Nasa's Metts III Contract: $214M for R&D Support, Awarded to Rsi-Quantitech JV LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $214,428,924 ($214.4M)
Contractor: Rsi-Quantitech JV LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2023-01-01
End Date: 2026-12-31
Contract Duration: 1,460 days
Daily Burn Rate: $146.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: MARSHALL ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS AND TRADES SUPPORT (METTS III) COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS AND TRADE SKILLS TO PERFORM TESTING GROUND AND SPACE BASED RESEARCH TEST OPERATIONS DATA ANALYSIS INSTRUMENTATION CALIBRATION
Place of Performance
Location: HUNTSVILLE, MADISON County, ALABAMA, 35812
State: Alabama Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $214.4 million to RSI-QUANTITECH JV LLC for work described as: MARSHALL ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS AND TRADES SUPPORT (METTS III) COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS AND TRADE SKILLS TO PERFORM TESTING GROUND AND SPACE BASED RESEARCH TEST OPERATIONS DATA ANALYSIS INSTRUMENTATION CALIBRATION Key points: 1. Contract supports diverse engineering and trade skills for research, testing, and data analysis. 2. Primary sector is R&D in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 3. Competition was 'Full and Open After Exclusion of Sources', suggesting a specific justification. 4. Awardee is RSI-QUANTITECH JV LLC, a joint venture.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF), which can incentivize performance but may lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. The total award value is substantial.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The competition was 'Full and Open After Exclusion of Sources'. This method implies that while the competition was initially open, certain sources were excluded, potentially limiting the competitive landscape and impacting price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: The significant contract value suggests a considerable taxpayer investment. The effectiveness of the competition method will influence the value for money achieved.
Public Impact
Supports critical research and development activities for NASA. Contract involves specialized technical and trade skills. Long duration (4 years) indicates a sustained need for these services. Geographic concentration in Alabama.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition due to source exclusion.
- Cost Plus Award Fee contract type requires careful oversight.
- No small business participation noted.
Positive Signals
- Supports NASA's core R&D mission.
- Award to a joint venture may indicate specialized capabilities.
- Clear contract end date.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is crucial for technological advancement but can be complex to benchmark due to its specialized nature.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small businesses were not directly involved in this contract award (sb: false). This suggests that the prime contractor is likely a larger entity or a joint venture not classified as small business for this award.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' requires clear justification for the exclusion. NASA's oversight will be critical in ensuring the awardee meets performance expectations and that costs are reasonable under the CPAF structure.
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
- Limited competition.
- Potential for cost overruns with CPAF.
- Lack of small business participation.
- Justification for source exclusion is not detailed.
- Performance metrics for award fee are not specified.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, al, definitive-contract, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $214.4 million to RSI-QUANTITECH JV LLC. MARSHALL ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS AND TRADES SUPPORT (METTS III) COVERS A WIDE RANGE OF ENGINEERING TECHNICIANS AND TRADE SKILLS TO PERFORM TESTING GROUND AND SPACE BASED RESEARCH TEST OPERATIONS DATA ANALYSIS INSTRUMENTATION CALIBRATION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is RSI-QUANTITECH JV 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 $214.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-01-01. End: 2026-12-31.
What was the specific justification for excluding sources in this 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' award?
The justification for excluding sources typically relates to specific technical requirements, existing contractor performance on related efforts, or unique capabilities that only a limited number of entities possess. Without further documentation, the precise reasons remain unclear, but it suggests a deliberate narrowing of the field based on NASA's assessment of specific needs for the METTS III requirements.
How does the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure impact the risk of cost overruns for this $214M contract?
CPAF contracts allow for the reimbursement of costs plus a fee that is composed of a base fee and an award amount. The award amount is tied to meeting or exceeding specific performance objectives. While this can incentivize high performance, it also carries a risk of cost overruns if the performance objectives are not clearly defined, measurable, or if NASA's oversight of the contractor's spending and progress is insufficient.
What is the expected return on investment or tangible benefit derived from the R&D services procured under this contract?
The tangible benefits are expected to be advancements in space-based and ground-based research, testing, and data analysis, contributing to NASA's broader mission objectives. Specific outcomes like new technologies, improved research methodologies, or enhanced operational capabilities would represent the return on investment. However, the nature of R&D means that not all efforts yield immediate or easily quantifiable results.
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
Solicitation ID: 80MSFC20R0036
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4835 UNIVERSITY SQ, HUNTSVILLE, AL, 35816
Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, SBA Certified 8 a Joint Venture, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $294,882,027
Exercised Options: $233,561,265
Current Obligation: $214,428,924
Actual Outlays: $180,095,820
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-01-01
Current End Date: 2026-12-31
Potential End Date: 2027-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-02
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