NASA's $73.3M Fire Protection Contract with Centerra Group: A 10-Year Full and Open Competition Analysis
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $73,303,192 ($73.3M)
Contractor: Centerra Group, LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2006-07-01
End Date: 2017-10-31
Contract Duration: 4,140 days
Daily Burn Rate: $17.7K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: MOFFETT FIELD, SANTA CLARA County, CALIFORNIA, 94035
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $73.3 million to CENTERRA GROUP, LLC for work described as: FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract awarded $73.3M over 10 years for fire protection services. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract type was Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF), which incentivizes performance. 4. No small business participation was reported, a potential area for review.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total award value of $73.3M over 10 years averages to $7.33M annually. Benchmarking against similar fire protection service contracts is difficult without more granular data on service scope and location, but the annual average appears reasonable for a large federal agency like NASA.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders were allowed to submit proposals. This method generally promotes price discovery and can lead to more competitive pricing for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: The use of full and open competition likely resulted in a fair market price, maximizing taxpayer value by leveraging the competitive landscape.
Public Impact
Ensures critical fire safety for NASA facilities and personnel. Long-term contract provides stability for service provider and agency planning. Potential for innovation in fire suppression and prevention technologies.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of small business participation.
- Cost Plus Award Fee contracts can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly.
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition utilized.
- Long contract duration provides stability.
- Award fee structure incentivizes performance.
Sector Analysis
Fire protection services are essential across various government sectors, including aerospace. NASA's spending on these services is critical for operational continuity and safety. Benchmarks for similar contracts vary widely based on facility size, complexity, and geographic location.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates no small business participation in this contract. Agencies are encouraged to maximize small business opportunities; a review of outreach and subcontracting efforts might be warranted to ensure compliance with federal small business goals.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by NASA, a federal agency with established oversight mechanisms. The use of a Definitive Contract and Cost Plus Award Fee structure implies ongoing monitoring of performance and costs by the agency.
Related Government Programs
- Fire Protection
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- No small business participation.
- Long contract duration (10 years) may reduce flexibility for future technological advancements or market shifts.
- CPAF contracts require diligent oversight to prevent cost overruns.
- Lack of detailed service scope limits granular value assessment.
Tags
fire-protection, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ca, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $73.3 million to CENTERRA GROUP, LLC. FIRE PROTECTION SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CENTERRA GROUP, LLC.
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 $73.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2006-07-01. End: 2017-10-31.
What specific fire protection services were included in this contract, and how did the scope compare to industry standards for similar facilities?
The provided data does not detail the specific services rendered under the 'Fire Protection' category. A comprehensive analysis would require examining the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) to understand the scope, including emergency response, fire prevention, system maintenance, and training. Comparing this to industry standards for facilities of similar size and complexity at NASA centers would be crucial for a complete value assessment.
What were the key performance metrics and award fee criteria that drove the 'Award Fee' component of this contract?
The 'Cost Plus Award Fee' (CPAF) contract structure implies that Centerra Group, LLC could earn additional profit based on meeting or exceeding specific performance objectives. Without access to the contract's SOW and performance evaluation reports, it's impossible to detail these metrics. Typical criteria might include response times, system reliability, incident resolution effectiveness, and adherence to safety protocols.
How effective was the full and open competition in achieving competitive pricing and ensuring the best value for the government over the contract's 10-year duration?
While full and open competition is generally a strong indicator of competitive pricing, the effectiveness over a 10-year period depends on market dynamics and the specific bidding environment at the time of award. Analyzing the number of bids received, the price spread among bidders, and any subsequent contract modifications or re-negotiations would provide insight into whether sustained best value was achieved.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Public Administration › Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities › Fire Protection
Product/Service Code: QUALITY CONTROL, TEST, INSPECTION › QUALITY CONTROL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Constellis Holdings, LLC (UEI: 966133477)
Address: 7121 FAIRWAY DR STE 301, PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL, 33418
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $73,303,192
Exercised Options: $73,303,192
Current Obligation: $73,303,192
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2006-07-01
Current End Date: 2017-10-31
Potential End Date: 2017-10-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2020-01-08
More Contracts from Centerra Group, LLC
- Protective Force Security Services for the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site — $1.4B (Department of Energy)
- Federal Contract — $361.3M (Department of Energy)
- Federal Contract — $287.5M (Department of Energy)
- Guard Services — $279.3M (Department of Energy)
- Nevada Site Office (NSO) - Security Protective Force and Systems Services — $269.8M (Department of Energy)
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 →