NASA's $17.3M contract for VIPER rover avionics awarded to Moog Inc. amid full and open competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $17,343,416 ($17.3M)
Contractor: Moog Inc
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2020-10-28
End Date: 2025-07-31
Contract Duration: 1,737 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10.0K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: VOLATILES INVESTIGATING POLAR EXPLORATION ROVER (VIPER) ROVER INTEGRATED AVIONICS UNIT (IAU)
Place of Performance
Location: GILBERT, MARICOPA County, ARIZONA, 85233
State: Arizona Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $17.3 million to MOOG INC for work described as: VOLATILES INVESTIGATING POLAR EXPLORATION ROVER (VIPER) ROVER INTEGRATED AVIONICS UNIT (IAU) Key points: 1. The contract value of $17.3 million for the VIPER rover's Integrated Avionics Unit (IAU) appears reasonable for specialized space hardware. 2. Full and open competition suggests a healthy market for this type of aerospace component manufacturing. 3. The fixed-price contract type shifts performance risk to the contractor, Moog Inc. 4. This contract supports NASA's Artemis program objectives for lunar exploration. 5. Moog Inc. is a known entity in aerospace manufacturing, suggesting a degree of reliability. 6. The contract duration of over 1700 days indicates a significant, long-term development and production effort.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $17.3 million for the VIPER rover's Integrated Avionics Unit (IAU) is a significant investment. Benchmarking against similar complex avionics systems for space missions is challenging due to the unique nature of lunar rovers. However, given the specialized requirements and the established capabilities of Moog Inc. in aerospace, the pricing appears to be within a reasonable range for such a critical component. The firm fixed-price structure also provides cost certainty for NASA.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple capable vendors were likely solicited and had the opportunity to bid. The specific number of bidders is not provided, but the designation suggests a competitive process that allowed for price discovery and selection of the best value offer. This approach generally leads to more favorable pricing for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition ensures that taxpayer dollars are used efficiently by fostering a competitive environment that drives down costs and encourages innovation among potential suppliers.
Public Impact
This contract directly benefits NASA's scientific exploration goals by providing essential hardware for the VIPER lunar rover. The services delivered include the design, development, and manufacturing of the Integrated Avionics Unit (IAU). The geographic impact is primarily within the United States, supporting Moog Inc.'s operations in Arizona. Workforce implications include skilled engineering and manufacturing jobs within the aerospace sector.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for schedule delays in complex space hardware development.
- Reliance on a single contractor for a critical component could pose supply chain risks.
- Ensuring long-term reliability and performance of the avionics unit in the harsh lunar environment.
Positive Signals
- Award to an established aerospace manufacturer with a track record.
- Firm fixed-price contract provides cost predictability.
- Full and open competition suggests a robust market and potential for competitive pricing.
- Contract supports a high-profile scientific mission with clear objectives.
Sector Analysis
The aerospace manufacturing sector is characterized by high barriers to entry, stringent quality control, and significant R&D investment. This contract falls within the specialized segment of space systems and instrumentation manufacturing. The market for lunar rover components is niche but critical for space agencies like NASA. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish precisely due to the unique nature of each mission, but contracts for similar complex subsystems can range from millions to tens of millions of dollars.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside (ss: false) and Moog Inc. is a large business. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses within the provided data. Therefore, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this specific contract is likely minimal, though Moog Inc. may engage small businesses in its broader supply chain.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract will be managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a definitive contract with a firm fixed-price structure, NASA will monitor performance against milestones and technical specifications. Transparency is generally maintained through NASA's public contract databases and reporting. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Artemis Program
- Lunar Exploration Missions
- Spacecraft Avionics Systems
- Robotic Space Exploration
Risk Flags
- Potential for schedule slippage
- Technical performance risk
- Integration complexity
Tags
nasa, aerospace, avionics, definitive-contract, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, lunar-exploration, rover, moog-inc, arizona, science-and-research, national-aeronautics-and-space-administration
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $17.3 million to MOOG INC. VOLATILES INVESTIGATING POLAR EXPLORATION ROVER (VIPER) ROVER INTEGRATED AVIONICS UNIT (IAU)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is MOOG 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 $17.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-10-28. End: 2025-07-31.
