NASA awards $15.5K for Yokogawa Oscilloscope to Advanced Test Equipment Corp
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $15,520 ($15.5K)
Contractor: Advanced Test Equipment Corporation
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2026-04-02
End Date: 2026-04-27
Contract Duration: 25 days
Daily Burn Rate: $621/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: PURCHASE OF A YOKOGAWA OSCILLOSCOPE
Place of Performance
Location: SAN DIEGO, SAN DIEGO County, CALIFORNIA, 92121
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $15,519.56 to ADVANCED TEST EQUIPMENT CORPORATION for work described as: PURCHASE OF A YOKOGAWA OSCILLOSCOPE Key points: 1. Spending is minimal, suggesting a small-scale or specialized need. 2. Competition was limited, raising questions about price discovery. 3. The sector is analytical laboratory instruments, a niche but critical area. 4. Risk appears low due to the small contract value.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $15,519.56 is for a single unit. Benchmarking against similar oscilloscope purchases is difficult without more specific model information and market data. However, the price appears within a reasonable range for specialized laboratory equipment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP). This suggests a limited competition approach, potentially due to specific requirements or vendor relationships. The lack of broader competition may have limited price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is minimal given the small contract value of $15,519.56.
Public Impact
Procurement of essential scientific equipment for NASA's analytical laboratories. Supports ongoing research and development activities. Ensures access to specialized instrumentation for data acquisition and analysis.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition
- Lack of detailed justification for sole-source/limited competition
Positive Signals
- Small contract value
- Specific equipment need identified
Sector Analysis
The purchase falls within the Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing sector. Spending in this sector is typically driven by research institutions, government agencies, and private R&D firms requiring precise measurement and analysis tools. Benchmarks are highly variable based on equipment specialization.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate whether Advanced Test Equipment Corporation is a small business. The contract value is well below the threshold for mandatory small business set-asides.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded via a Purchase Order, which is a standard procurement instrument. Oversight would involve ensuring the delivered oscilloscope meets specifications and the price is fair.
Related Government Programs
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Limited competition
- Lack of detailed justification for limited competition
- Potential for suboptimal price discovery
Tags
analytical-laboratory-instrument-manufac, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ca, purchase-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $15,519.56 to ADVANCED TEST EQUIPMENT CORPORATION. PURCHASE OF A YOKOGAWA OSCILLOSCOPE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ADVANCED TEST EQUIPMENT 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 $15,519.56.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-04-02. End: 2026-04-27.
What specific analytical tasks necessitate this particular Yokogawa oscilloscope model, and how does it compare to alternative solutions?
The specific analytical tasks requiring this Yokogawa oscilloscope model are not detailed in the provided data. Understanding the unique capabilities or specifications that make this model essential for NASA's analytical laboratory is crucial. A comparison with alternative solutions would illuminate whether this choice represents the most cost-effective or technically superior option for the intended scientific applications.
What is the justification for not competing this purchase under SAP, and what risks does limited competition pose to price fairness?
The justification for not competing under SAP is not provided. Limited competition, especially when not clearly warranted by unique requirements or urgent needs, can pose a risk to price fairness by reducing market pressure. Without a competitive bidding process, there's a possibility that the awarded price may not be the lowest achievable, potentially leading to less optimal use of taxpayer funds.
How will the effectiveness of this oscilloscope purchase be measured in terms of its contribution to NASA's research objectives?
The effectiveness of this oscilloscope purchase will likely be measured by its successful integration into NASA's analytical workflows and its ability to provide accurate and reliable data for research objectives. Performance metrics could include uptime, accuracy of measurements, and its contribution to achieving specific scientific milestones or project goals. Post-delivery reviews and user feedback from the laboratory staff will be key indicators.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing › Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: INSTRUMENTS AND LABORATORY EQPT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 10401 ROSELLE ST, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92121
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $15,520
Exercised Options: $15,520
Current Obligation: $15,520
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-04-02
Current End Date: 2026-04-27
Potential End Date: 2026-04-27 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-02
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 →