NASA's $337M ETIS III Contract for Environmental Test Services Awarded to Peraton Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $337,188,470 ($337.2M)
Contractor: Peraton Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2019-10-01
End Date: 2026-04-30
Contract Duration: 2,403 days
Daily Burn Rate: $140.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THE ETIS III CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL TEST AND INTEGRATION RELATED SERVICES FOR NASA GSFC ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE (ETD) MECHANICAL SYSTEMS DIVISION AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE FORMULATION, DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, FABRICATION, INTEGRATION, TESTING, VERIFICATION, AND OPERATIONS OF SPACEFLIGHT AND GROUND SYSTEM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO ENABLE FUTURE SPACE AND SCIENCE MISSIONS.
Place of Performance
Location: GREENBELT, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20771
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $337.2 million to PERATON INC. for work described as: THE ETIS III CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL TEST AND INTEGRATION RELATED SERVICES FOR NASA GSFC ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE (ETD) MECHANICAL SYSTEMS DIVISION AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE FORMULATION, DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, FABRICATION, INTEGRATION, TESTING, VER… Key points: 1. The ETIS III contract supports critical environmental testing and integration services for NASA's spaceflight hardware and software. 2. Awarded via full and open competition, the contract aims to develop new technologies for future space missions. 3. The contract's Cost Plus Award Fee structure incentivizes performance and cost control. 4. The primary contractor, Peraton Inc., will provide services to NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. 5. The contract duration is over 6 years, with a total value of approximately $337 million.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract's Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure allows for performance incentives, potentially leading to better value if targets are met. Benchmarking against similar large-scale engineering services contracts is difficult without more granular cost data, but the total value appears reasonable for the scope.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded through full and open competition, which typically fosters competitive pricing and ensures the government receives the best value. The pricing discovery process is robust due to multiple bidders vying for the contract.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process is designed to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently for essential space exploration and technology development services.
Public Impact
Supports NASA's mission-critical engineering and technology development for spaceflight hardware and software. Facilitates the development of new technologies crucial for future space and science missions. Ensures the reliability and success of space missions through rigorous testing and integration. Contributes to advancements in aerospace engineering and scientific discovery.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns inherent in Cost Plus Award Fee contracts.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical testing services.
- Scope creep could increase the total contract value beyond initial estimates.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting competitive pricing.
- Performance incentives in CPAF structure can drive efficiency.
- Contract supports development of cutting-edge technologies for future missions.
- Long-term contract provides stability for critical services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, specifically supporting aerospace and defense. Spending in this sector is often characterized by high R&D costs, complex project management, and long development cycles, with significant government investment.
Small Business Impact
The contract data indicates that small business participation is not a primary focus, as the prime contractor is not a small business and no specific small business set-aside is mentioned. Opportunities for small businesses would likely be through subcontracting.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, which has established oversight mechanisms for its procurements. The CPAF structure includes award-fee criteria that require regular evaluation and reporting, contributing to accountability.
Related Government Programs
- Engineering Services
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost overrun potential in CPAF structure.
- Contractor performance risk.
- Dependence on single entity for critical services.
- Technological obsolescence risk.
- Scope creep potential.
Tags
engineering-services, 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 $337.2 million to PERATON INC.. THE ETIS III CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE ENVIRONMENTAL TEST AND INTEGRATION RELATED SERVICES FOR NASA GSFC ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE (ETD) MECHANICAL SYSTEMS DIVISION AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE FORMULATION, DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, FABRICATION, INTEGRATION, TESTING, VERIFICATION, AND OPERATIONS OF SPACEFLIGHT AND GROUND SYSTEM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO ENABLE FUTURE SPACE AND SCIENCE MISSIONS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is PERATON 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 $337.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2019-10-01. End: 2026-04-30.
How will the performance incentives within the Cost Plus Award Fee structure be measured and what are the potential award fee amounts?
The performance incentives are tied to specific award-fee criteria established by NASA for the ETIS III contract. These criteria likely relate to technical performance, schedule adherence, and cost management. The potential award fee amounts are determined by the degree to which the contractor meets or exceeds these defined criteria, aiming to motivate superior performance beyond basic contract requirements.
What are the specific risks associated with Peraton Inc. being the sole prime contractor for these critical integration and testing services?
The primary risk is the potential for service disruption if Peraton Inc. faces financial difficulties, operational issues, or fails to meet performance standards. This could delay NASA's critical spaceflight hardware and software development and testing. Additionally, a sole prime contractor may have less incentive to innovate or reduce costs over time compared to a more competitive environment.
How effectively will the ETIS III contract enable the development and validation of new technologies for future space missions?
The contract's effectiveness in enabling new technology development hinges on the clarity of requirements, the flexibility of the CPAF structure to accommodate innovation, and NASA's active engagement in guiding and evaluating these efforts. If well-managed, the contract can provide the necessary resources and expertise for Peraton to successfully develop and validate technologies crucial for NASA's ambitious future space and science missions.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services
Product/Service Code: ARCHITECT/ENGINEER SERVICES › ARCH-ENG SVCS - GENERAL
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: 80GSFC18R0034
Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Veritas Capital Fund Management, L.L.C.
Address: 12975 WORLDGATE DR STE 7322, HERNDON, VA, 20170
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $369,400,000
Exercised Options: $369,400,000
Current Obligation: $337,188,470
Actual Outlays: $325,783,590
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 207
Total Subaward Amount: $40,088,401
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2019-10-01
Current End Date: 2026-04-30
Potential End Date: 2026-04-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-25
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