NASA's $26M administrative support contract awarded to Media Fusion, LLC, ran for over 5 years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $26,015,335 ($26.0M)
Contractor: Media Fusion, LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2010-03-01
End Date: 2015-12-31
Contract Duration: 2,131 days
Daily Burn Rate: $12.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: CENTER ADMINISTRATIVE&TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: EDWARDS, KERN County, CALIFORNIA, 93523
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $26.0 million to MEDIA FUSION, LLC for work described as: CENTER ADMINISTRATIVE&TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract provided essential administrative and technical support services to NASA. 2. Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract's duration of over 5 years suggests a need for sustained support. 4. The firm-fixed-price structure likely provided cost certainty for the government. 5. The services were delivered in California, indicating a specific geographic focus. 6. The contract was not set aside for small businesses, suggesting larger prime contractors were involved.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific performance metrics or detailed service descriptions. The total value of approximately $26 million over five years averages to about $5.2 million annually. This figure needs to be compared against the scale and complexity of the administrative and technical support provided to NASA. Without comparable contract data for similar support services at NASA or other agencies, it's difficult to definitively assess if this represented excellent value for money. The firm-fixed-price contract type suggests an attempt to control costs, but the overall value proposition depends heavily on the quality and efficiency of the services rendered.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources.' This indicates that the solicitation was made available to all responsible prospective contractors, and any restrictions or exclusions were justified. The presence of 6 bidders suggests a healthy level of competition for this administrative support requirement. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of this award suggests that taxpayers likely benefited from a more efficient pricing structure and potentially higher quality service delivery due to the multiple bids received.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries of this contract were NASA personnel and operations, who received essential administrative and technical support. The services delivered likely encompassed a range of office administrative functions, contributing to the smooth operation of NASA programs. The geographic impact was concentrated in California, where the services were performed. The contract supported the workforce by providing necessary administrative functions, allowing technical staff to focus on core mission objectives.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of detailed performance metrics makes it difficult to assess the true value for money.
- The duration of the contract could lead to complacency if not managed effectively.
- Potential for cost overruns if the scope of work expanded beyond initial estimates, despite fixed-price structure.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a robust bidding process.
- Firm-fixed-price contract type provides cost certainty for the government.
- Sustained support over a multi-year period suggests a consistent need and successful delivery.
Sector Analysis
The administrative and support services sector is a critical component of government operations, enabling agencies to function efficiently. This contract falls within the broader professional, scientific, and technical services industry. While specific market size data for NASA's administrative support is not readily available, the federal government consistently spends billions annually on such services across various agencies. This contract represents a portion of that spending, supporting NASA's mission-critical functions.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not set aside for small businesses (indicated by 'sb': false). This suggests that the requirement was likely fulfilled by larger prime contractors capable of handling the scope and complexity of NASA's administrative and technical support needs. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses, but it is common for larger prime contractors to engage small businesses for specialized support roles.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would have been managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a definitive contract awarded through full and open competition, it would be subject to standard federal procurement regulations and oversight mechanisms. Transparency would be maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. NASA's Inspector General would have jurisdiction to investigate any potential fraud, waste, or abuse related to this contract.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Administrative Support Services
- Federal Office Administrative Services
- Technical Support Contracts
- Professional and Technical Services
Risk Flags
- Potential for scope creep despite fixed-price contract.
- Reliance on a single contractor for critical administrative functions.
- Lack of detailed performance metrics in summary data.
Tags
administrative-support, technical-support, nasa, media-fusion-llc, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, definitive-contract, office-administrative-services, california, federal-contract, it-support, professional-services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $26.0 million to MEDIA FUSION, LLC. CENTER ADMINISTRATIVE&TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is MEDIA FUSION, 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 $26.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-03-01. End: 2015-12-31.
What specific types of administrative and technical support were provided under this contract?
The contract, identified by NAICS code 561110 (Office Administrative Services), suggests a broad range of support. This typically includes services such as executive and administrative support, record keeping, mail processing, facilities management support, human resources administration, and potentially IT support functions related to office operations. While the specific deliverables are not detailed in the provided data, the 'CENTER ADMINISTRATIVE&TECHNICAL SUPPORT SERVICES' description implies a comprehensive package aimed at ensuring the smooth day-to-day functioning of NASA's operational centers. The 'technical support' aspect could range from basic IT helpdesk functions to more specialized technical assistance related to administrative systems.
How does the $26 million total value compare to similar administrative support contracts at NASA or other federal agencies?
Directly comparing the $26 million total value requires access to a database of similar contracts with detailed scope and duration. However, on an annual basis, this contract averaged approximately $5.2 million. Federal agencies frequently award contracts for administrative and technical support services, with values varying significantly based on agency size, scope of services, and geographic location. For a large agency like NASA, $5.2 million annually for comprehensive support could be considered moderate, especially if it covers multiple functions or a significant number of personnel. Without specific benchmarks for comparable NASA centers or similar agencies (e.g., DoD, DoE), a definitive value comparison is difficult, but it falls within the expected range for substantial support contracts.
What were the primary risks associated with this contract, and how might they have been mitigated?
Key risks for this contract likely included performance risk (contractor failing to deliver services adequately), cost risk (potential for cost overruns despite fixed-price, especially if scope creep occurred), and schedule risk (delays in service delivery impacting NASA operations). Mitigation strategies would have included robust performance monitoring by NASA contracting officers, clear definition of scope and deliverables in the contract, regular progress reviews, and potentially performance incentives or penalties. The firm-fixed-price structure itself is a risk mitigation tool for the government, placing the cost risk primarily on the contractor. However, ensuring the contractor had the capacity and expertise to meet NASA's demanding requirements was crucial.
What was the historical spending pattern for this type of service at NASA prior to this contract?
The provided data does not include historical spending patterns for this specific contract or service category at NASA. To analyze historical spending, one would need to query federal procurement databases (like FPDS-NG or USASpending.gov) for similar contracts awarded to NASA over previous fiscal years, using relevant NAICS codes (like 561110) and contract descriptions. This would reveal trends in contract values, durations, and awarded vendors, providing context for the $26 million award. Without this historical data, it's impossible to determine if this contract represented an increase, decrease, or stable level of spending for administrative and technical support.
How effective was Media Fusion, LLC in fulfilling the terms of this contract?
The provided data does not include specific performance evaluations or contractor performance assessment reports (CPARs) for Media Fusion, LLC on this contract. Effectiveness would be measured against the contract's objectives, deliverables, and performance standards. Factors such as timeliness, quality of service, responsiveness, and adherence to budget (within the fixed-price framework) would determine effectiveness. The fact that the contract was awarded and completed over its intended duration suggests a baseline level of acceptable performance. However, a definitive assessment of effectiveness would require access to CPARs or other formal performance reviews conducted by NASA.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Office Administrative Services › Office Administrative Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 6
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Poarch Band of Creek Indians (UEI: 086543469)
Address: 4951 CENTURY ST NW, HUNTSVILLE, AL, 35816
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, American Indian Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $27,105,174
Exercised Options: $26,305,256
Current Obligation: $26,015,335
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2010-03-01
Current End Date: 2015-12-31
Potential End Date: 2015-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2018-09-20
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