NASA's $383M Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission contract to Southwest Research Institute for PI services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $383,432,648 ($383.4M)
Contractor: Southwest Research Institute
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2004-04-21
End Date: 2026-09-30
Contract Duration: 8,197 days
Daily Burn Rate: $46.8K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 999
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: TAS::80 0120::TAS AS THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (PI) INSTITUTION FOR THE MAGNETOSPHERIC MULTISCALE (MMS) INSTRUMENT SUITE SCIENCE TEAM (ISST), THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING THE SOLVING MAGNETOSPHERIC ACCELERATION RECONNECTION AND TURBULENCE (SMART) TEAM THROUGH ALL MISSION PHASES. THE SCOPE OF WORK SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED, TO THE FOLLOWING: - MANAGE THE SMART TEAM THROUGH PHASES B THROUGH E OF THE MMS MISSION, - DEFINING SCIENCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES - ASSIST THE MMS PROJECT AND HQ SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE HELIOPHYSICS DIVISION IN THE PREPARATION OF LEVEL 1 REQUIREMENTS FOR THE MMS MISSION - FLOW-DOWN OF TOP-LEVEL MISSION REQUIREMENTS TO THE APPROPRIATE ELEMENTS OF THE INSTRUMENT SUITE - DESIGN, FABRICATION, INTEGRATION, CALIBRATION, TESTING AND DELIVERY OF FOUR FULLY QUALIFIED, FLIGHT INSTRUMENT SUITES TO OBSERVATORY INTEGRATION AND TEST (I&T) PLUS SPARES - DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, INTEGRATION AND TESTING OF THE SOC - SUPPORT OBSERVATORY-LEVEL I&T ACTIVITIES - PROVIDE SUSTAINING ENGINEERING AND I&T SUPPORT OF THE INSTRUMENT SUITES AFTER DELIVERY TO NASA - RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ON-ORBIT OPERATION, HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE INSTRUMENT SUITES - RESPONSIBILITY FOR OPERATING AND MAINTAINING THE SOC POST-LAUNCH - ESTABLISHING AND MANAGING SUBCONTRACTS WITH INSTRUMENT SUITE TEAM MEMBERS - ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING THE REQUIRED INTERNATIONAL TRAFFIC IN ARMS REGULATIONS (ITAR) AND EXPORT CONTROL DOCUMENTATION NECESSARY FOR WORKING WITH ITS INTERNATIONAL TEAM MEMBERS - IMPLEMENTATION OF AN EPO PROGRAM FOR THE MMS MISSION
Place of Performance
Location: SAN ANTONIO, BEXAR County, TEXAS, 78238
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $383.4 million to SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE for work described as: TAS::80 0120::TAS AS THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (PI) INSTITUTION FOR THE MAGNETOSPHERIC MULTISCALE (MMS) INSTRUMENT SUITE SCIENCE TEAM (ISST), THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING THE SOLVING MAGNETOSPHERIC ACCELERATION RECONNECTION AND TURBULENCE (SMART) TEAM THROUGH ALL M… Key points: 1. Contractor leads a critical science team for a multi-phase space mission. 2. Scope includes managing team, defining science goals, and supporting mission requirements. 3. Focus on designing, fabricating, and testing instrument suites for space exploration. 4. Long-term contract spanning over two decades, indicating sustained program needs. 5. Contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, common for complex R&D projects. 6. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $383.4M over its extended period appears reasonable for leading a complex, multi-instrument space mission science team. Benchmarking against similar PI roles in large NASA missions is challenging due to unique scope, but the duration and breadth of responsibilities suggest a fair allocation of resources. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure allows for flexibility while managing costs, though it requires careful oversight.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified bidders had the opportunity to submit proposals. This competitive process is expected to drive fair pricing and ensure the selection of the most capable contractor for this specialized role. The specific number of bidders is not detailed, but the competition type suggests a healthy market for such services.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the best value and price for essential scientific leadership on a major space exploration initiative.
Public Impact
The Southwest Research Institute, as the Principal Investigator institution, benefits directly through funding and research opportunities. The contract supports the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, advancing scientific understanding of space weather. The work has implications for the broader scientific community by contributing to fundamental research in heliophysics. The contract supports a specialized workforce in aerospace engineering, physics, and project management.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns inherent in Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts if not managed diligently.
- Long contract duration increases the risk of scope creep or evolving requirements impacting final cost.
- Reliance on a single contractor for PI leadership could pose a risk if performance falters.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive selection process.
- Long-term nature of the contract suggests successful past performance and program stability.
- Clear definition of responsibilities for managing the science team and mission phases.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the aerospace and defense sector, specifically focusing on space exploration and scientific research. The market for leading complex space mission science teams is specialized, involving a limited number of research institutions and organizations with proven expertise. NASA's spending in this area is crucial for advancing fundamental scientific knowledge and technological capabilities in heliophysics.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication of small business set-asides for this contract. Given the highly specialized nature of leading a principal investigator institution for a major NASA mission, it is likely that the prime contractor is a large research organization. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses may exist within specific technical areas, but are not explicitly detailed in the provided data.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight is likely managed by NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, which manages the MMS mission. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract structure necessitates rigorous financial and performance oversight to ensure adherence to scope and budget. Transparency is generally high for NASA missions, with regular reporting and reviews expected.