What is Moog Inc.'s track record with NASA for similar complex avionics systems?
Moog Inc. has a long-standing history of providing critical components and systems for aerospace and defense applications, including for NASA missions. While specific details on their past performance with NASA for VIPER-class avionics are not detailed here, the company is known for its expertise in flight control systems, actuation, and other complex electro-mechanical systems used in spacecraft and launch vehicles. Their established presence in the industry suggests a level of experience and reliability that likely factored into NASA's decision during the full and open competition process. Further investigation into their specific contract history with NASA for related projects would provide a more granular assessment of their track record.
How does the $17.3 million contract value compare to similar space avionics procurements?
Directly comparing the $17.3 million value for the VIPER rover's Integrated Avionics Unit (IAU) to similar procurements is challenging due to the highly specialized nature of space hardware and the unique requirements of each mission. Avionics systems for robotic planetary missions are complex and custom-engineered. However, contracts for critical subsystems on major space programs can range widely. For instance, contracts for instrument suites, power systems, or communication modules for Mars rovers or lunar landers have historically fallen within similar or higher value ranges. The firm fixed-price nature of this contract suggests NASA sought cost certainty, and the value reflects the development, testing, and production of a critical, high-reliability component.
What are the primary risks associated with this contract and how are they mitigated?
The primary risks associated with this contract revolve around the technical complexity and the demanding environment of space exploration. These include potential development delays due to unforeseen engineering challenges, performance issues in the harsh lunar environment (temperature extremes, radiation, dust), and integration challenges with other rover systems. Mitigation strategies are inherent in the contract structure and NASA's oversight. The firm fixed-price (FFP) contract shifts financial risk to Moog Inc., incentivizing them to manage costs and schedules effectively. NASA's technical oversight, rigorous testing protocols, and performance reviews throughout the contract lifecycle are crucial for identifying and addressing technical risks early. Moog's established expertise in aerospace also serves as a risk-reduction factor.
How effective is the 'full and open competition' approach likely to be for this type of specialized aerospace component?
The 'full and open competition' approach is generally considered highly effective for specialized aerospace components like the VIPER rover's IAU, provided there is a sufficient market base. It allows NASA to solicit proposals from all responsible sources, fostering a competitive environment that drives innovation and potentially leads to better pricing and technological solutions. For complex systems, this approach ensures that NASA can evaluate a range of technical approaches and select the best value. The effectiveness hinges on the number of capable vendors willing and able to compete. If the market is limited, even full and open competition might result in fewer bids than ideal, but it still provides a structured framework for evaluation and selection.
What are the historical spending patterns for VIPER rover components or similar lunar exploration hardware?
Historical spending patterns for components like the VIPER rover's IAU are embedded within the overall budgets of NASA's planetary science and exploration programs. The VIPER mission itself is part of NASA's broader lunar exploration initiatives, which have seen fluctuating but generally increasing investment over the past decade, particularly with the advent of the Artemis program. Specific component costs are often proprietary or aggregated within larger mission budgets. However, the development and procurement of sophisticated scientific instruments, robotic systems, and associated avionics for missions like the Mars rovers (Curiosity, Perseverance) or previous lunar missions demonstrate that such specialized hardware typically represents a significant portion of a mission's total cost, often in the tens of millions of dollars for complex subsystems.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing › Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: AEROSPACE CRAFT COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORIES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: 80JSC020Q0006
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2288 W GUADALUPE RD, GILBERT, AZ, 85233
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: $17,343,416
Exercised Options: $17,343,416
Current Obligation: $17,343,416
Actual Outlays: $17,343,416
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 10
Total Subaward Amount: $10,141,438
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-10-28
Current End Date: 2025-07-31
Potential End Date: 2025-07-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-24
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