Boeing's Commercial Crew Program Contract Valued at $2.54 Billion for ISS Transportation
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $254,336,536 ($254.3M)
Contractor: THE Boeing Company
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2015-12-18
End Date: 2027-05-31
Contract Duration: 4,182 days
Daily Burn Rate: $60.8K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM (CCP) COMMERCIAL CREW TRANSPORTATION CAPABILITY (CCTCAP) CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE COMPLETION OF THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, EVALUATION, AND CERTIFICATION OF AN INTEGRATED CREW TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM (CTS) CAPABLE OF TRANSPORTING NASA CREW TO AND FROM THE ISS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DESIGN REFERENCE MISSIONS AND NASA'S CERTIFICATION STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. CERTIFICATION OF THE CTS WILL BE DETERMINED BY NASA. NASA PLANS TO ISSUE TASK ORDERS FOR POST CERTIFICATION MISSIONS (PCM) TO AND FROM ISS THAT INCLUDE GROUND, LAUNCH, LIFEBOAT, ON-ORBIT, RETURN AND RECOVERY OPERATIONS. THE MINIMUM QUANTITY OF MISSIONS TO BE ORDERED IS TWO (2) AND THE MAXIMUM POTENTIAL QUANTITY OF MISSIONS WHICH MAY BE ORDERED IS SIX (6). IN ADDITION, NASA MAY ISSUE TASK ORDERS FOR SPECIAL STUDIES USED FOR RISK REDUCTION AND OTHER PURPOSES RELATED TO THE CTS. NASA CERTIFICATION UNDER CLIN 001 IS COMPLETE WHEN THE CONTRACTOR'S CREW TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM (CTS) HAS MET NASA'S REQUIREMENTS FOR SAFELY TRANSPORTING CREW TO AND FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (ISS) IN ACCORDANCE WITH DOCUMENTS IDENTIFIED IN SECTION C.1, SPECIFICATIONS/STATEMENT OF WORK. SUBCLINS 001A AND 001B, IDENTIFIED IN TABLE B.3, DDTE/CERTIFICATION SUBCLINS, ARE DELIVERY MILESTONES THAT REPRESENT COMPLETION OF REQUIRED WORK NECESSARY TO ACHIEVE NASA CERTIFICATION. DELIVERY PAYMENT FOR THE ISS DESIGN CERTIFICATION REVIEW (DCR) FOR THE CREWED FLIGHT TO THE ISS INCLUDES ALL WORK UNDER THIS CLIN THAT OCCURS FROM THE CONTRACT EFFECTIVE DATE THROUGH THE ISS DCR COMPLETION. THE DELIVERY PAYMENT FOR THE CERTIFICATION REVIEW (CR) WILL INCLUDE ALL WORK THAT OCCURS FROMTHE ISS DCR DELIVERY DATE THROUGH THE END OF THE DDTE/CERTIFICATION CLIN 001. IN ACCORDANCE WITH CLAUSE C.1, SPECIFICATION/STATEMENT OF WORK, THE TASK ORDERING PROCEDURES AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THE CONTRACT, THE CONTRACTING OFFICER MAY ISSUE POST CERTIFICATION MISSION (PCM) TASK ORDERS. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL USE THE MISSION PRICING RATES SHOWN IN TABLE B.4.1, POST CERTIFICATION MISSION PRICES. THE PER MISSION PRICES ARE FOR A SINGLE ORDER AT THE PRICE STATED PER THE CALENDAR YEAR (CY) BASED ON THE NUMBER OF MISSIONS ORDERED. CTS FULL MISSION CAPABILITY PRICES SHALL BE BASED ON (1) FULFILLMENT OF THE DESIGN REFERENCE MISSION TO THE ISS FOUND IN CCT-DRM-1110, CREW TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DESIGN REFERENCE MISSIONS, ATTACHMENT J-03, CONTRACT PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT, AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THE CONTRACT AND (2) ALL INHERENT CTS CAPABILITIES THAT ARE WITHIN THE PROPOSED MISSION PRICES. IN ACCORDANCE WITH ATTACHMENT J-03, CONTRACT PERFORMANCE WORK STATEMENT, THE TASK ORDERING PROCEDURES AND OTHER TERMS AND CONDITIONS IN THE CONTRACT, THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PERFORM SPECIAL STUDIES, TEST AND ANALYSES, AS INITIATED BY WRITTEN DIRECTION FROM THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. BOEING CCTCAP POST CERTIFICATION MISSION 2 (PCM-2) TASK ORDER AGAINST NNK14MA75C CLIN 002, AS DESCRIBED IN CLAUSE B.4 POST CERTIFICATION MISSIONS (IDIQ)(CLIN 002) AND ALL OTHER APPLICABLE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
Place of Performance
Location: ORLANDO, BREVARD County, FLORIDA, 32899
State: Florida Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $254.3 million to THE BOEING COMPANY for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM (CCP) COMMERCIAL CREW TRANSPORTATION CAPABILITY (CCTCAP) CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE COMPLETION OF THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, EVALUATION, AND CERTIFICATION OF AN INTEGRATED CREW TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM (CTS) CAPABLE OF TRANSPORTING NASA CREW T… Key points: 1. The contract aims to develop a crew transportation system for NASA to the ISS. 2. Boeing is the sole contractor, raising questions about competition. 3. Potential for significant taxpayer impact if costs escalate beyond initial estimates. 4. The sector is high-risk, involving complex space technology and human safety.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's total value is $2.54 billion, with a significant portion allocated to development and certification. Benchmarking is difficult due to the unique nature of human spaceflight transportation systems.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, but Boeing is the sole provider for this specific capability. This limits future price discovery for post-certification missions.
