NASA awards $48M Salesforce platform support contract to SAIC for STEM Gateway website
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $48,090,337 ($48.1M)
Contractor: Science Applications International Corporation
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2022-10-14
End Date: 2024-10-31
Contract Duration: 748 days
Daily Burn Rate: $64.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: IT
Official Description: PROVIDE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE(S) AND/OR APPLICATION(S): NASA STEM GATEWAY (ON THE SALESFORCE PLATFORM) - EAST 2 TASK ORDER 22 COST PLUS FIXED FEE TASK ORDER
Place of Performance
Location: RESTON, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 20190
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $48.1 million to SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION for work described as: PROVIDE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE(S) AND/OR APPLICATION(S): NASA STEM GATEWAY (ON THE SALESFORCE PLATFORM) - EAST 2 TASK ORDER 22 COST PLUS FIXED FEE TASK ORDER Key points: 1. Contract focuses on development, operational, and maintenance support for a key NASA digital platform. 2. Full and open competition suggests a potentially competitive bidding process. 3. The cost-plus-fixed-fee structure requires careful monitoring of costs to ensure value. 4. Support for the STEM Gateway platform indicates a focus on educational outreach and engagement. 5. The contract duration of approximately two years suggests a need for ongoing, sustained support. 6. Virginia is the primary location for contract performance, impacting local workforce and economy.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's value of $48 million over roughly two years for IT support services appears within a reasonable range for complex platform maintenance and development. However, without specific benchmarks for Salesforce platform support or comparable NASA digital initiatives, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) pricing model necessitates diligent oversight to prevent cost overruns, as the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs plus a fixed fee. This structure can be less predictable in terms of final cost compared to fixed-price contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit bids. This approach generally fosters a competitive environment, which can lead to better pricing and service offerings. The number of bidders is not specified, but the open competition suggests that NASA sought to maximize the pool of potential offerors to ensure a robust selection process.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition is generally favorable for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of obtaining competitive pricing and innovative solutions, potentially leading to better use of public funds.
Public Impact
Benefits NASA's educational outreach efforts by ensuring the functionality of the STEM Gateway platform. Provides essential IT services for a critical digital asset used in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Supports the operational continuity of online resources for students, educators, and the public interested in NASA's STEM initiatives. The contract's performance in Virginia may create or sustain jobs in the IT sector within that state.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee contracts require robust oversight to manage costs effectively and ensure the fixed fee remains appropriate.
- Reliance on a specific platform (Salesforce) may introduce vendor lock-in risks if not managed strategically.
- The scope of 'development, operational, and maintenance support' needs clear definition to avoid scope creep and ensure accountability.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition is a positive signal for achieving competitive pricing and a wide range of potential solutions.
- Support for the STEM Gateway platform aligns with NASA's mission to promote STEM education and public engagement.
- The contract is awarded to a known entity (SAIC) with a track record in government contracting.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Computer Systems Design Services sector, a significant segment of the IT industry focused on providing expertise in designing, developing, and implementing computer systems. The market for such services is vast, driven by government and commercial entities' needs for specialized IT support, custom software development, and platform management. NASA's spending in this area is crucial for maintaining its complex digital infrastructure, including public-facing educational platforms like the STEM Gateway, which often leverage commercial platforms like Salesforce.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of specific subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. This suggests that the primary award went to a large business (SAIC). The absence of set-aside provisions or explicit subcontracting goals means that the direct impact on the small business ecosystem for this specific contract may be limited, unless SAIC voluntarily engages small businesses as subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract will primarily reside with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), specifically the contracting officer and technical points of contact. As a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, rigorous financial oversight is essential to monitor allowable costs and ensure the fixed fee is justified. Transparency is facilitated by the contract's public award notice. While specific Inspector General (IG) jurisdiction is not detailed, NASA's Office of Inspector General typically has oversight over agency contracts to ensure efficiency and prevent fraud, waste, and abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA IT Services Contracts
- Salesforce Platform Support Contracts
- Computer Systems Design Services
- Federal IT Development and Maintenance
- STEM Education Support Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee pricing requires diligent oversight.
- Potential for vendor lock-in with Salesforce platform.
- Scope definition critical for development, operations, and maintenance.
- Cybersecurity risks inherent in managing public-facing platforms.
Tags
it-services, nasa, science-applications-international-corporation, salesforce-platform, stem-education, full-and-open-competition, cost-plus-fixed-fee, software-development, it-operations, it-maintenance, virginia, delivery-order
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $48.1 million to SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. PROVIDE DEVELOPMENT, OPERATIONAL AND MAINTENANCE SUPPORT TO THE FOLLOWING WEBSITE(S) AND/OR APPLICATION(S): NASA STEM GATEWAY (ON THE SALESFORCE PLATFORM) - EAST 2 TASK ORDER 22 COST PLUS FIXED FEE TASK ORDER
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 $48.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-10-14. End: 2024-10-31.
