NASA Awards $39.6M METS Bridge Contract to KBR Wyle for Space Flight Engineering Services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $39,609,177 ($39.6M)
Contractor: KBR Wyle Services, LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2010-05-01
End Date: 2012-01-31
Contract Duration: 640 days
Daily Burn Rate: $61.9K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (METS)BRIDGE CONTRACT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO ACQUIRE ENGINEERING AND RELATED SERVICES TO THE MISSION ENGINEERING AND SYSTEMS ANALYSIS DIVISION (MESA), THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIVISION (ISD), THE INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY DIVISION (ISTD), THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DIVISION (EED), AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS, AS REQUIRED, FOR THE FORMULATION, DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, NON-FLIGHT AND FLIGHT FABRICATION, INTEGRATION, TESTING, VERIFICATION, AND OPERATIONS OF SPACE FLIGHT AND GROUND SYSTEM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO ENABLE FUTURE SPACE AND SCIENCE MISSIONS. THE EMPHASIS IN ENGINEERING SERVICES WILL BE IN THE AREAS OF SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, SOFTWARE ENGINEERING, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND GUIDANCE NAVIGATION AND CONTROL (GN&C) SERVICES. TO THIS END, THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE ON/OFF-SITE MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING SERVICES, PURSUANT TO TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. THESE SERVICES SHALL INCLUDE THE PERSONNEL, FACILITIES, AND MATERIALS (UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT) TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASKS.
Place of Performance
Location: GREENBELT, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20771
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $39.6 million to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC for work described as: MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (METS)BRIDGE CONTRACT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO ACQUIRE ENGINEERING AND RELATED SERVICES TO THE MISSION ENGINEERING AND SYSTEMS ANALYSIS DIVISION (MESA), THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIVISION (ISD), THE INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS… Key points: 1. Contract awarded to KBR Wyle Services, LLC for multidisciplinary engineering and technology services. 2. Services encompass the full lifecycle of space flight hardware and software, from formulation to operations. 3. The contract aims to support various NASA divisions including MESA, ISD, ISTD, and EED. 4. Focus areas include systems engineering, software engineering, and information systems development. 5. This contract falls under Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $39.6 million over approximately two years appears reasonable for the scope of complex engineering and technology services required for space missions. Benchmarking against similar large-scale R&D contracts is difficult without more specific service details.
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 potentially leads to higher costs compared to a competitive process. The rationale for sole-sourcing is not provided.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in taxpayers paying a premium for these critical engineering services.
Public Impact
Supports NASA's mission to explore space and advance scientific understanding through advanced engineering. Enables the development of new technologies crucial for future space and science missions. Provides essential engineering and technical support to multiple NASA divisions. The contract's duration and value suggest a significant investment in space exploration infrastructure.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition raises concerns about cost-effectiveness.
- Sole-source award may not leverage the full market of potential providers.
- Contract duration is relatively short for complex R&D projects.
Positive Signals
- Addresses critical engineering needs for NASA's space missions.
- Supports a wide range of technical services across multiple divisions.
- Focuses on R&D, which is vital for technological advancement.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically NAICS code 541712. Spending in this sector is characterized by innovation and long-term investment, often involving specialized expertise and high costs. NASA's R&D spending is crucial for maintaining its technological edge in space exploration.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that neither small business set-asides nor subcontracting were specified for this contract. This suggests that small businesses may not have been a primary consideration in the award, potentially limiting their participation and opportunities.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by NASA, which has established oversight mechanisms for its procurements. However, the lack of competition in this sole-source award warrants closer scrutiny to ensure accountability and value for taxpayer money.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition and potential cost savings.
- Lack of small business participation noted.
- Contract duration may be short for the scope of R&D.
- No clear justification for sole-sourcing provided.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, md, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $39.6 million to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC. MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY SERVICES (METS)BRIDGE CONTRACT. THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO ACQUIRE ENGINEERING AND RELATED SERVICES TO THE MISSION ENGINEERING AND SYSTEMS ANALYSIS DIVISION (MESA), THE INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIVISION (ISD), THE INSTRUMENT SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGY DIVISION (ISTD), THE ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING DIVISION (EED), AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS, AS REQUIRED, FOR THE FORMULATION, DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, NON-FLIGHT AND FLIGHT FABRICATION, INTEGRATION, TESTING, VERIF
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is KBR WYLE SERVICES, 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 $39.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-05-01. End: 2012-01-31.
What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive strategies considered?
The provided data does not specify the justification for the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source contracts are justified when only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services, or in cases of urgent and compelling need. Without this information, it's impossible to assess if competitive strategies were adequately explored or if this was the most efficient path to acquiring these critical services.
How does the cost of this contract compare to similar R&D engineering services procured competitively by NASA or other agencies?
Direct cost comparison is challenging due to the unique nature of space flight engineering and the lack of competitive bidding for this contract. Benchmarking would require identifying contracts with similar scope, complexity, and duration, and then adjusting for market variations. The absence of competition makes it difficult to ascertain if NASA achieved optimal pricing.
What mechanisms are in place to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of KBR Wyle's services under this contract, given the sole-source nature?
NASA's standard contract management processes, including performance monitoring, milestone reviews, and quality assurance, would be applied. However, the sole-source award means that market pressures for efficiency and cost reduction are absent. Robust oversight and clear performance metrics are therefore crucial to ensure the contractor delivers effectively and taxpayers receive good value.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: KBR, Inc.
Address: 7701 GREENBELT RD STE 400, GREENBELT, MD, 20770
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $49,000,000
Exercised Options: $49,000,000
Current Obligation: $39,609,177
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2010-05-01
Current End Date: 2012-01-31
Potential End Date: 2012-01-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2022-09-07
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