NASA awards $32.5M task order to SAIC for web and application services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $32,482,404 ($32.5M)
Contractor: Science Applications International Corporation
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2021-02-01
End Date: 2024-10-31
Contract Duration: 1,368 days
Daily Burn Rate: $23.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: TASK ORDER IN SUPPORT OF LANGLEYS BROAD SCOPE OF WEB AND APPLICATION SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: HAMPTON, HAMPTON CITY County, VIRGINIA, 23681
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $32.5 million to SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION for work described as: TASK ORDER IN SUPPORT OF LANGLEYS BROAD SCOPE OF WEB AND APPLICATION SERVICES Key points: 1. Task order awarded under a broad scope contract for IT services. 2. Contract type is Firm Fixed Price, indicating predictable costs. 3. Duration of 1368 days suggests a long-term need for these services. 4. Services are for computer systems design, a critical IT function. 5. Awarded by NASA, a major federal agency with significant IT needs. 6. Contractor SAIC has a substantial presence in federal IT contracting.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total value of this task order is $32.5 million over approximately 3.75 years. Benchmarking this against similar IT services contracts requires detailed analysis of scope and specific services. However, given the duration and the nature of computer systems design, the pricing appears within a reasonable range for a large federal agency like NASA. The firm fixed-price structure helps control costs for the government.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This task order was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The specific competition dynamics for this task order are not detailed, but the 'full and open' designation generally implies a competitive process that should lead to fair market pricing. The number of bidders and the specific evaluation criteria would provide further insight into the level of competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is beneficial for taxpayers as it typically drives down prices through market forces and encourages a wider range of innovative solutions.
Public Impact
Benefits NASA's internal operations by providing essential web and application services. Supports the development and maintenance of critical IT infrastructure for the agency. Impacts NASA's ability to conduct its scientific and exploratory missions. Workforce implications may include IT professionals employed by SAIC and potentially subcontractors.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for scope creep if the 'broad scope' is not tightly managed.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical IT functions could pose a risk.
- Ensuring continued innovation and adaptation to evolving technologies over the contract term.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting competitive pricing.
- Firm Fixed Price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
- Long contract duration indicates a stable, ongoing need for these services.
- SAIC is an established contractor with a proven track record in federal IT.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Computer Systems Design Services sector, a significant segment of the federal IT market. This sector encompasses a wide range of services from custom software development to IT infrastructure management. Spending in this area is consistently high across federal agencies as they modernize and maintain their digital capabilities. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other large IT services contracts awarded by agencies like the Department of Defense or GSA.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses arising from a set-aside. However, the prime contractor, SAIC, may engage small businesses as subcontractors to fulfill parts of the contract, depending on their own subcontracting plans and the specific needs of the task order.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this task order would primarily fall under NASA's contracting officers and program managers. The firm fixed-price nature of the contract provides a degree of financial oversight. Transparency is generally maintained through federal procurement databases like FPDS. Specific accountability measures would be detailed in the contract's statement of work and performance metrics. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA IT Services Contracts
- Computer Systems Design Services
- SAIC Federal Contracts
- Broad Scope IT Task Orders
- Firm Fixed Price IT Contracts
Risk Flags
- Potential for scope creep
- Contractor dependency risk
- Technological obsolescence risk
- Cybersecurity vulnerabilities
Tags
it, nasa, virginia, task-order, large-value, full-and-open-competition, firm-fixed-price, computer-systems-design, science-applications-international-corporation, web-and-application-services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $32.5 million to SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. TASK ORDER IN SUPPORT OF LANGLEYS BROAD SCOPE OF WEB AND APPLICATION SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION.
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 $32.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2021-02-01. End: 2024-10-31.
What is SAIC's track record with NASA for similar IT services?
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has a long-standing and extensive history of contracting with NASA and other federal agencies for a wide array of IT and technical services. Reviewing NASA's procurement history and contract databases would reveal numerous awards to SAIC for tasks related to systems engineering, software development, cloud services, and IT support. Their performance on past contracts, including any awards or penalties, would be a key indicator of their capability and reliability for this specific task order. While this task order is under a broad scope contract, SAIC's overall performance trends with NASA provide valuable context for assessing their suitability and the value proposition of this award.
How does the $32.5 million value compare to similar NASA IT task orders?
The $32.5 million value for this task order, spanning approximately 3.75 years, places it as a significant, but not exceptionally large, IT services award for NASA. NASA, like other major federal agencies, frequently awards task orders in the tens to hundreds of millions of dollars for comprehensive IT support, systems design, and application development. To benchmark effectively, one would need to compare the specific services rendered, the complexity of the systems involved, and the duration against other task orders issued under similar broad scope IT vehicles. Factors such as the number of bidders, the specific technical requirements, and the prevailing market rates for specialized IT skills at the time of award would also influence comparability. Without direct access to the detailed statement of work and competitive bids, a precise value comparison is challenging, but the amount is consistent with substantial IT investments by large federal agencies.
What are the primary risks associated with this contract?
Several risks are associated with this task order. Firstly, the 'broad scope' nature of the underlying contract, under which this task order was issued, can introduce risks of scope creep if not meticulously managed. This means the requirements could expand beyond the original intent, potentially increasing costs or delaying timelines. Secondly, reliance on a single contractor, SAIC, for critical web and application services creates a dependency risk; any performance issues or disruptions from SAIC could significantly impact NASA's operations. Thirdly, the long duration (over three years) means the technology landscape and NASA's needs might evolve, posing a risk that the services provided become outdated or less effective if not proactively adapted. Finally, ensuring the contractor maintains high levels of security for sensitive government data and systems is an ongoing risk that requires continuous monitoring and robust cybersecurity measures.
How effective is the 'full and open competition' in ensuring value for money for this contract?
Full and open competition is generally considered the most effective method for ensuring value for money in federal contracting. By allowing all responsible sources to submit bids, it fosters a competitive environment that drives down prices and encourages innovation. For this task order, the 'full and open' designation suggests that NASA sought the best possible solution and price from the widest possible pool of qualified vendors. The effectiveness in practice depends on the clarity of the solicitation, the evaluation criteria, and the actual number and quality of bids received. If multiple highly capable vendors competed vigorously, it is highly probable that NASA secured a competitive price and a high-quality service. Conversely, if the competition was weak (e.g., few bidders, or bidders with limited capabilities), the value proposition might be diminished.
What are the historical spending patterns for computer systems design services at NASA?
NASA, like other major federal agencies, consistently allocates significant portions of its budget to IT services, including computer systems design. Historical spending patterns reveal a steady demand for these services as the agency undertakes complex missions requiring sophisticated software, data management, and system integration. NASA's spending in this category has likely increased over time, reflecting the growing complexity of space exploration, scientific research, and the need for advanced digital infrastructure. Analyzing past contract awards for computer systems design services would show trends in contract values, durations, and the types of services procured. This task order for SAIC fits within this broader pattern of NASA's sustained investment in its IT capabilities to support its core mission objectives.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Systems Design Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 12010 SUNSET HILLS RD, RESTON, VA, 20190
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $32,544,982
Exercised Options: $32,544,982
Current Obligation: $32,482,404
Actual Outlays: $32,479,169
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 12
Total Subaward Amount: $11,943,247
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNX16MB01C
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2021-02-01
Current End Date: 2024-10-31
Potential End Date: 2024-10-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-07-15
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