NASA awards $4.09M contract for IVEDA platform support to New Rights Group, Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $4,092,752 ($4.1M)
Contractor: NEW Rights Group, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2025-12-01
End Date: 2026-11-30
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $11.2K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: TASK 1 - SUPPORT FOR NASA'S VISUALIZATION, EXPLORATION, AND DATA ANALYSIS (IVEDA) PLATFORM
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20001
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $4.1 million to NEW RIGHTS GROUP, INC. for work described as: TASK 1 - SUPPORT FOR NASA'S VISUALIZATION, EXPLORATION, AND DATA ANALYSIS (IVEDA) PLATFORM Key points: 1. Contract awarded on a firm-fixed-price basis, indicating clear cost expectations. 2. The contract duration is one year, suggesting a focused scope of work. 3. Awarded as a delivery order, likely part of a larger indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract. 4. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541715 points to research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences. 5. The contract is not competed, raising questions about potential cost efficiencies and market engagement. 6. The primary place of performance is Washington D.C.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
Without a competitive bidding process, it is difficult to benchmark the value for money. The firm-fixed-price structure provides cost certainty for the government, but the absence of competition may mean the price is not optimized. Further analysis would require comparing this award to similar support contracts for NASA's data analysis platforms or other government R&D visualization tools.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not competed among multiple vendors. This approach can be justified for specialized services or when a specific contractor possesses unique capabilities. However, it limits the opportunity for price discovery through market competition and may result in higher costs for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards mean taxpayers do not benefit from the cost savings that can arise from a competitive bidding process, potentially leading to less efficient use of public funds.
Public Impact
The contract directly supports NASA's Visualization, Exploration, and Data Analysis (IVEDa) platform. This platform is crucial for scientific research and space exploration initiatives. Benefits include enhanced data visualization and analysis capabilities for NASA scientists. The primary beneficiaries are NASA researchers and the broader scientific community relying on NASA's data.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition may lead to suboptimal pricing.
- Potential for contractor lock-in due to sole-source award.
- Limited transparency into the justification for sole-source selection.
Positive Signals
- Firm-fixed-price contract provides cost certainty.
- Supports a critical NASA platform for scientific advancement.
- Contract duration is relatively short, allowing for future re-evaluation.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. The market for specialized scientific visualization and data analysis support is often niche, with a limited number of firms possessing the requisite expertise. NASA's IVEDA platform likely requires highly specific technical skills, potentially justifying a non-competitive award if only one firm can meet the requirements. Benchmarking would involve looking at similar R&D support contracts within NASA or other science-focused agencies.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not competed and there is no indication of small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements. This suggests that small businesses are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific award, nor is there a mechanism in place to ensure their participation through subcontracting opportunities.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically fall under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's contracting and program management offices. As a sole-source award, the justification and selection process would be subject to internal agency review and potentially audits by the NASA Office of Inspector General to ensure compliance with procurement regulations and proper use of funds.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Data Analysis Services
- Scientific Visualization Support
- Research and Development Support Contracts
- Space Exploration Technology Support
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award requires strong justification.
- Potential for cost inefficiencies without competition.
- Need to verify contractor's past performance.
Tags
nasa, research-and-development, data-analysis, visualization, sole-source, firm-fixed-price, delivery-order, washington-dc, new-rights-group-inc, r-and-d-in-physical-engineering-and-life-sciences
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $4.1 million to NEW RIGHTS GROUP, INC.. TASK 1 - SUPPORT FOR NASA'S VISUALIZATION, EXPLORATION, AND DATA ANALYSIS (IVEDA) PLATFORM
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NEW RIGHTS GROUP, 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 $4.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-12-01. End: 2026-11-30.
What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
The provided data does not include the specific justification for the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source contracts are awarded when only one responsible source is available or capable of providing the required service or supply. This could be due to unique technical expertise, proprietary technology, or urgent and compelling needs where competition is not feasible. A thorough review of NASA's contract file and justification documents would be necessary to understand the precise reasons for this non-competitive award.
How does the $4.09M value compare to similar NASA data analysis support contracts?
Without access to a comprehensive database of NASA's historical contracts for similar data analysis and visualization support, a direct comparison of the $4.09M value is challenging. However, for a one-year contract supporting a specialized platform like IVEDA, this amount appears to be within a reasonable range for R&D support services. The firm-fixed-price nature suggests a defined scope, and the value would be assessed against the deliverables and the contractor's proposed costs. Further analysis would require identifying comparable contracts based on scope, duration, and agency.
What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for this type of service?
The primary risks associated with a sole-source award include the potential for higher costs due to the lack of competitive pressure, reduced incentive for the contractor to innovate or provide exceptional value, and the risk of contractor lock-in. Taxpayers may not receive the best possible price or service. Additionally, if the justification for the sole-source award is weak, it could raise concerns about procurement integrity and efficient use of government funds. NASA's oversight mechanisms are crucial to mitigate these risks.
What is the track record of New Rights Group, Inc. with NASA or similar agencies?
Information regarding the specific track record of New Rights Group, Inc. with NASA or similar agencies is not provided in the data. A comprehensive assessment would require reviewing the company's past performance on federal contracts, including client satisfaction, adherence to schedule and budget, and technical execution. Federal procurement databases and past performance reviews would be essential resources to evaluate their reliability and capability for this IVEDA platform support task.
