NASA's $20.6M QUICKSAT Mission Ops Contract Awarded to Caltech, Lacking Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $20,588,048 ($20.6M)
Contractor: California Institute of Technology
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2003-09-27
End Date: 2012-09-30
Contract Duration: 3,291 days
Daily Burn Rate: $6.3K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 51
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: QUICKSAT MISSION OPS
Place of Performance
Location: PASADENA, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 91125
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $20.6 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for work described as: QUICKSAT MISSION OPS Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $20.6 million for mission operations. 2. Sole awardee, California Institute of Technology, raises questions about competition. 3. Long contract duration (2003-2012) suggests a potentially stable, but unbenchmarked, relationship. 4. Research and Development sector, specifically physical, engineering, and life sciences. 5. No small business participation indicated.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. Without competitive benchmarks, assessing the value for money is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This lack of competition limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition may have resulted in a higher price than could have been achieved through a competitive bidding process.
Public Impact
Taxpayers may have overpaid due to the lack of competitive bidding. Limited transparency into the cost-effectiveness of the QUICKSAT mission operations. Potential for reduced innovation due to a single provider.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost Plus Award Fee contract type
- No small business participation
Positive Signals
- Awarded to a reputable institution (Caltech)
- Long-term mission support
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is often characterized by unique requirements and long development cycles, making direct cost comparisons challenging.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates no small business participation in this contract. This suggests that opportunities for small businesses in supporting this specific mission operation were either not pursued or not available.
Oversight & Accountability
The Cost Plus Award Fee structure requires robust oversight from NASA to ensure that award fees are justified and that costs remain reasonable. The long duration necessitates continuous monitoring.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing.
- Cost Plus Award Fee can incentivize higher spending.
- Long contract duration without clear re-competition.
- No small business utilization.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ca, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $20.6 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. QUICKSAT MISSION OPS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.
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 $20.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2003-09-27. End: 2012-09-30.
What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
Sole-source awards are typically justified when only one responsible source is available or when a compelling urgency dictates the need for a specific contractor. For R&D contracts, this might be due to unique expertise or proprietary technology. Further investigation into NASA's justification documentation would be required to understand the specific rationale.
How does the final cost compare to initial estimates, given the Cost Plus Award Fee structure?
Cost Plus Award Fee contracts allow for reimbursement of costs plus a fee that can be adjusted based on performance. Without access to the final cost reports and the specific award fee criteria and payouts, it's impossible to definitively state how the final cost compares to initial estimates or benchmarks. This structure necessitates strong oversight to control costs.
What was the overall effectiveness of the QUICKSAT mission operations under this contract?
The effectiveness of the QUICKSAT mission operations is not directly quantifiable from the provided contract data. While the contract supported the mission, its success would be measured by mission objectives achieved, scientific data gathered, and operational reliability. This information would typically be found in NASA's mission performance reports.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 51
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4800 OAK GROVE DR, PASADENA, CA, 91109
Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $21,422,300
Exercised Options: $21,422,300
Current Obligation: $20,588,048
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NAS703001
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2003-09-27
Current End Date: 2012-09-30
Potential End Date: 2012-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2020-10-21
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