NASA Awards $3.68M FFP Contract to Intuitive Machines for Lunar Logistics Study
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,677,941 ($3.7M)
Contractor: Intuitive Machines, LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2025-04-30
End Date: 2026-08-30
Contract Duration: 487 days
Daily Burn Rate: $7.6K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 51
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: THIS IS A FFP CONTRACT FOR NEXTSTEP2 APPENDIX R: LUNAR LOGISTICS AND MOBILITY STUDIES. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PERFORM A STUDY WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF DEVELOPING A LOGISTICS HANDLING AND OFFLOADING CONCEPT.
Place of Performance
Location: HOUSTON, HARRIS County, TEXAS, 77059
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $3.7 million to INTUITIVE MACHINES, LLC for work described as: THIS IS A FFP CONTRACT FOR NEXTSTEP2 APPENDIX R: LUNAR LOGISTICS AND MOBILITY STUDIES. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PERFORM A STUDY WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF DEVELOPING A LOGISTICS HANDLING AND OFFLOADING CONCEPT. Key points: 1. Focuses on developing a logistics handling and offloading concept for lunar missions. 2. Intuitive Machines, LLC, based in Texas, is the contractor. 3. The contract is a definitive contract with a firm fixed price. 4. Awarded under Full and Open Competition, indicating broad market solicitation.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract is a firm fixed price (FFP) for a study, which is a common pricing structure for research and development. Without specific deliverables or comparable study contracts, a precise pricing assessment is difficult, but the amount appears reasonable for a specialized R&D effort.
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 offering.
Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is limited to the $3.68 million awarded for this specific study, which aims to advance lunar exploration capabilities.
Public Impact
Advances NASA's Artemis program by addressing critical lunar surface operations. Supports the development of future lunar infrastructure and mission planning. Could lead to innovations in robotic and human logistics on extraterrestrial bodies. Enhances understanding of the challenges associated with offloading payloads on the Moon.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 75 / 10
Positive Signals
- Clear objective for lunar logistics development.
- Firm Fixed Price contract type.
- Awarded under Full and Open Competition.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the Research and Development sector, specifically for physical and engineering sciences. Spending in this area is crucial for technological advancement and future mission capabilities, with benchmarks varying widely based on the complexity and scope of the research.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to a small business. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were solicited or participated in the competition.
Oversight & Accountability
NASA's procurement processes, including competitive bidding and contract oversight, are designed to ensure accountability. The definitive contract structure allows for clear tasking and monitoring of progress towards the study's objectives.
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
- Study contract, not for hardware development.
- Limited scope to concept development.
- No small business participation indicated.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, tx, definitive-contract, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $3.7 million to INTUITIVE MACHINES, LLC. THIS IS A FFP CONTRACT FOR NEXTSTEP2 APPENDIX R: LUNAR LOGISTICS AND MOBILITY STUDIES. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PERFORM A STUDY WITH THE OBJECTIVE OF DEVELOPING A LOGISTICS HANDLING AND OFFLOADING CONCEPT.
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 $3.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-04-30. End: 2026-08-30.
What are the key performance indicators for this study, and how will their successful completion be measured?
Key performance indicators would likely revolve around the thoroughness and feasibility of the developed logistics handling and offloading concept. NASA will measure success by the clarity of the proposed concept, its technical soundness, adherence to study timelines, and the quality of the final report detailing the findings and recommendations for lunar surface operations.
What are the primary risks associated with this study contract, and what mitigation strategies are in place?
Primary risks include the conceptual nature of the study leading to unfeasible solutions, potential delays in delivering the concept, or the concept not aligning with future hardware development. Mitigation strategies likely involve clear definition of study scope, regular progress reviews with NASA, and ensuring the contractor has relevant expertise in space logistics and lunar environments.
How does this study contribute to the overall effectiveness and efficiency of future lunar missions?
This study is crucial for the effectiveness of future lunar missions by proactively addressing the complex challenge of logistics handling and offloading. An efficient and well-defined concept can reduce mission risks, minimize payload damage, optimize resource utilization, and potentially lower overall mission costs by streamlining surface operations.
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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: NNH16ZCQ001K-APPENDIX-R
Offers Received: 51
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: $3,677,941
Exercised Options: $3,677,941
Current Obligation: $3,677,941
Actual Outlays: $1,339,355
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-04-30
Current End Date: 2026-08-30
Potential End Date: 2026-08-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-02-13
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