NASA's $25.8M Ocean Color Project Support contract awarded to Science Applications International Corporation
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $25,769,588 ($25.8M)
Contractor: Science Applications International Corporation
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2000-09-15
End Date: 2006-09-01
Contract Duration: 2,177 days
Daily Burn Rate: $11.8K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: OCEAN COLOR&NSIPP PROJECT SUPPORT
Place of Performance
Location: GREENBELT, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20771
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $25.8 million to SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION for work described as: OCEAN COLOR&NSIPP PROJECT SUPPORT Key points: 1. The contract provided essential support for NASA's ocean color research, contributing to a better understanding of marine ecosystems. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, this contract likely benefited from competitive pricing and a wide range of potential bidders. 3. The cost-plus award fee structure incentivizes contractor performance while allowing for flexibility in project execution. 4. The contract duration of over 2000 days indicates a long-term need for these specialized scientific support services. 5. Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has a significant presence in government contracting, suggesting established expertise. 6. The project's focus on ocean color data is critical for climate change research and environmental monitoring.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
While specific cost benchmarks are not provided, the contract's value of approximately $25.8 million over its nearly six-year duration suggests a moderate investment for specialized scientific support. The cost-plus award fee structure implies that the final cost could vary based on performance, making direct comparison difficult without knowing the award fee amounts. However, for a project of this scope and duration supporting a critical scientific mission like ocean color research, the overall expenditure appears reasonable.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This 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, encouraging multiple bidders to offer their best pricing and technical solutions. The specific number of bidders is not detailed, but the open competition suggests a robust process aimed at achieving value for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition typically leads to more favorable pricing for taxpayers by ensuring a wide pool of contractors vie for the work, driving down costs through market forces.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are NASA's scientific research programs focused on understanding ocean color and its implications for climate and marine life. The services delivered include critical support for data analysis, project management, and potentially technical development related to oceanographic research. The geographic impact is global, as ocean color data contributes to worldwide environmental monitoring and climate modeling efforts. The contract supports a specialized workforce of scientists, engineers, and technical personnel within the contractor organization.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns inherent in cost-plus contracts if not managed diligently.
- Reliance on a single large contractor for critical scientific support could pose a risk if contractor performance degrades.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process that should yield good value.
- Cost-plus award fee structure incentivizes contractor performance and alignment with NASA's objectives.
- Long contract duration indicates a sustained need and successful prior performance or strong capabilities from the contractor.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the scientific research and development sector, specifically focusing on Earth science and environmental monitoring. NASA's spending in this area supports its mission to explore the unknown and expand knowledge of the universe, including our own planet. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve other large-scale scientific support contracts awarded by agencies like NOAA or NSF for similar research endeavors.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses and was awarded under full and open competition. Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications specifically for small businesses mandated by a set-aside. However, the prime contractor, Science Applications International Corporation, may engage small businesses as subcontractors based on their own procurement strategies.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a cost-plus award fee contract, NASA would closely monitor expenditures, contractor performance against defined award criteria, and project milestones. Transparency is generally maintained through contract reporting requirements, and NASA's Office of Inspector General would have jurisdiction for audits and investigations if any irregularities were suspected.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Earth Science Division Programs
- Oceanographic Research Contracts
- Climate Change Research Support
- Scientific Data Analysis Services
Risk Flags
- Contract duration exceeds 2000 days, requiring sustained oversight.
- Cost-plus award fee structure necessitates careful monitoring of performance and costs.
Tags
nasa, science-applications-international-corporation, ocean-color-research, earth-science, definitive-contract, cost-plus-award-fee, full-and-open-competition, maryland, research-and-development, large-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $25.8 million to SCIENCE APPLICATIONS INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. OCEAN COLOR&NSIPP PROJECT SUPPORT
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 $25.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2000-09-15. End: 2006-09-01.
What was the specific nature of the 'OCEAN COLOR&NSIPP PROJECT SUPPORT' services provided under this contract?
The 'OCEAN COLOR&NSIPP PROJECT SUPPORT' contract provided comprehensive support to NASA's initiatives related to ocean color research and the National Polar-Orbiting Operational Environmental Satellite System (N-POESS) Preparatory Project (NPP). This likely encompassed a range of services including scientific analysis of oceanographic data, development and maintenance of data processing algorithms, project management, systems engineering, and technical expertise to aid NASA scientists in understanding marine ecosystems, climate change impacts, and related environmental phenomena. The support was crucial for advancing NASA's Earth science mission by ensuring the effective utilization and interpretation of satellite-derived ocean color data.
How does the $25.8 million contract value compare to similar NASA contracts for scientific support services?
The $25.8 million contract value over approximately six years (2000-2006) represents a moderate investment for specialized scientific support within NASA. While direct comparisons are challenging without knowing the exact scope and duration of other contracts, this figure aligns with the typical range for large, multi-year scientific support efforts. For instance, contracts supporting major Earth observation missions or complex data analysis initiatives often fall within this multi-million dollar bracket. The value suggests a significant but not exceptionally large commitment, reflecting the ongoing need for expertise in oceanographic research and satellite data interpretation.
What were the key performance indicators or award fee criteria used to evaluate Science Applications International Corporation's performance?
While the specific award fee criteria are not detailed in the provided data, for a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract like this, NASA typically establishes a set of measurable performance objectives. These often include factors such as the timely delivery of high-quality scientific analyses and reports, successful development and implementation of data processing tools, effective project management and adherence to budget, responsiveness to NASA's evolving research needs, and overall contribution to the scientific goals of the ocean color and NPP projects. Performance would be assessed against these criteria, with the contractor potentially earning an award fee based on the degree of accomplishment.
What is Science Applications International Corporation's (SAIC) track record with NASA and similar government agencies?
Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) has a long and extensive history of contracting with NASA and various other U.S. government agencies, particularly in areas of science, engineering, and technology support. SAIC has been a significant player in providing mission support, systems engineering, IT services, and scientific research assistance across multiple NASA centers and programs. Their track record generally indicates a capacity to handle large, complex contracts. Prior to its spin-off and subsequent mergers/acquisitions, SAIC was known for its broad technical capabilities, often securing contracts related to space exploration, Earth science, and defense.
Were there any identified risks or challenges associated with the performance of this specific contract?
The provided data does not explicitly detail risks encountered during the performance of this specific contract. However, general risks associated with large, long-term scientific support contracts include potential technical challenges in data analysis or algorithm development, difficulties in managing complex project timelines, and the inherent uncertainties in scientific research itself. For a CPAF contract, a key risk is ensuring that the award fee structure effectively incentivizes desired outcomes without leading to excessive costs. NASA's oversight and SAIC's project management would have been critical in mitigating these potential risks throughout the contract's duration.
How has NASA's spending on ocean color research evolved since this contract was awarded?
NASA's commitment to ocean color research has remained strong and has evolved significantly since this contract was awarded in 2000. Following the era of projects like NPP, NASA has continued to fund and launch advanced missions dedicated to observing Earth's oceans, such as the PACE (Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem) mission launched in 2024. Spending has likely increased in real terms, driven by technological advancements in satellite sensors, data processing capabilities, and a growing understanding of the critical role oceans play in climate regulation and biodiversity. NASA continues to invest heavily in analyzing this data to address pressing environmental challenges.
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Contractor Details
Address: 1710 SAIC DR, MCLEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $25,769,588
Exercised Options: $25,769,588
Current Obligation: $25,769,588
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2000-09-15
Current End Date: 2006-09-01
Potential End Date: 2006-09-01 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-09-28
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