NASA's $62.4M aircraft maintenance contract awarded to Amentum Services, Inc. shows a fixed-price award fee structure
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $62,402,819 ($62.4M)
Contractor: Amentum Services, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2012-04-24
End Date: 2018-02-28
Contract Duration: 2,136 days
Daily Burn Rate: $29.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AMOS CONTRACT, SOL NNJ11061911R
Place of Performance
Location: HOUSTON, HARRIS County, TEXAS, 77034
State: Texas Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $62.4 million to AMENTUM SERVICES, INC. for work described as: AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AMOS CONTRACT, SOL NNJ11061911R Key points: 1. The contract utilized a fixed-price award fee structure, which incentivizes contractor performance through potential bonuses. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, this contract suggests a competitive environment for aircraft maintenance services. 3. The duration of the contract, over 2000 days, indicates a long-term need for these specialized support services. 4. The contract's focus on aircraft maintenance and operational support places it within a critical segment of aerospace services. 5. The geographic location of performance in Texas may indicate a concentration of NASA's aviation assets or operations in the region. 6. The absence of small business set-asides suggests the primary contractor is not a small business, and subcontracting opportunities for small businesses are not explicitly mandated by the award.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific performance metrics or comparable contract data. The fixed-price award fee structure aims to control costs while allowing for performance-based incentives. However, the total value of $62.4 million over its duration suggests a significant investment in aircraft maintenance. Further analysis would require understanding the scope of services and comparing pricing against industry standards for similar NASA or DoD contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit proposals. This approach typically fosters a competitive environment, potentially leading to better pricing and service quality. The number of bidders is not specified, but the open competition suggests a healthy market for these services.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by promoting market efficiencies and driving down costs through competitive pressures.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are NASA's aviation programs, ensuring the operational readiness of its aircraft fleet. Services delivered include maintenance and operational support for aircraft, crucial for research, exploration, and other agency missions. The contract's performance is located in Texas, potentially impacting the local aerospace workforce and economy. This contract supports specialized technical roles within the aerospace and aviation maintenance sectors.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for cost overruns if award fee criteria are not met or if scope creep occurs.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical aircraft maintenance could pose risks if performance falters.
- Limited transparency on specific performance metrics and award fee payouts makes full value assessment difficult.
Positive Signals
- Fixed-price award fee structure incentivizes contractor performance and cost control.
- Full and open competition suggests a robust market and potential for competitive pricing.
- Long contract duration indicates a stable, ongoing need and potential for contractor expertise development.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the aerospace and defense sector, specifically focusing on aviation support services. The market for aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) is substantial, with significant government spending allocated to maintaining military and civilian aviation fleets. NASA's spending in this area is critical for its operational capabilities, complementing broader federal investments in aerospace technology and infrastructure.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no explicit mention of small business subcontracting goals. This suggests that the primary contract was awarded to a large business, and opportunities for small businesses would likely be through subcontracting, the extent of which is not detailed here. Further investigation into subcontracting plans would be needed to assess the impact on the small business ecosystem.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and program officials within NASA. Accountability measures are embedded in the fixed-price award fee structure, which links payment to performance. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, though detailed performance reports and award fee determinations may not always be publicly accessible. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Aviation Safety Program
- NASA Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate
- Department of Defense Aircraft Maintenance Contracts
- Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Support Services
Risk Flags
- Contract duration exceeds typical shorter-term service agreements.
- Performance location in Texas may concentrate risk.
- Lack of explicit small business subcontracting goals.
Tags
nasa, aircraft-maintenance, operational-support, amentum-services-inc, fixed-price-award-fee, full-and-open-competition, delivery-order, texas, aerospace, support-activities-for-air-transportation
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $62.4 million to AMENTUM SERVICES, INC.. AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AMOS CONTRACT, SOL NNJ11061911R
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is AMENTUM SERVICES, INC..
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 $62.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-04-24. End: 2018-02-28.
What specific types of aircraft are covered under this AMOS contract, and what is the scope of 'operational support'?
