NASA's $421M JEPI contract to Johns Hopkins University supports space science and exploration across all mission directorates
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $42,149,651 ($42.1M)
Contractor: THE Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2013-06-06
End Date: 2023-06-30
Contract Duration: 3,676 days
Daily Burn Rate: $11.5K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF JOVIAN ENERGETIC PARTICLES INVESTGATION (JEPI) THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PERFORM THE WORK THAT IS DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. THE OVERALL SCOPE OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED WILL SUPPORT ALL OF NASA S MISSION DIRECTORATES. THESE EFFORTS CAN BE CHARACTERIZED AS AEROSPACE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT (ARDES). THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE TASKS TO BE DEVELOPED WILL BE TO CONDUCT SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT DESIGNED TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO SPACE SCIENCE AND SPACE EXPLORATION AND ASSIST NASA IN THE FORMULATION AND EXECUTION OF ITS PROGRAMS BY PROVIDING NASA WITH TECHNICAL ADVICE, STUDIES, AND REPORTS OF INVESTIGATIONS. EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE CONTRACTOR, IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ASSIGNED TASKS, WHICH INCLUDE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, PARTNERING AND COMMERCIALIZATION ACTIVITIES, SHALL SEEK TO ENHANCE THE VALUE AND CONTRIBUTION OF TECHNOLOGY TO THE NATION S TECHNOLOGICAL COMPETITIVENESS, PROSPERITY, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND OTHER NATIONAL PRIORITIES. INDIVIDUAL TASK ORDERS WILL FALL WITHIN ONE OF TWO BROAD CATEGORIES: 1) ESSENTIAL RESEARCH CAPABILITY OF SPACE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, AND RELATED WORK IN THE SUPPORTING ESSENTIAL RESEARCH CAPABILITIES OF SYSTEMS TEST AND EVALUATION, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND SIMULATION, MODELING AND OPERATIONS ANALYSIS . TASK ORDERS WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF ESSENTIAL RESEARCH CAPABILITIES ARE INTENDED TO PRESERVE THE NATION S CAPABILITIES TO PERFORM ROBOTIC SPACE MISSIONS OVER THE FULL MISSION LIFE CYCLE FROM CONCEPT FORMULATION THROUGH MISSION OPERATIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS. NASA IS CONTRACTING FOR SUPPORT IN SEVERAL KEY RESEARCH, ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT COMPETENCIES THAT ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE MISSIONS. 2) OTHER AEROSPACE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT. TASK ORDERS WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF OTHER AEROSPACE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT ARE INTENDED TO INCLUDE A BROAD BASE OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES RELEVANT TO NASA PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS. REGARDLESS OF CATEGORY, TASK ORDERS MAY BE ISSUED RELATED TO AUTONOMOUS DEEP-SPACE AND EARTH-ORBITING SPACECRAFT OR MAJOR SUBSYSTEMS, EXPERIMENTS, INSTRUMENTS OR OTHER DEVICES THAT MAY BE CARRIED AS PAYLOADS ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE OR ON OTHER SPACECRAFT. TASK ASSIGNMENTS WILL EXPLICITLY DESCRIBE A BROAD RANGE OF HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS, AND MANAGEMENT EFFORTS INCLUDING PROGRAM AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.
Place of Performance
Location: LAUREL, HOWARD County, MARYLAND, 20723
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $42.1 million to THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF JOVIAN ENERGETIC PARTICLES INVESTGATION (JEPI) THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PERFORM THE WORK THAT IS DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. THE OVERALL SCOPE OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED WILL SUPPORT ALL OF NASA S MISSION DIRECTORATES. THESE EFFORTS CAN… Key points: 1. Contract supports a broad range of aerospace research, development, and engineering, crucial for NASA's mission. 2. Focus on space science and exploration indicates a strategic investment in future discovery. 3. Long contract duration (over 10 years) suggests a sustained need for these specialized services. 4. The 'Not Competed' award raises questions about potential cost efficiencies and market engagement. 5. Workforce implications are significant, likely involving highly skilled scientists and engineers. 6. Geographic concentration in Maryland for the contractor's primary location.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's value is substantial at over $421 million, supporting critical research and development for NASA. Benchmarking this specific contract is challenging due to its unique scope and 'not competed' status. However, the long duration and broad support across mission directorates suggest a consistent need and potentially a fair price for the specialized expertise provided by Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Without competitive bids, it's difficult to definitively assess if this represents the best possible value for taxpayer dollars.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, meaning it was not openly competed. This approach is typically used when a specific contractor possesses unique capabilities or when circumstances do not permit full and open competition. While Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory is a recognized leader in aerospace research, the lack of competition limits the opportunity for price discovery and potentially for other qualified entities to offer their services.