What is Science Applications International Corporation's (SAIC) track record with NASA and similar IT support contracts?
SAIC has a substantial history of contracting with NASA and other federal agencies, providing a wide range of IT services, including systems integration, software development, and platform support. Their experience with large-scale government IT projects suggests a capacity to handle complex requirements. For NASA, SAIC has previously supported various IT infrastructure and application development needs. Their performance on similar contracts, particularly those involving complex platforms and extensive operational support, would be a key indicator of their ability to successfully execute this task order. Reviewing past performance evaluations and contract close-outs would provide further insight into their reliability and effectiveness in delivering services within budget and schedule.
How does the $48 million cost compare to similar IT support contracts for educational platforms or Salesforce implementations within the federal government?
Benchmarking this $48 million contract requires comparing it against similar IT support contracts for federal educational platforms or Salesforce implementations. The total value, spread over approximately two years, suggests an average annual cost of around $24 million. This figure needs to be contextualized by the scope of services (development, operations, maintenance), the complexity of the Salesforce platform configuration, and the user base of the NASA STEM Gateway. Comparable contracts might include those for managing other large federal websites, student information systems, or CRM platforms. Without access to a database of specific contract values for similar services, it's difficult to definitively state if $48 million is high or low. However, for a mission-critical platform supporting national STEM outreach, this investment level is not inherently unreasonable, provided the services delivered are effective and efficient.
What are the primary risks associated with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract for IT services, and how are they mitigated in this case?
The primary risk with a CPFF contract is that the contractor may not be sufficiently incentivized to control costs, as they are reimbursed for allowable expenses plus a fixed fee. This can lead to cost overruns if not managed properly. Mitigation strategies employed by NASA would typically include stringent oversight of allowable costs, detailed reporting requirements, and clear definition of the fixed fee's basis. NASA's contracting officer and technical team must actively monitor expenditures, review invoices, and ensure that all costs incurred are reasonable, allocable, and necessary for the contract's performance. Furthermore, the fixed fee itself acts as a ceiling on the contractor's profit, providing some incentive to complete the work efficiently to maximize their return within that fee.
How effective is the NASA STEM Gateway platform in achieving its stated goals, and how does this contract contribute to its effectiveness?
The effectiveness of the NASA STEM Gateway platform is crucial for its mission of promoting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education. Its success can be measured by metrics such as user engagement, reach to target demographics (students, educators), the quality of resources provided, and its contribution to NASA's broader educational outreach objectives. This contract directly supports the platform's effectiveness by ensuring its continuous operation, development of new features, and maintenance of its underlying infrastructure. Without reliable IT support, the platform could suffer from downtime, performance issues, or a lack of updates, hindering its ability to serve its audience. Therefore, this contract is foundational to the platform's ongoing utility and impact.
What are the historical spending patterns for IT support services at NASA, and how does this contract fit within that trend?
NASA, like other large federal agencies, consistently spends significant amounts on IT services to maintain its vast and complex technological infrastructure, which includes research systems, operational platforms, and public-facing websites. Historical spending patterns would likely show a steady investment in IT modernization, cybersecurity, and application support. This $48 million contract for the STEM Gateway platform represents a specific allocation within NASA's broader IT budget. Its size and duration suggest it addresses a critical, ongoing need for a particular digital asset. Analyzing NASA's IT budget trends over several years would reveal whether spending on similar platform support has increased, decreased, or remained stable, providing context for this award.
What are the potential implications of using the Salesforce platform for a government educational portal like the STEM Gateway?
Utilizing a commercial platform like Salesforce for a government educational portal like the NASA STEM Gateway offers several potential benefits, including leveraging a robust, feature-rich environment with established development tools and a large ecosystem of expertise. Salesforce is known for its capabilities in customer relationship management, data analytics, and workflow automation, which can be adapted for managing user engagement and content delivery. However, potential implications also include considerations around data security and privacy, especially when handling user information. Furthermore, reliance on a commercial platform can lead to vendor lock-in, potentially higher long-term costs due to licensing and customization, and the need for specialized skills to manage and maintain the system effectively. Ensuring compliance with federal data standards and security protocols is paramount.
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: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
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: $52,164,543
Exercised Options: $52,164,543
Current Obligation: $48,090,337
Actual Outlays: $48,015,491
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 68
Total Subaward Amount: $96,325,003
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: 2022-10-14
Current End Date: 2024-10-31
Potential End Date: 2024-10-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-11
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