NASA's WFIRST Telescope Design Contract Reaches $179M, Awarded to Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $178,975,557 ($179.0M)
Contractor: Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2019-07-01
End Date: 2027-09-30
Contract Duration: 3,013 days
Daily Burn Rate: $59.4K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THIS CONTRACT IS FOR THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DESIGN PHASE OF THE WIDE-FIELD INFRARED SURVEY TELESCOPE (WFIRST) SCIENCE OPERATIONS CENTER (SOC)
Place of Performance
Location: BALTIMORE, BALTIMORE CITY County, MARYLAND, 21218
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $179.0 million to ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY, INC. for work described as: THIS CONTRACT IS FOR THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DESIGN PHASE OF THE WIDE-FIELD INFRARED SURVEY TELESCOPE (WFIRST) SCIENCE OPERATIONS CENTER (SOC) Key points: 1. The contract focuses on the critical design phase of the WFIRST Science Operations Center. 2. This is a sole-source award, indicating limited competition for this specific research and development effort. 3. The contract duration extends over 8 years, suggesting a long-term commitment to the project. 4. The primary sector is R&D, specifically in physical sciences, aligning with advanced astronomical research.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract is a Cost Plus Fixed Fee type, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking is difficult due to the specialized nature of the R&D work.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, which limits price discovery and potentially increases costs. The justification for a sole-source award would need to be thoroughly reviewed.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are committed to a long-term, specialized research project with limited competitive pricing.
Public Impact
Significant investment in space exploration and astronomical research. Potential for groundbreaking scientific discoveries through the WFIRST telescope. Long-term employment opportunities in specialized scientific and engineering fields. Advancement of U.S. leadership in space science and technology.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition may lead to higher costs.
- Cost-plus contracts can incentivize spending.
- Long contract duration increases risk of scope creep or changing requirements.
Positive Signals
- Supports critical scientific research.
- Potential for significant technological advancements.
- Long-term project stability.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is often characterized by high upfront investment, long development cycles, and specialized expertise, making direct cost comparisons challenging.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to a large research association and does not indicate any specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
Given the sole-source nature and long duration, robust oversight from NASA is crucial to ensure cost control, adherence to scope, and achievement of project milestones.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competitive pressure on pricing.
- Cost-plus contracts can incentivize higher spending.
- Long contract duration increases risk of scope creep and requirement changes.
- Specialized nature of R&D makes cost benchmarking difficult.
- Potential for delays impacting overall telescope mission timeline.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, md, definitive-contract, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $179.0 million to ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY, INC.. THIS CONTRACT IS FOR THE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DESIGN PHASE OF THE WIDE-FIELD INFRARED SURVEY TELESCOPE (WFIRST) SCIENCE OPERATIONS CENTER (SOC)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITIES FOR RESEARCH IN ASTRONOMY, 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 $179.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-07-01. End: 2027-09-30.
What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and what steps are being taken to ensure fair pricing?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities or specialized knowledge held by the contractor. NASA should have documented this justification. To ensure fair pricing, mechanisms like independent cost estimates, robust negotiation strategies, and strict oversight of cost-plus fixed-fee elements are essential. Regular reviews of contractor expenditures against the fixed fee are also critical.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this design phase, and how will success be measured?
Key performance indicators for the design phase would likely include timely completion of design milestones, adherence to technical specifications, successful integration of subsystems, and validation of the overall system architecture. Success will be measured through rigorous design reviews, peer assessments, and verification that the design meets the scientific and operational requirements for the WFIRST telescope's Science Operations Center.
How will potential cost overruns be managed given the Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract structure and the long project timeline?
Managing cost overruns in a CPFF contract requires proactive measures. NASA must implement stringent financial oversight, regularly audit contractor expenditures, and enforce contract clauses that limit fee accrual if costs exceed projections without justification. Establishing clear baseline budgets and requiring detailed cost-breakdowns for each phase will help identify potential overruns early, allowing for corrective actions or renegotiation.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 80GSFC18R0047
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3700 SAN MARTIN DR, BALTIMORE, MD, 21218
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $204,955,978
Exercised Options: $204,955,978
Current Obligation: $178,975,557
Actual Outlays: $143,190,613
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 24
Total Subaward Amount: $8,929,186
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-07-01
Current End Date: 2027-09-30
Potential End Date: 2027-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-09-08
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