NASA's $33.7M Astrobio Contract Awarded to Caltech, Lacking Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $33,690,625 ($33.7M)
Contractor: California Institute of Technology
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2003-09-30
End Date: 2010-12-31
Contract Duration: 2,649 days
Daily Burn Rate: $12.7K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 51
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: SMD,R&A ASTROBIO FY04-08
Place of Performance
Location: PASADENA, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 91125
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $33.7 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for work described as: SMD,R&A ASTROBIO FY04-08 Key points: 1. Significant federal investment in R&D for physical, engineering, and life sciences. 2. Sole awardee suggests potential lack of market competition or specialized need. 3. Long contract duration (2003-2010) indicates sustained research effort. 4. Cost-plus award fee structure incentivizes performance but can lead to cost overruns.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract type (Cost Plus Award Fee) is common for R&D but can be less price-efficient than fixed-price contracts. Without a competitive benchmark, assessing the value is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs compared to a competitive process.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds were spent without exploring potentially more cost-effective options through competition.
Public Impact
Supports advanced scientific research in astrobiology, potentially leading to new discoveries. Funding directed to a single, well-known research institution (Caltech). Long-term commitment to a specific research area by NASA.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost-plus contract type
- Long contract duration
Positive Signals
- Supports critical R&D
- Awarded to a reputable institution
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (NAICS 541710). Spending in this sector is crucial for innovation but often involves high risk and specialized expertise, making competition challenging.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to the California Institute of Technology, a large research institution, and there is no indication of small business involvement.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was not competed, raising questions about the justification for a sole-source award and whether adequate oversight was in place to ensure fair pricing and performance.
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
- Cost-plus contract type
- Lack of transparency on justification
- Potential for cost overruns
- No small business participation
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 $33.7 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. SMD,R&A ASTROBIO FY04-08
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 $33.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2003-09-30. End: 2010-12-31.
Was a sole-source justification thoroughly documented and reviewed?
The data indicates the contract was 'NOT COMPETED'. A comprehensive review would require access to the contract file to verify the justification for bypassing the competitive process. This is crucial for ensuring taxpayer funds are used efficiently and that the government explored all viable options.
What were the key performance metrics and award fee criteria?
As a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPA F) contract, performance was likely tied to specific research milestones and scientific objectives. The award fee structure would incentivize Caltech to meet or exceed these targets, but the exact criteria and their impact on the final cost are not detailed in this summary.
How does the total contract value compare to similar R&D efforts?
Benchmarking this $33.7 million contract is difficult without knowing the specific scope of astrobiology research. However, the lack of competition makes direct cost comparisons challenging. Further analysis would require identifying comparable NASA or agency R&D contracts in the same scientific domain.
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: $33,690,625
Exercised Options: $33,690,625
Current Obligation: $33,690,625
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NAS703001
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2003-09-30
Current End Date: 2010-12-31
Potential End Date: 2010-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-02-17
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