NASA's $192M HOSC Contract for Space Program Support Awarded to COLSA Corp. with No Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $192,713,088 ($192.7M)
Contractor: Colsa Corp
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2017-04-01
End Date: 2022-12-31
Contract Duration: 2,100 days
Daily Burn Rate: $91.8K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF THE HUNTSVILLE OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER (HOSC) CONTRACT SPECIFIES TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORK NEEDED TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY, INTEGRITY, AND RELIABILITY OF MISSION GROUND SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) SPACE PROGRAMS. THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES SINGLE OR MULTI-PROGRAM UNIQUE FACILITIES, SYSTEMS, AND SERVICES, BOTH LOCAL AND REMOTE TO MSFC, SUPPORTING NASA SPACECRAFT, PAYLOAD, SATELLITE, AND PROPULSION SYSTEMS OPERATIONS. THE CONTRACT PROVIDES CROSS UTILIZATION OF RESOURCES ACROSS PROGRAMS AND SEAMLESS OPERATIONS SUPPORT FOR MULTIPLE PROGRAMS.
Place of Performance
Location: HUNTSVILLE, MADISON County, ALABAMA, 35812
State: Alabama Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $192.7 million to COLSA CORP for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF THE HUNTSVILLE OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER (HOSC) CONTRACT SPECIFIES TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORK NEEDED TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY, INTEGRITY, AND RELIABILITY OF MISSION GROUND SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND… Key points: 1. The Huntsville Operations Support Center (HOSC) contract is critical for NASA's space program operations, ensuring system availability and reliability. 2. COLSA Corp. has held this significant contract, valued at over $192 million, for a substantial period. 3. The lack of competition raises concerns about potential overpricing and limited innovation. 4. The sector is Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, indicating highly specialized technical services.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure, combined with a lack of competition, makes a direct pricing assessment difficult. Benchmarking against similar, competitively bid contracts for specialized R&D support is necessary to determine if the $192M value is reasonable.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This significantly limits price discovery and may lead to higher costs for taxpayers as there was no market pressure to drive down the price.
Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition for a contract of this magnitude means taxpayers may have paid a premium for the services provided.
Public Impact
Ensures the continuous operation and reliability of NASA's vital space mission ground systems. Supports a wide range of NASA spacecraft, satellite, and propulsion systems. Facilitates cross-utilization of resources, enhancing efficiency across multiple space programs. The contract's duration and value highlight its importance to ongoing space exploration and research.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
- No small business participation noted
Positive Signals
- Critical support for national space programs
- Ensures system availability and reliability
- Facilitates resource sharing across programs
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences, a sector characterized by high technical expertise and often long-term, complex projects. Spending benchmarks in this area are highly variable due to the specialized nature of the work.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this contract award. Given the contract's size and duration, exploring opportunities for small business subcontracting could foster innovation and economic growth.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this contract warrants close oversight to ensure that NASA is receiving fair value for its investment and that the services provided meet all performance requirements.
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
- Lack of competition may lead to inflated costs.
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure can incentivize higher spending.
- Potential for reduced innovation due to sole-source award.
- No clear indication of small business involvement.
- Long contract duration without competition raises value concerns.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, al, definitive-contract, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $192.7 million to COLSA CORP. IGF::OT::IGF THE HUNTSVILLE OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER (HOSC) CONTRACT SPECIFIES TECHNICAL, MANAGERIAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE WORK NEEDED TO ENSURE THE AVAILABILITY, INTEGRITY, AND RELIABILITY OF MISSION GROUND SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATIONS IN SUPPORT OF NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) SPACE PROGRAMS. THIS CONTRACT PROVIDES SINGLE OR MULTI-PROGRAM UNIQUE FACILITIES, SYSTEMS, AND SERVICES, BOTH LOCAL AND REMOTE TO MSFC, SUPPORTING NASA SPACECRAFT, PAYLOAD, SATELLITE, AND PR
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is COLSA CORP.
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 $192.7 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2017-04-01. End: 2022-12-31.
What was the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and were alternative competitive strategies considered?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities, critical urgency, or a lack of viable alternatives. Without further documentation, it's unclear why this contract was not competed. NASA should have explored options like phased competitions or set-asides to encourage broader participation and potentially achieve better pricing.
How does the cost performance of this Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract compare to similar R&D contracts awarded competitively?
Assessing the cost performance of this Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract against competitively bid alternatives is challenging without detailed financial data. However, sole-source contracts, especially CPFF, are inherently at higher risk of cost overruns due to the reduced incentive for contractor efficiency. A thorough audit and benchmarking study would be required for a definitive comparison.
What measures are in place to ensure the effectiveness and efficiency of the services provided by COLSA Corp. under this contract, given the lack of competitive pressure?
Effectiveness and efficiency are typically ensured through robust contract management, performance metrics, and regular reviews. NASA should have stringent oversight mechanisms, including key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs), to monitor COLSA Corp.'s performance and ensure mission objectives are met despite the absence of competitive pressure.
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
Address: 6728 ODYSSEY DR, HUNTSVILLE, AL, 35806
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Hispanic American Owned Business, Minority Owned Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Service Disabled Veteran Owned Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business, Veteran Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $196,083,692
Exercised Options: $196,083,692
Current Obligation: $192,713,088
Actual Outlays: $114,880,134
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 228
Total Subaward Amount: $28,947,570
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2017-04-01
Current End Date: 2022-12-31
Potential End Date: 2022-12-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-05
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