NASA's WFIRST Coronagraph Contract with Caltech Totals $391.5M for JPL Operations

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $391,511,913 ($391.5M)

Contractor: California Institute of Technology

Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Start Date: 2018-10-01

End Date: 2027-01-31

Contract Duration: 3,044 days

Daily Burn Rate: $128.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: WIDE FIELD INFRARED SURVEY TELESCOPE (WFIRST) CORONAGRAPH THE CONTRACT IS THE SPONSORING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) AND THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CONTRACTOR), A PRIVATE NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, WHICH ESTABLISHES THE RELATIONSHIP FOR THE OPERATION OF THE FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (FFRDC) KNOWN AS THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY. THE CONTRACTOR, JPL, IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM WORK THAT IS DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY THE NASA MANAGEMENT OFFICE (NMO) CONTRACTING OFFICERS. NASA - SPONSORED WORK: JPL'S PRIMARY MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE NASA SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE (SMD) IN CARRYING OUT THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED IN THE SMD SCIENCE PLAN. THE FOUR BROAD SCIENTIFIC AREAS ARE: EARTH SCIENCE, PLANETARY SCIENCE, HELIOPHYSICS, AND ASTROPHYSICS. IN PERFORMANCE OF THIS CONTRACT, JPL SHALL: 1) SUPPLY A BROAD BASE OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES RELEVANT TO NASA PROGRAM AND PROJECT RESPONSIBILITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS. 2) FOSTER ITS UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH A TOP-TIER UNIVERSITY TO FACILITATE THE INVOLVEMENT OF SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH COMMUNITIES IN NASA MISSION AND IN SUPPORTING OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. 3) SUPPORT NASA IN ENABLING PROGRAM AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITIES. 4) DEVELOP SPACECRAFT AND INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE SENT TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS WITH OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, INCLUDING EARTH ORBIT, PLANETS, PLANETARY SATELLITES, ASTEROIDS, AND COMETS. THESE MISSIONS MAY BE ORBITERS, LANDERS, OR ROVERS, AND TYPICALLY INCLUDE CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES REQUIRED TO MEET SCIENTIFIC REQUIREMENTS. 5) PERFORM PROJECT TASKS INVOLVING: (I) AUTONOMOUS DEEP-SPACE, INNER-SPACE AND EARTH-ORBITING SPACECRAFT OR MAJOR SUBSYSTEMS, (II) EXPERIMENTS, INSTRUMENTS, OR OTHER DEVICES WHICH MAY BE CARRIED AS PAYLOAD ON SPACECRAFTS IN MISSIONS MANAGED BY OTHERS, AND/OR (III) GROUND-BASED SYSTEMS. 6) BEYOND ITS PRIMARY MISSION, JPL MAY PERFORM WORK FOR OTHER NASA MISSION DIRECTORATES OR OFFICES. 7) JPL IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION, RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY INSERTION, AND MANAGEMENT OF NASA S DEEP SPACE NETWORK TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATION AND OPERATION SERVICES, INCLUDING DATA ACQUISITION AND DATA DELIVERY REQUIRED TO MEET ESTABLISHED AGENCY OBJECTIVES. 8) JPL IS ALSO REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN AND CONDUCT AN EDUCATION PROGRAM IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE NASA HEADQUARTERS EDUCATION OFFICE, THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND IN SUPPORT TO NASA STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO IMPROVE STUDENT RETENTION IN THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) DISCIPLINES. WORK FOR NON-NASA SPONSORS: JPL MAY PERFORM WORK FOR NON-NASA SPONSORS. THIS WORK WILL BE DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY NMO CONTRACTING OFFICERS BASED ON TASK PLANS INITIATED BY THE CONTRACTOR.

