NASA's $504K Earth System Explorers Study Awarded to Cornell Technical Services Amidst Full and Open Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $5,047,916 ($5.0M)
Contractor: Cornell Technical Services LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2025-03-13
End Date: 2026-06-30
Contract Duration: 474 days
Daily Burn Rate: $10.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: 2023 EARTH SYSTEM EXPLORERS (ESE) CONCEPT STUDY REPORT (CSR) EVALUATION
Place of Performance
Location: COLUMBIA, HOWARD County, MARYLAND, 21046
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $5.0 million to CORNELL TECHNICAL SERVICES LLC for work described as: 2023 EARTH SYSTEM EXPLORERS (ESE) CONCEPT STUDY REPORT (CSR) EVALUATION Key points: 1. The contract focuses on R&D in physical, engineering, and life sciences, a broad sector with significant government investment. 2. Cornell Technical Services, the awardee, is a new entity in federal contracting, raising questions about established expertise. 3. The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' method suggests a potentially limited but justified competitive process. 4. The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure requires careful monitoring to ensure cost control and prevent overruns.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $504,791 is relatively small for a research and development study. Benchmarking against similar concept study reports in the R&D sector is difficult without more specific project details, but the fixed fee component needs scrutiny for reasonableness.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' indicates that while the competition was open, specific sources were initially excluded, potentially limiting the breadth of competition. This method can impact price discovery if the excluded sources were strong competitors.
Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is likely minimal given the relatively small contract value. However, ensuring the study delivers valuable insights justifies the expenditure.
Public Impact
Advancement of Earth System Science: The study aims to contribute to understanding critical environmental processes. Potential for Future Investments: Findings could inform future, larger NASA missions and research initiatives. Transparency in Research Funding: The competitive award process ensures public funds are allocated through a structured evaluation.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- New awardee with limited federal contracting history.
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type requires diligent oversight.
- Competition method could have limited the pool of potential bidders.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Supports critical Earth science research.
- Clear period of performance defined.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under NAICS code 541715 (Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences). Spending in this sector is substantial, driven by agencies like NASA, DoD, and NIH, focusing on innovation and scientific advancement.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific award, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine if opportunities were missed.
Oversight & Accountability
The award is managed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Oversight will be crucial, particularly regarding the contractor's adherence to the fixed-fee structure and the quality of research deliverables.
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
- Awardee's limited federal contracting experience.
- Potential for cost overruns in Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts.
- Ambiguity in the 'Exclusion of Sources' rationale.
- Lack of clear small business participation.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, md, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $5.0 million to CORNELL TECHNICAL SERVICES LLC. 2023 EARTH SYSTEM EXPLORERS (ESE) CONCEPT STUDY REPORT (CSR) EVALUATION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CORNELL TECHNICAL SERVICES 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 $5.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-03-13. End: 2026-06-30.
What is the specific research objective of the Earth System Explorers (ESE) Concept Study and how does it align with NASA's broader scientific goals?
The ESE CSR aims to explore innovative concepts for understanding Earth's complex systems, likely focusing on areas like climate change, atmospheric science, or Earth observation. Its alignment with NASA's goals would be through advancing scientific knowledge, informing policy, and potentially identifying technologies for future missions, contributing to the agency's strategic objectives in planetary science and environmental monitoring.
Given Cornell Technical Services' limited federal contracting history, what measures are in place to mitigate performance risks and ensure the quality of the research output?
NASA likely employs standard contract management practices, including regular progress reviews, milestone tracking, and technical evaluations of deliverables. For a new contractor, increased scrutiny on initial performance, clear communication channels, and potentially phased funding releases tied to demonstrated progress would be prudent to mitigate risks and ensure research quality.
How does the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' method ensure optimal value for taxpayer money in this R&D context?
This method aims to balance broad competition with specific needs by allowing open bidding after initial source exclusions, potentially based on unique capabilities or prior performance. It seeks to ensure that the most suitable contractor is selected while maintaining a competitive environment, thereby optimizing value by selecting a technically proficient provider at a reasonable cost, though the exclusion aspect warrants careful justification.
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: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 9700 PATUXENT WOODS DR, COLUMBIA, MD, 21046
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $5,748,648
Exercised Options: $5,748,648
Current Obligation: $5,047,916
Actual Outlays: $3,939,928
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 80LARC20D0007
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-03-13
Current End Date: 2026-06-30
Potential End Date: 2026-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-09
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