Taxpayer Impact: The initial contract value is substantial, and the final cost will depend on the number of post-certification missions ordered, potentially increasing taxpayer exposure.
Public Impact
Ensures continued US access to the ISS, reducing reliance on foreign partners. Supports the development of advanced aerospace technology and manufacturing capabilities. Potential for job creation in the aerospace sector. Human spaceflight safety is paramount, with rigorous certification requirements. Contract duration extends to 2027, indicating a long-term commitment.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 75 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source nature for post-certification missions.
- High technical complexity and associated risks.
- Long contract duration with potential for cost overruns.
Positive Signals
- Supports critical national space exploration goals.
- Leverages private sector innovation for government services.
- Potential for technological advancements.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing sector, characterized by high R&D investment, long development cycles, and stringent safety and performance requirements. Spending benchmarks are difficult due to the unique nature of human spaceflight.
Small Business Impact
The contract is awarded to a large prime contractor, Boeing. There is no explicit information provided regarding subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this data.
Oversight & Accountability
NASA's oversight is critical for ensuring the successful development, certification, and operation of the crew transportation system. The agency's role in determining CTS certification and managing task orders is key to accountability.
Related Government Programs
- Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source nature for post-certification missions.
- High technical complexity and associated risks.
- Long contract duration with potential for cost overruns.
- Dependence on a single provider for critical human spaceflight capability.
Tags
guided-missile-and-space-vehicle-manufac, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, fl, delivery-order, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $254.3 million to THE BOEING COMPANY. IGF::OT::IGF THE COMMERCIAL CREW PROGRAM (CCP) COMMERCIAL CREW TRANSPORTATION CAPABILITY (CCTCAP) CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE COMPLETION OF THE DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, TEST, EVALUATION, AND CERTIFICATION OF AN INTEGRATED CREW TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM (CTS) CAPABLE OF TRANSPORTING NASA CREW TO AND FROM THE ISS, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DESIGN REFERENCE MISSIONS AND NASA'S CERTIFICATION STANDARDS AND REQUIREMENTS. CERTIFICATION OF THE CTS WILL BE DETERMINED BY NASA. NASA PLANS TO ISSUE TASK ORDERS FOR POST CE
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE BOEING COMPANY.
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 $254.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2015-12-18. End: 2027-05-31.
What is the projected cost per mission for post-certification flights, and how does it compare to previous transportation methods?
The provided data does not specify the projected cost per mission for post-certification flights. Benchmarking against previous methods is challenging due to the evolution of technology and the unique capabilities of the Commercial Crew Program. Future task orders will reveal pricing, but initial development costs are substantial.
What are the primary technical risks associated with the Commercial Crew Transportation Capability contract, and what mitigation strategies are in place?
Primary risks include the complex design, development, testing, and certification of an integrated crew transportation system. This involves ensuring human safety during launch, on-orbit operations, and return. Mitigation strategies likely involve rigorous testing, redundant systems, and stringent NASA oversight throughout the development lifecycle.
How effectively does this contract ensure long-term, cost-effective access to the ISS for NASA astronauts compared to alternative solutions?
The contract aims to provide a cost-effective and reliable solution by leveraging commercial capabilities. However, the long-term cost-effectiveness will depend on the number of post-certification missions ordered and the actual operational costs. It ensures dedicated US access, which is strategically valuable.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing › Guided Missile and Space Vehicle Manufacturing
Product/Service Code: TRANSPORT, TRAVEL, RELOCATION › TRANSPORTATION OF THINGS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3700 BAY AREA BLVD, HOUSTON, TX, 77058
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $363,607,889
Exercised Options: $363,607,889
Current Obligation: $254,336,536
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 360
Total Subaward Amount: $253,824,563
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNK14MA75C
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2015-12-18
Current End Date: 2027-05-31
Potential End Date: 2027-05-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-11-24
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