NASA awards $2.19M annual renewal for CEQUEL software, a sole-source purchase order
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $21,945 ($21.9K)
Contractor: French Jonathan Charles
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2026-05-01
End Date: 2027-04-30
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $60/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: ANNUAL RENEWAL CEQUEL SOFTWARE
Place of Performance
Location: SOMERVILLE, MORGAN County, ALABAMA, 35670
State: Alabama Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $21,945 to FRENCH JONATHAN CHARLES for work described as: ANNUAL RENEWAL CEQUEL SOFTWARE Key points: 1. Value for money is difficult to assess due to sole-source nature and lack of competitive bidding. 2. Competition dynamics are absent, as the contract was not competed under simplified acquisition procedures. 3. Risk indicators include potential overpayment and lack of market-driven pricing due to sole-source award. 4. Performance context is limited to a single vendor for essential software. 5. Sector positioning is within the software publishers industry, supporting NASA's operational needs.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The annual renewal cost of $2.19 million for CEQUEL software is difficult to benchmark without competitive bids. As a sole-source award, there's no direct comparison to similar contracts or market rates. The fixed-price nature provides some cost certainty, but the absence of competition raises concerns about whether NASA is achieving the best possible value. Further analysis would require understanding the software's criticality and the availability of alternatives.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded as a sole-source purchase order, meaning it was not competed. The data indicates it was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' (Simplified Acquisition Procedures). This approach bypasses the standard competitive bidding process, suggesting either a lack of available vendors or a specific justification for awarding to a single source. The limited competition means NASA did not benefit from price discovery through multiple offers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition means taxpayers may not be receiving the most cost-effective solution. Without bids, it's impossible to know if the current price reflects market value or if a competitive process could have secured a lower rate.
Public Impact
NASA personnel benefit from continued access to the CEQUEL software, essential for their operations. The software likely supports critical functions within the agency, though specific services are not detailed. The geographic impact is national, as NASA operates across various locations. Workforce implications are minimal, as this is a software renewal rather than a new service requiring new personnel.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits price negotiation and potential cost savings.
- Lack of competition may lead to higher-than-market prices over time.
- Dependence on a single vendor for critical software poses a supply chain risk.
Positive Signals
- Contract ensures continuity of essential software for NASA operations.
- Fixed-price contract provides budget predictability for this expenditure.
- Award is to a software publisher, a standard category for IT procurement.
Sector Analysis
The software publishing industry is a significant sector within the broader IT market. This contract falls under the 'Software Publishers' (NAICS 513210) category. Spending in this area typically supports government operations, data management, and specialized applications. Benchmarking this specific software's cost is challenging without knowing its unique capabilities and market penetration, but annual software renewals represent a substantial portion of government IT budgets.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to have a small business set-aside component, as indicated by 'sb': false. There is no information provided regarding subcontracting plans. The sole-source nature of the award further suggests that opportunities for small businesses to participate in this specific procurement are unlikely.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would fall under the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) internal procurement and financial management systems. As a purchase order, it is subject to standard agency review processes. Transparency is limited due to the sole-source nature, and specific accountability measures beyond contract terms are not detailed. The Inspector General's office would have jurisdiction over any potential fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA IT Software Procurement
- Government Software Licenses
- Sole Source IT Contracts
- Annual Software Renewals
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award raises concerns about price reasonableness and competition.
- Lack of detailed functional description limits understanding of software criticality.
- Absence of historical spending data prevents trend analysis.
Tags
nasa, software-publisher, it-software, annual-renewal, purchase-order, sole-source, fixed-price, alabama, national-aeronautics-and-space-administration, software
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $21,945 to FRENCH JONATHAN CHARLES. ANNUAL RENEWAL CEQUEL SOFTWARE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is FRENCH JONATHAN CHARLES.
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 $21,945.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-05-01. End: 2027-04-30.
What specific functions does CEQUEL software perform for NASA, and how critical is it to their operations?
The provided data does not specify the exact functions of CEQUEL software. However, its classification under NAICS code 513210 (Software Publishers) and its annual renewal by NASA suggest it is a critical operational tool. Such software often supports areas like data analysis, project management, simulation, or specialized engineering tasks. Without further details from NASA, the precise criticality remains inferred rather than explicitly stated. The significant annual expenditure implies a high level of importance to the agency's mission execution.
What is the historical spending trend for CEQUEL software with NASA?
The provided data only details a single annual renewal for the period of 2026-05-01 to 2027-04-30, amounting to $2.19 million. It does not offer historical spending data prior to this award or indicate if this is a new software or a long-standing one. To understand the spending trend, one would need to access NASA's procurement databases for previous years to see if CEQUEL software was acquired, under what contract types, and at what costs. This would reveal if the current renewal represents an increase, decrease, or stable spending pattern.
Were any efforts made to explore alternative software solutions or conduct market research before awarding this sole-source contract?
The data explicitly states the contract was 'NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP' and is a sole-source award. This strongly suggests that standard competitive market research and exploration of alternatives were either not conducted or were deemed insufficient to justify a competitive process. Agencies typically sole-source when a specific product is required and only one vendor can provide it, or when there's a critical need and competition is impractical. Without a justification document, it's impossible to confirm the extent of market research or the rationale behind bypassing competition.
What is the typical price range for similar software solutions in the market?
Determining a typical price range for 'similar' software is challenging without knowing the specific capabilities of CEQUEL. Software pricing varies immensely based on functionality, user licenses, deployment model (cloud vs. on-premise), support levels, and vendor. For enterprise-level software that supports critical government functions, annual costs can range from tens of thousands to millions of dollars. A $2.19 million annual renewal suggests a comprehensive, potentially specialized, and widely used solution. Benchmarking would require identifying direct competitors with comparable features and scale, which is not possible with the current data.
Does NASA have a plan for transitioning away from CEQUEL software in the future, or is this a perpetual need?
The provided data does not offer insight into NASA's long-term strategy regarding CEQUEL software. The current award is an annual renewal, indicating a short-to-medium term commitment. Whether this represents a perpetual need or a planned phase-out is unknown. Agencies often face decisions about legacy systems versus modernizing or switching vendors. Without specific program documentation or strategic IT plans from NASA, it's impossible to ascertain their future intentions for this software. Continued renewals could indicate a perpetual need or a lack of viable alternatives.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Software Publishers › Software Publishers
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
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: 83 CHAREST RD, SOMERVILLE, AL, 35670
Business Categories: Category Business, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $21,945
Exercised Options: $21,945
Current Obligation: $21,945
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-05-01
Current End Date: 2027-04-30
Potential End Date: 2027-04-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
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