scientific community and the public, who will gain access to new astronomical data from the WFIRST mission. The contract will deliver the Wide Field Instrument (WFI) opto-mechanical assembly (WOMA), a crucial component for the telescope's capabilities. The geographic impact is national, with the work likely concentrated at BAE Systems facilities and NASA centers involved in the WFIRST mission. The project will support a specialized workforce in aerospace engineering, optics, and related scientific fields.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Long contract duration (over 8 years) increases risk of cost overruns and schedule delays.
- Complexity of integrating advanced opto-mechanical systems can lead to unforeseen technical challenges.
- Reliance on a single contractor for a critical mission component poses a risk if performance issues arise.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a robust selection process.
- Inclusion of post-delivery support indicates a commitment to mission success beyond initial fabrication.
- BAE Systems has significant experience in space systems, reducing technical risk.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the aerospace and defense sector, specifically focusing on space exploration and scientific instrumentation. The market for such specialized components is characterized by high barriers to entry due to technical expertise and capital requirements. NASA's WFIRST mission is a flagship program, and the WOMA is a critical subsystem. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve other large-scale space telescope instrument development contracts, which are often in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Small Business Impact
The provided data does not indicate any specific small business set-aside provisions for this contract. Given the highly specialized nature of the WFI opto-mechanical assembly, it is likely that the prime contractor, BAE Systems, will manage subcontracting opportunities. Analysis of potential subcontracting to small businesses would require further investigation into BAE Systems' subcontracting plan and historical performance.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract will be primarily managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), likely through its program management and contracting officers. Accountability measures would be embedded in the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPA) contract structure, which incentivizes performance. Transparency is generally maintained through NASA's public reporting and contract databases, though detailed technical progress reports are typically proprietary.
Related Government Programs
- James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) Instrument Development
- Hubble Space Telescope Servicing Missions
- NASA Advanced Technology Development Programs
- National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) Satellite Programs
Risk Flags
- Long-term contract duration increases potential for cost escalation.
- Complexity of advanced opto-mechanical systems presents technical challenges.
- Integration risks between different mission components.
Tags
nasa, space-exploration, instrument-development, optics, aerospace, full-and-open-competition, definitive-contract, cost-plus-award-fee, national-aeronautics-and-space-administration, colorado, guided-missile-and-space-vehicle-manufacturing, large-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $307.9 million to BAE SYSTEMS SPACE & MISSION SYSTEMS INC.. THE WOMA REQUIREMENT WAS ISSUED AS A FULL AND OPEN COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENT TO DESIGN, ANALYZE, DEVELOP, FABRICATE, INTEGRATE, TEST, AND EVALUATE THE WIDE FIELD INSTRUMENT (WFI) OPTO-MECHANICAL ASSEMBLY (WOMA) FOR THE WIDE FIELD INFRARED SURVEY TELESCOPE (WFIRST) MISSION. IN ADDITION, IT DEFINES THE TASKS NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE SUBSEQUENT INTEGRATION, TEST, EVALUATION, AND VALIDATION OF THE WFI. IT DEFINES THE POST-DELIVERY SUPPORT TO PAYLOAD AND OBSERVATORY INTEGRATION AND TEST, AND TO PRE-LAU
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is BAE SYSTEMS SPACE & MISSION SYSTEMS INC..
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 $307.9 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-05-24. End: 2027-01-31.
What is the track record of BAE Systems in delivering complex space-based optical instruments for NASA or other agencies?
BAE Systems, through its various divisions and historical acquisitions, has a substantial track record in developing and manufacturing complex systems for space applications. This includes components for satellites, spacecraft, and scientific instruments. While specific details on their delivery of large, integrated opto-mechanical assemblies for major astronomical observatories like WFIRST are not immediately detailed in this summary, their broader experience in areas such as sensor systems, spacecraft structures, and payload integration suggests a capability to handle such a contract. NASA typically conducts thorough due diligence on a contractor's past performance, especially for mission-critical components, implying that BAE Systems was deemed qualified based on prior relevant work.
How does the $308 million contract value compare to similar large-scale space instrument development projects?
The $308 million contract value for the WFI opto-mechanical assembly (WOMA) is substantial and aligns with the typical cost range for developing major scientific instruments for flagship space missions. For comparison, the development of instruments for the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) involved costs in the hundreds of millions of dollars per instrument. The Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST) itself is a large, ambitious mission, and its primary scientific instrument, the WFI, is expected to be a complex and costly component. Therefore, $308 million appears to be within the expected financial parameters for such a critical and technologically advanced piece of space hardware.
What are the primary technical risks associated with the WOMA development and integration, and how are they being mitigated?
The primary technical risks associated with the WOMA development and integration likely stem from the precision required for its opto-mechanical components, the integration of sensitive infrared detectors, and the overall complexity of ensuring performance in the harsh space environment. Mitigations would typically involve rigorous design reviews, extensive ground testing and validation, use of heritage components where possible, and close collaboration between BAE Systems and NASA's science and engineering teams. The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPA) contract structure also incentivizes the contractor to proactively identify and mitigate risks to achieve performance objectives and earn award fees.
What is the expected impact of the WFI on the scientific capabilities of the WFIRST mission?
The Wide Field Instrument (WFI) is central to the scientific capabilities of the WFIRST mission. It is designed to survey large areas of the sky in the infrared spectrum with unprecedented resolution and sensitivity. This will enable WFIRST to address key questions in cosmology, such as the nature of dark energy and dark matter, and to conduct exoplanet surveys using microlensing techniques. The WFI's wide field of view allows for rapid mapping of vast cosmic regions, making it a powerful tool for understanding the evolution of the universe and the formation of planetary systems.
What is the historical spending pattern for the WFIRST mission and its major components?
The WFIRST mission, now known as the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, has seen significant investment over many years. Initial estimates and funding allocations have evolved as the mission design matured and its scope was refined. The development of major components like the WFI, the coronagraph instrument, and the telescope optics themselves represent substantial portions of the overall mission budget. Historical spending data would show a phased approach, with initial funding for technology development and concept studies, followed by increasing allocations for hardware development, integration, and testing as the mission progresses towards launch. The $308 million for the WOMA is a significant, but not isolated, expenditure within the broader WFIRST program.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing › Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: AEROSPACE CRAFT COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: NNG17621139R
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1600 COMMERCE ST UNIT 1, BOULDER, CO, 80301
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $315,478,942
Exercised Options: $315,478,942
Current Obligation: $307,899,595
Actual Outlays: $287,687,939
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 152
Total Subaward Amount: $140,383,341
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-05-24
Current End Date: 2027-01-31
Potential End Date: 2027-01-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-12-16
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