What is the expected impact of this contract on NASA's R&D capabilities?
This contract is expected to directly enhance NASA's capabilities by ensuring the continued support and potential improvement of the Visualization, Exploration, and Data Analysis (IVEDa) platform. This platform is vital for processing, visualizing, and analyzing the vast amounts of data generated from space missions and scientific research. By securing support for IVEDA, NASA aims to maintain and advance its scientific discovery and exploration efforts, enabling researchers to derive deeper insights from complex datasets.
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 › General Science and Technology R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 80MSFC25R00100001
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1226 9TH ST NW STE 200, WASHINGTON, DC, 20001
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $4,106,096
Exercised Options: $4,106,096
Current Obligation: $4,092,752
Actual Outlays: $923,496
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 80MSFC26D0001
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-12-01
Current End Date: 2026-11-30
Potential End Date: 2026-11-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-10
More Contracts from NEW Rights Group, Inc.
- Development Seed Will Support the Inter-Agency Implementation and Advanced Concepts Team (impact), Which IS a Collaborative, Interdisciplinary Team of Civil Service and Contractors That Work to Further Nasa's Earth Science Data System (esds) Program — $31.7M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Other National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracts
- International Space Station — $22.4B (THE Boeing Company)
- TAS::80 0124::TAS Design, Development, Test&evaluation of Project Orion — $15.5B (Lockheed Martin Corp)
- Provide Developmental Hardware and Test Articles, and Manufacture and Assemble Ares I Upper Stages. the Upper Stage (US) Element IS an Integral Part of the Ares I Launch Vehicle and Provides the Second Stage of Flight. the US Element IS Responsible for the Roll Control During the First Stage Burn and Separation; and Will Provide the Guidance and Navigation, Command and Data Handling, and Other Avionics Functions for the Ares I During ALL Phases of the Ascent Flight. the US Element IS a NEW Design That Emphasizes Safety, Operability, and Minimum Life Cycle Cost. the Overall Design, Development, Test and Evaluation (ddt&e), Production, and Sustaining Engineering Efforts Include Activities Performed by Three Organizations; the Nasa Design Team (NDT), the Upper Stage Production Contractor (uspc) and the Instrument Unit Production Contractor (iupc). for Clarity, the Uspc Will BE Referred to AS the Contractor Throughout This Document. Nasa IS Responsible for the Integration of the Primary Elements of the Ares I Launch Vehicle Including: the First Stage, US Including Instrument Unit (IU), and US Engine; and Will Also Integrate the Ares I Launch Vehicle AT the Launch Site. Nasa IS Responsible for the Ddt&e, Including Technical and Programmatic Integration of the US Subsystems and Government-Furnished Property. Nasa Will Lead the Effort to Develop the Requirements and Specifications of the US Element, the Development Plan and Testing Requirements, and ALL Design Documentation, Initial Manufacturing and Assembly Process Planning, Logistics Planning, and Operations Support Planning. Development, Qualification, and Acceptance Testing Will BE Conducted by Nasa and the Contractor to Satisfy Requirements and for Risk Mitigation. Nasa IS Responsible for the Overall Upper Stage Verification and Validation Process and Will Require Support From the Contractor. the Contractor IS Responsible for the Manufacture and Assembly of the Upper Stage Test Flight and Operational Upper Stage Units Including the Installation of Upper Stage Instrument Unit, the Government-Furnished US Engine, Booster Separation Motors, and Other Government-Furnished Property. a Description of the Nasa Managed and Performed Efforts IS Contained in the US Work Packages and Will BE Made Available to the Contractor to Ensure Their Understanding of the Roles and Responsibilities of the NDT, Iupc, and Contractor During the Design, Development, and Operation of the US Element. the US Conceptual Design Described in the Uso-Clv-Se-25704 US Design Definition Document (DDD) IS the Baseline Design for This Contract. the Contractors Early Role Will BE to Provide Producibility Engineering Support to Nasa VIA the Established US Office Structure and to Provide Inputs Into the Final Design Configuration, Specifications, and Standards. Nasa Will Transition the Manufacturing and Assembly, Logistics Support Infrastructure, Configuration Management, and the Sustaining Engineering Functions to the Contractor AT the KEY Points During the Development and Implementation of the Program Currently Planned to Occur NO Later Than 90 Days After the Completion of the Following Major Milestones: Manufacturing and Assembly US Preliminary Design Review (PDR) Logistics Support Infrastructure US PDR Configuration Management US Critical Design Review CDR) Sustaining Engineering US Design Certification Review (DCR) After the Completion of an Orderly Transition of Roles and Responsibilities to the Contractor, Nasa Will Assume an Insight Role Into the Contractors Production, Sustaining Engineering, and Operations Support of the Ares I US Test Program and Flight Hardware. After DCR, the Contractor Will BE Responsible for Sustaining Engineering PER SOW Section 4.7, AS Necessary to Maintain and Support the US Configuration and for Production and Operations Support — $10.5B (THE Boeing Company)
- Space Program Operations Contract (spoc) — $8.5B (United Space Alliance, LLC)
- Joint Us/Russian Human Space Flight Activities — $4.7B (Russia Space Agency)
View all National Aeronautics and Space Administration contracts →