NASA Renews ArcGIS Software License for $172,663, Ensuring Continued Geospatial Capabilities
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $172,663 ($172.7K)
Contractor: Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2025-10-01
End Date: 2026-09-30
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $474/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: ESRI ARCGIS RENEWAL FY26
Place of Performance
Location: REDLANDS, SAN BERNARDINO County, CALIFORNIA, 92373
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $172,663.05 to ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC. for work described as: ESRI ARCGIS RENEWAL FY26 Key points: 1. The renewal ensures access to critical geospatial software for NASA's operations. 2. Competition was full and open, suggesting a competitive pricing environment. 3. The contract value is relatively small, mitigating significant financial risk. 4. The sector is Software Publishers, a common area for government IT spending.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The renewal price of $172,663 for a one-year term appears reasonable given the specialized nature of ArcGIS software and its importance to NASA's mission. Benchmarking against similar enterprise software licenses would provide further validation.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This competitive process generally leads to fair market pricing and ensures the government receives good value.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used to maintain essential software for a critical government agency, supporting its scientific and operational needs.
Public Impact
Ensures continuity of essential geospatial analysis tools for NASA scientists and engineers. Supports NASA's mission-critical activities, including Earth observation, climate research, and space exploration planning. Maintains access to a widely used industry-standard software platform, facilitating collaboration and data sharing.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for price increases in future renewals.
- Dependence on a single software vendor for critical functions.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition ensures fair pricing.
- Renewal supports ongoing critical agency operations.
- Contract value is modest, limiting financial exposure.
Sector Analysis
This spending falls within the IT sector, specifically software licensing. Government spending on software, particularly specialized platforms like GIS, is common and essential for data analysis and operational management across various agencies.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this specific contract. However, the primary awardee, Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc., is a large, established software company, suggesting limited direct opportunity for small businesses in this particular renewal.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which inherently provides a level of oversight. NASA's procurement processes should ensure accountability for the expenditure and the continued delivery of software services as specified.
Related Government Programs
- Software Publishers
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for future price increases.
- Vendor lock-in risk.
- Dependence on proprietary software.
- Need for ongoing training and support.
Tags
software-publishers, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ca, delivery-order, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $172,663.05 to ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, INC.. ESRI ARCGIS RENEWAL FY26
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH INSTITUTE, 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 $172,663.05.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.
What is the long-term strategy for managing ArcGIS software costs and potential vendor lock-in?
NASA should explore options for long-term cost management, including volume licensing agreements, multi-year contracts with price caps, or evaluating open-source GIS alternatives. Proactive planning can mitigate future price escalations and reduce reliance on a single vendor, ensuring sustained value and flexibility for the agency's evolving geospatial needs.
How does the renewal of ArcGIS impact NASA's ability to leverage emerging geospatial technologies?
The renewal ensures continued access to a robust and familiar platform, which is crucial for ongoing projects. However, NASA should also assess how ArcGIS integrates with or supports the adoption of newer technologies like AI-driven analytics, cloud-based geospatial processing, and real-time data streams to maintain a competitive edge in scientific discovery and operational efficiency.
Are there opportunities to consolidate or standardize ArcGIS usage across NASA centers to achieve economies of scale?
Consolidating ArcGIS licenses and standardizing its use across different NASA centers could lead to significant cost savings through bulk purchasing power and reduced administrative overhead. A unified approach would also promote interoperability and consistent data standards, enhancing collaboration and the efficient sharing of geospatial information agency-wide.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - END USER
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 380 NEW YORK STREET, REDLANDS, CA, 92373
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $172,663
Exercised Options: $172,663
Current Obligation: $172,663
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS35F253CA
IDV Type: FSS
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-10-01
Current End Date: 2026-09-30
Potential End Date: 2026-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-01
More Contracts from Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc.
- NEW Delivery Order Award for Esri Software Products — $74.5M (Department of Defense)
- 23it40-Cio-002 - Enterprise Geospatial Software — $59.1M (Department of Agriculture)
- Usda-Wide, Geospatial Information Systems (GIS) Technology, Enterprise Licensing Agreement (ELA) for GIS Software, Maintenance and Technical Support — $51.6M (Department of Agriculture)
- This Requirement IS for the Procurement of Annual Subscription Renewals, Software Products, Maintenance, and Support of the Commercial-Off-The-Shelf Environmental Systems Research Institute Arcgis Computer Software Products and Support — $46.2M (Department of Defense)
- Arcgis Enterprise Agreement and Software Licenses for AIR Force Distributed Common Ground System (AF Dcgs) — $38.2M (Department of Defense)
View all Environmental Systems Research Institute, Inc. federal contracts →
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 →