The provided data does not specify the exact types of aircraft covered under the Aircraft Maintenance and Operational Support (AMOS) contract, nor does it detail the precise scope of 'operational support.' Typically, such contracts for NASA would encompass a range of aircraft used for research, testing, transport, or specialized missions. Operational support could include flight scheduling, ground support, logistics, pilot services, and mission planning. A detailed review of the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) would be necessary to ascertain the specific aircraft fleet and the full extent of operational support required. This information is crucial for understanding the contract's true value and impact.
How does the 'fixed-price award fee' structure compare to other contract types used for similar services, and what are its implications for cost control?
The 'fixed-price award fee' (FPAF) structure is a hybrid type designed to provide cost certainty while incentivizing superior performance. Unlike a firm-fixed-price (FFP) contract where the contractor bears all cost risk, FPAF establishes a base fixed price and allows for additional award fees based on meeting or exceeding specific performance objectives. This differs from cost-plus-incentive-fee (CPIF) contracts, where profit is adjusted based on cost targets. For cost control, FPAF offers a baseline predictability. However, the potential for award fees means the final cost can exceed the base fixed price if performance is exceptional. This structure aims to balance contractor risk and reward, encouraging efficiency and quality beyond minimum requirements, but requires clear, measurable performance criteria to be effective and prevent subjective award fee decisions.
What was the competitive landscape for this NNJ11061911R solicitation, and how many bids were received?
The contract NNJ11061911R was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION,' indicating that the solicitation was broadly advertised, and all responsible sources were encouraged to submit proposals. While the data confirms the competition type, it does not specify the number of bids received. Generally, 'full and open competition' aims to maximize the number of potential offerors to foster a competitive environment. The absence of specific bidder numbers in the summary data means we cannot definitively assess the intensity of the competition. However, the designation itself suggests that NASA sought to leverage market forces to obtain the best value. Further details on the solicitation process, potentially available through federal procurement databases like SAM.gov, might provide the number of proposals received.
Can we assess the contractor's (Amentum Services, Inc.) past performance on similar federal contracts, particularly with NASA?
Assessing Amentum Services, Inc.'s past performance on similar federal contracts, especially with NASA, requires accessing detailed performance records and contract histories, which are not fully provided in the summary data. Amentum is a known entity in the government contracting space, often handling complex logistics, maintenance, and operational support services across various agencies. To evaluate their track record for this specific AMOS contract, one would typically look at past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS), any past disputes or claims, and the successful execution of previous, comparable contracts. Without direct access to these detailed performance metrics and historical data, a thorough assessment of their suitability and reliability for this particular NASA requirement remains incomplete.
What is the historical spending trend for aircraft maintenance and operational support at NASA, and how does this $62.4M contract fit within that trend?
The provided data focuses on a single contract award and does not offer historical spending trends for NASA's aircraft maintenance and operational support. To understand this contract's place within historical spending, one would need to analyze NASA's budget allocations and contract awards for similar services over several fiscal years. This would involve examining total obligations for aviation support, the number and value of AMOS-like contracts, and whether spending has increased, decreased, or remained stable. This $62.4 million contract represents a significant, multi-year investment. Without comparative data, it's difficult to determine if this amount is typical, an outlier, or indicative of a shifting spending pattern within NASA's aviation support domain.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Support Activities for Air Transportation › Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
Product/Service Code: MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD EQUIPMENT › MAINT, REPAIR, REBUILD OF EQUIPMENT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: FIXED PRICE AWARD FEE (M)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Amentum Government Services Holdings LLC
Address: 4800 WESTFIELDS BLVD STE 400, CHANTILLY, VA, 20151
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $63,333,610
Exercised Options: $63,333,610
Current Obligation: $62,402,819
Actual Outlays: $207,778
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NOT OBTAINED - WAIVED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNJ12JC05C
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2012-04-24
Current End Date: 2018-02-28
Potential End Date: 2018-02-28 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2024-09-16
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