NASA's $607M Omnibus Multidiscipline Engineering Services Contract Awarded to KBR Wyle Services, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $607,384,964 ($607.4M)
Contractor: KBR Wyle Services, LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2012-06-01
End Date: 2018-06-30
Contract Duration: 2,220 days
Daily Burn Rate: $273.6K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS THIS IS A NEW PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENT. THE NAME OF THIS PROCUREMENT IS THE OMNIBUS MULTIDISCIPLINE ENGINEERING SERVICES (OMES). THE PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE MULTIDISCIPLINE ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES AND RELATED WORK TO EED, ISTD, SED, MSD, MESA, JPSS, AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS, AS REQUIRED, FOR THE STUDY, DESIGN, SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, DEVELOPMENT, FABRICATION, INTEGRATION, TESTING, VERIFICATION, AND OPERATIONS OF SPACE FLIGHT, AIRBORNE, AND GROUND SYSTEM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO ENABLE FUTURE SPACE AND SCIENCE MISSIONS.TO THIS END, THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE ON/OFF-SITE MULTIDISCIPLINE ENGINEERING SERVICES, PURSUANT TO TASK ASSIGNMENTS ISSUED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. THESE SERVICES SHALL INCLUDE THE PERSONNEL, FACILITIES, AND MATERIALS (UNLESS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BY THE GOVERNMENT) TO ACCOMPLISH THE TASKS. TASK ASSIGNMENTS WILL BE ISSUED TO PERFORM SERVICES IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS FOR COMPONENTS, SUBSYSTEMS, SYSTEMS, SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS, AND SPACECRAFT, SUBORBITALCRAFT (E.G., AIRCRAFT, SOUNDING ROCKETS, UAVS, BALLOONS), INCLUDING ATTACHED SHUTTLE PAYLOADS, FREE-FLYING SPACECRAFT, SUBORBITALCRAFT PAYLOADS, AND SPACE STATION PAYLOADS AS WELL AS GROUND SUPPORT EQUIPMENT, SIMULATORS, NON-FLIGHT MODELS, AND PROTOTYPES; CANDIDATE, FEASIBILITY, AND SYSTEMS DEFINITION STUDIES; PROJECT MANAGEMENT; SYSTEMS ENGINEERING; ANALYSIS; PRELIMINARY DESIGN; DETAILED DESIGN; FABRICATION; ASSEMBLY; INTEGRATION; TEST AND VERIFICATION; TEST INSTRUMENTATION; DATA SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT; LAUNCH AND POST-LAUNCH OPERATIONS; RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY UNIQUE TO SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT; PARTS AND MATERIALS; DOCUMENTATION; MAINTENANCE; SUSTAINING ENGINEERING; CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT; PERFORMANCE ASSURANCE; SYSTEMS SAFETY; AND CONTAMINATION CONTROL.
Place of Performance
Location: GREENBELT, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20771
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $607.4 million to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS THIS IS A NEW PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENT. THE NAME OF THIS PROCUREMENT IS THE OMNIBUS MULTIDISCIPLINE ENGINEERING SERVICES (OMES). THE PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE MULTIDISCIPLINE ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES AND RELATED WORK TO EE… Key points: 1. The contract aims to provide comprehensive engineering support for space flight, airborne, and ground systems. 2. KBR Wyle Services, LLC secured this significant award, indicating strong performance or competitive advantage. 3. The procurement is classified under R&D in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, a critical sector for NASA. 4. The contract's broad scope covers study, design, development, testing, and operations, highlighting its extensive nature.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract value of $607M over six years is substantial. Without specific task order data or benchmarks for similar multidiscipline engineering support contracts, a precise pricing assessment is difficult. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) structure warrants scrutiny for potential cost overruns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust price discovery process. However, the specific details of the competition and the number of bidders are not provided, making it hard to fully assess the competitive pressure on pricing.
Taxpayer Impact: The substantial value of this contract means taxpayer funds are significantly invested. Full and open competition is intended to ensure value for money, but ongoing oversight is crucial to confirm efficient use of these funds.
Public Impact
Supports critical NASA missions in space exploration and scientific research. Drives technological advancements in aerospace engineering. Creates high-skilled jobs in engineering and related fields. Impacts the development of future space hardware and software.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type can lead to higher costs if not managed tightly.
- Lack of specific task order details limits granular cost analysis.
- Long contract duration (6 years) increases exposure to potential scope creep or changing requirements.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting competitive pricing.
- Supports NASA's core mission objectives in R&D.
- Broad scope allows for flexibility in addressing diverse engineering needs.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector, a key area for NASA's innovation and mission success. Spending benchmarks in this specific niche are difficult to establish due to the unique, multidiscipline nature of the services required.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small business participation was not a stated factor in this award (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests the primary contract was awarded to a large business, and any small business involvement would likely be through subcontracting, the details of which are not provided.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by NASA, a federal agency with established oversight mechanisms. However, the effectiveness of this oversight in controlling costs and ensuring performance for a large, long-term contract like OMES depends on detailed reporting, regular reviews, and proactive management of task orders.
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
- Potential for cost overruns due to CPFF structure.
- Lack of transparency on specific task order costs and performance.
- Long contract duration may not adapt well to evolving technological needs.
- Limited insight into small business participation and subcontracting opportunities.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, md, definitive-contract, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $607.4 million to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC. IGF::OT::IGF OTHER FUNCTIONS THIS IS A NEW PROCUREMENT REQUIREMENT. THE NAME OF THIS PROCUREMENT IS THE OMNIBUS MULTIDISCIPLINE ENGINEERING SERVICES (OMES). THE PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE MULTIDISCIPLINE ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES AND RELATED WORK TO EED, ISTD, SED, MSD, MESA, JPSS, AND RELATED ORGANIZATIONS, AS REQUIRED, FOR THE STUDY, DESIGN, SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, DEVELOPMENT, FABRICATION, INTEGRATION, TESTING, VERIFICATION, AND OPERATIONS OF SPACE FLIGHT, AIRBORNE, A
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 $607.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-06-01. End: 2018-06-30.
What is the average cost per task order, and how does it compare to similar engineering support contracts?
Without access to individual task order data, calculating an average cost per task order is not possible. Benchmarking against similar contracts is also challenging due to the unique, multidiscipline nature of the OMES requirement. A detailed analysis would require comparing specific task orders against industry standards for comparable engineering services, considering factors like labor rates, complexity, and duration.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to assess contractor performance and ensure mission effectiveness?
The provided data does not specify the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract. Typically, for such engineering support services, KPIs would likely include on-time delivery of milestones, adherence to technical specifications, quality of deliverables, cost control within task orders, and responsiveness to NASA's requirements. Effective oversight would involve regular performance reviews against these defined KPIs.
How is the fixed fee component of the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract determined, and does it adequately incentivize cost efficiency?
The determination of the fixed fee in a CPFF contract is usually based on factors like the complexity of the work, the level of risk involved, and the contractor's anticipated profit. To incentivize cost efficiency, the fixed fee should be set at a level that rewards the contractor for completing the work within projected costs, while still allowing for a reasonable profit. NASA's oversight would be critical in ensuring this fee structure aligns with efficient resource utilization.
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: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: NNG11281303R
Offers Received: 3
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Brown & Root Industrial Services Holdings, LLC
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: $691,300,000
Exercised Options: $691,300,000
Current Obligation: $607,384,964
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 109
Total Subaward Amount: $153,796,848
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2012-06-01
Current End Date: 2018-06-30
Potential End Date: 2018-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-02-19
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