Place of Performance

Location: PASADENA, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 91109

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $391.5 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for work described as: WIDE FIELD INFRARED SURVEY TELESCOPE (WFIRST) CORONAGRAPH THE CONTRACT IS THE SPONSORING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) AND THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CONTRACTOR), A PRIVATE NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, WHICH ESTABLI… Key points: 1. Contract supports NASA's Science Mission Directorate, focusing on Earth, space, and planetary science. 2. Operates the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). 3. Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type indicates potential for cost overruns. 4. Long duration (3044 days) suggests a complex, multi-year research and development effort.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar FFRDC operations contracts is difficult due to the unique nature of JPL.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract is sole-source, awarded to the California Institute of Technology for operating JPL. This limits price discovery and competition, relying on NASA's oversight for cost control.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are committed to a long-term research and development effort with potential cost risks inherent in the contract type.

Public Impact

Supports critical scientific research in Earth science, space, and planetary exploration. Ensures continued operation of the renowned Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Long-term funding commitment for advanced scientific instrumentation and missions. Potential for groundbreaking discoveries in astrophysics and cosmology.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
  • Sole-source award
  • Long contract duration

Positive Signals

  • Supports critical NASA science missions
  • Operates a key FFRDC (JPL)
  • Long-term investment in research

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is often characterized by long project timelines and high upfront investment, with outcomes focused on scientific advancement rather than immediate commercial return.

Small Business Impact

The contract is with the California Institute of Technology, a large educational institution, and involves the operation of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. There is no indication of subcontracting to small businesses within the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

As a sole-source contract for FFRDC operations, oversight is critical. NASA's Management Office Contracting Officers are responsible for issuing task orders and monitoring performance, with the fixed fee component requiring careful review to ensure cost efficiency.

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

  • Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type may lead to cost overruns.
  • Sole-source award limits competitive pricing.
  • Long contract duration increases exposure to changing requirements and economic factors.
  • Reliance on FFRDC operations requires robust NASA oversight.

Tags

research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ca, delivery-order, 100m-plus

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $391.5 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. WIDE FIELD INFRARED SURVEY TELESCOPE (WFIRST) CORONAGRAPH THE CONTRACT IS THE SPONSORING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) AND THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CONTRACTOR), A PRIVATE NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, WHICH ESTABLISHES THE RELATIONSHIP FOR THE OPERATION OF THE FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (FFRDC) KNOWN AS THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY. THE CONTRACTOR, JPL, IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM WORK THAT IS DESIGNATED IN TASK

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.

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 $391.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2018-10-01. End: 2027-01-31.

What is the specific breakdown of funding allocated to different scientific areas within the WFIRST Coronagraph project?

The provided data indicates the contract supports NASA's Science Mission Directorate's broad scientific areas including Earth Science, space, and planetary science. However, a specific financial breakdown for the WFIRST Coronagraph project across these areas is not detailed. Further analysis of task orders and NASA budget allocations would be required to ascertain this level of detail.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to measure the success of JPL's operations under this contract?

The contract establishes the relationship for JPL's operation and requires work designated in task orders. Success metrics would likely be tied to the successful completion of these task orders, adherence to scientific objectives outlined in the SMD Science Plan, and efficient management of resources. Specific KPIs are not detailed in this summary but would be found in the task orders and performance work statements.

How does NASA ensure cost-effectiveness and prevent potential overruns with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract for FFRDC operations?

NASA employs oversight through its Management Office Contracting Officers who issue task orders and monitor JPL's performance. For Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts, NASA negotiates a fixed fee upfront, which incentivizes the contractor to control costs to maximize their profit. Regular audits and performance reviews are standard practices to ensure adherence to budget and scope.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesScientific Research and Development ServicesResearch and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTSpace R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED

Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4800 OAK GROVE DR, PASADENA, CA, 91109

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Private), Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $391,511,913

Exercised Options: $391,511,913

Current Obligation: $391,511,913

Actual Outlays: $352,795,976

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: 80NM0018D0004

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline

Start Date: 2018-10-01

Current End Date: 2027-01-31

Potential End Date: 2027-01-31 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2026-03-18

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