NASA Awards $27M Contract for Near Space Network Services to Intuitive Machines
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $27,000,000 ($27.0M)
Contractor: Intuitive Machines, LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2024-10-01
End Date: 2029-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,825 days
Daily Burn Rate: $14.8K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: NEAR SPACE NETWORK (NSN) SERVICES (SUBCATEGORY 2.2 GEO TO CIS-LUNAR RELAY)
Place of Performance
Location: HOUSTON, HARRIS County, TEXAS, 77059
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $27.0 million to INTUITIVE MACHINES, LLC for work described as: NEAR SPACE NETWORK (NSN) SERVICES (SUBCATEGORY 2.2 GEO TO CIS-LUNAR RELAY) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Intuitive Machines, LLC for NSN services. 2. Competition method is Full and Open, indicating broad market access. 3. The contract has a Firm Fixed Price structure. 4. This award falls under Satellite Telecommunications. 5. The contract duration is 5 years.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $27 million over five years appears reasonable for specialized satellite telecommunications services. Benchmarking against similar NASA contracts for relay services would provide a more precise assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This method generally promotes competitive pricing and allows the agency to select the best value.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award is expected to yield fair pricing, maximizing the value of taxpayer funds for essential space communication infrastructure.
Public Impact
Ensures continued communication capabilities for NASA missions in cis-lunar space. Supports the development and operation of the Near Space Network. Facilitates data relay and command/control for future space exploration endeavors. Potentially enables new commercial opportunities in lunar and cislunar communications.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns if scope expands beyond initial estimates.
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical communication infrastructure.
Positive Signals
- Firm Fixed Price contract limits cost uncertainty.
- Full and open competition promotes market efficiency.
- Long-term contract provides stability for service provision.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Satellite Telecommunications sector, which is crucial for space exploration and scientific research. Spending in this area is driven by the need for reliable data transmission and command capabilities for increasingly complex missions.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was awarded under full and open competition, and there is no specific indication of small business participation in this particular award. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
The award by NASA suggests adherence to established procurement processes. Ongoing oversight will be critical to ensure performance, cost control, and adherence to contract terms throughout the five-year period.
Related Government Programs
- Satellite Telecommunications
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in if follow-on contracts are required.
- Dependence on a single provider for critical communication links.
- Risk of technological obsolescence if the service is not adaptable.
- Geopolitical risks affecting the vendor or operational environment.
Tags
satellite-telecommunications, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, tx, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $27.0 million to INTUITIVE MACHINES, LLC. NEAR SPACE NETWORK (NSN) SERVICES (SUBCATEGORY 2.2 GEO TO CIS-LUNAR RELAY)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is INTUITIVE MACHINES, LLC.
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 $27.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-10-01. End: 2029-09-30.
What are the specific technical requirements for the cis-lunar relay services, and how do they compare to existing capabilities?
The specific technical requirements involve establishing and maintaining a relay service between geostationary orbit and cis-lunar space. This likely includes bandwidth, latency, data integrity, and coverage area specifications. Comparing these to existing capabilities is crucial to understand the technological advancement or unique service being procured, ensuring the contract addresses a genuine need and isn't duplicating existing infrastructure.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will Intuitive Machines' performance be measured?
Key performance indicators would likely focus on service availability, data transmission success rates, latency adherence, and response times for critical events. NASA will measure Intuitive Machines' performance against these KPIs through regular reporting, system monitoring, and potentially independent verification. Meeting or exceeding these KPIs will be essential for successful contract execution and future opportunities.
What is the long-term strategy for cis-lunar communication infrastructure, and how does this contract fit into that vision?
This contract appears to be a component of NASA's broader strategy to establish robust communication infrastructure for sustained lunar presence and exploration. It addresses the need for reliable relay services beyond traditional Earth orbit. Understanding the long-term vision will clarify how this $27 million investment contributes to future missions, potential commercialization, and the overall architecture of space communications.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Satellite Telecommunications › Satellite Telecommunications
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - NETWORK
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: 80GSFC22R0029
Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 13467 COLUMBIA SHUTTLE ST, HOUSTON, TX, 77059
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $4,820,000,000
Exercised Options: $584,897,500
Current Obligation: $27,000,000
Actual Outlays: $9,000,000
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-10-01
Current End Date: 2029-09-30
Potential End Date: 2029-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-08-04
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