Related Government Programs
- Magnetospheric Multiscale Mission (MMS)
- Heliophysics Missions
- Space Science Investigations
- Instrument Suite Development
Risk Flags
- Long contract duration
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure
- Reliance on single PI institution
Tags
nasa, heliophysics, space-science, research-and-development, definitive-contract, cost-plus-fixed-fee, full-and-open-competition, principal-investigator, instrument-development, texas, aerospace, science-team-management
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $383.4 million to SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE. TAS::80 0120::TAS AS THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (PI) INSTITUTION FOR THE MAGNETOSPHERIC MULTISCALE (MMS) INSTRUMENT SUITE SCIENCE TEAM (ISST), THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LEADING THE SOLVING MAGNETOSPHERIC ACCELERATION RECONNECTION AND TURBULENCE (SMART) TEAM THROUGH ALL MISSION PHASES. THE SCOPE OF WORK SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED, TO THE FOLLOWING: - MANAGE THE SMART TEAM THROUGH PHASES B THROUGH E OF THE MMS MISSION, - DEFINING SCIENCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES - ASSIST THE MMS PROJE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SOUTHWEST RESEARCH INSTITUTE.
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 $383.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2004-04-21. End: 2026-09-30.
What is the historical spending trend for the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) Instrument Suite Science Team (ISST) contract with Southwest Research Institute?
The provided data indicates a total award of $383,432,648 with an estimated completion date of September 30, 2026, and a start date of April 21, 2004. This suggests a long-term, consistent funding stream over many years. While specific annual spending figures are not available, the duration (over 22 years) and the substantial total value point to significant and sustained investment in the PI services provided by Southwest Research Institute for the MMS mission. This extended period reflects the complex, multi-phase nature of space missions, often requiring continuous scientific leadership from inception through data analysis.
How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type impact the risk and value for this NASA contract?
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type is common for research and development efforts where the scope may evolve or is not fully defined at the outset, such as leading a complex science team for a space mission. For NASA, this structure offers flexibility to adapt to scientific discoveries or technical challenges. However, it shifts some of the financial risk to the government, as NASA reimburses the contractor's actual costs plus a fixed fee. This necessitates robust oversight to ensure costs are reasonable and allocable to the contract. For taxpayers, the value is realized through the potential for groundbreaking scientific return, but vigilance is required to manage costs effectively and prevent overruns. The fixed fee provides the contractor with an incentive to control costs, as their profit is capped.
What is Southwest Research Institute's track record with NASA on similar large-scale science missions?
Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) has a well-established and extensive track record with NASA, particularly in leading complex scientific investigations and developing sophisticated instruments for space missions. They have served as the Principal Investigator institution for numerous NASA projects, including the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Juno mission to Jupiter. Their deep involvement in the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission, spanning from its early phases, demonstrates a sustained capability and trust from NASA. SwRI's expertise in heliophysics and space science, coupled with their project management skills, makes them a highly qualified entity for such critical roles, suggesting a strong history of successful performance on comparable large-scale endeavors.
What are the potential performance risks associated with this long-duration contract for the MMS mission?
The primary performance risk for this long-duration contract is the potential for evolving scientific objectives or technological advancements to necessitate significant scope changes, which could impact the original project plan and budget. Maintaining team cohesion and scientific focus over more than two decades presents a management challenge. Furthermore, the departure of key personnel or institutional shifts in priorities could affect continuity. NASA's oversight will be crucial in managing these risks through regular reviews, clear communication channels, and adaptive management strategies to ensure the continued success of the MMS mission's scientific goals despite the extended timeline.
How does the geographic location of the contractor (Texas) influence the execution or oversight of this contract?
The contractor, Southwest Research Institute, is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. While the physical location is distant from NASA's primary mission centers like Goddard Space Flight Center (Maryland) or Johnson Space Center (Texas), modern communication and collaboration technologies significantly mitigate potential challenges. NASA has extensive experience managing geographically dispersed teams and contractors. Oversight is typically conducted through a combination of on-site personnel (if deemed necessary), virtual meetings, data sharing platforms, and regular progress reports. The geographic distribution is unlikely to be a significant impediment to the successful execution or oversight of this contract, given the established practices for managing remote scientific and engineering efforts.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing › Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: BASIC RESEARCH
Solicitation ID: AO-03-OSS-01
Offers Received: 999
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 6220 CULEBRA RD, SAN ANTONIO, TX, 78238
Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $391,932,243
Exercised Options: $391,932,243
Current Obligation: $383,432,648
Actual Outlays: $81,299,425
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2004-04-21
Current End Date: 2026-09-30
Potential End Date: 2026-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-24
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