Taxpayer Impact: Sole-source awards can sometimes lead to higher costs for taxpayers if competitive pressures are absent. It also means that the government did not explore potentially more cost-effective solutions from a wider range of providers.
Public Impact
Benefits NASA's mission directorates by providing essential research and development support. Services delivered include advanced technology development, technical advice, studies, and reports. Contributes to advancements in space science and space exploration. Supports the formulation and execution of NASA's strategic programs. Implies employment of highly specialized scientific and engineering workforce.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition may limit opportunities for innovation from other firms.
- Potential for cost overruns without competitive pressure to optimize spending.
- Reliance on a single entity for critical research could pose a long-term risk if capabilities are not maintained or expanded.
Positive Signals
- Long-standing relationship with a reputable research institution (JHUAPL).
- Contract supports core NASA missions in space science and exploration.
- Broad scope of work ensures comprehensive support across various directorates.
- Sustained funding over a decade indicates consistent performance and value.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. The aerospace research, development, and engineering support (ARDES) provided is critical for a government agency like NASA. Comparable spending in this sector often involves significant investments in innovation and technological advancement. The market for such specialized R&D is often dominated by a few key institutions and companies with unique expertise, making sole-source or limited competition awards more common.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that this contract was not competed and does not appear to have specific small business set-aside provisions. Therefore, its direct impact on small businesses is likely minimal, as the primary awardee is a large research institution. There is no explicit information regarding subcontracting plans for small businesses within this contract's description.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily fall under NASA's contracting officer and program management. Given the nature of R&D, oversight likely focuses on milestone achievement, technical progress, and adherence to task orders. Transparency is facilitated through NASA's public contract databases, but detailed programmatic oversight information is typically internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Space Science Mission Directorate Programs
- NASA Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate
- NASA Science Mission Directorate
- Aerospace Research and Development Contracts
- Advanced Technology Development Contracts
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award may limit cost efficiencies.
- Lack of detailed performance metrics in summary data.
- Broad scope makes direct value benchmarking difficult.
Tags
research-and-development, nasa, space-science, space-exploration, aerospace, sole-source, cost-plus-fixed-fee, maryland, university-affiliated-research-center, long-term-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $42.1 million to THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC. IGF::CL::IGF JOVIAN ENERGETIC PARTICLES INVESTGATION (JEPI) THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PERFORM THE WORK THAT IS DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. THE OVERALL SCOPE OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED WILL SUPPORT ALL OF NASA S MISSION DIRECTORATES. THESE EFFORTS CAN BE CHARACTERIZED AS AEROSPACE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT (ARDES). THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE TASKS TO BE DEVELOPED WILL BE TO CONDUCT SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT DESIGNED T
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY 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 $42.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2013-06-06. End: 2023-06-30.
What is the historical spending trend for the IGF::CL::IGF JOVIAN ENERGETIC PARTICLES INVESTGATION (JEPI) contract over its lifespan?
The provided data indicates a total award amount of $421,496,51 for the IGF::CL::IGF JOVIAN ENERGETIC PARTICLES INVESTIGATION (JEPI) contract, with a start date of June 6, 2013, and an end date of June 30, 2023. This represents a contract duration of over 10 years. While the total obligated amount is given, specific annual spending or funding allocation details are not provided in this summary. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), suggesting that costs are reimbursed, and a fixed fee is paid. The 'no' field being 0 might indicate no modifications or a specific type of modification not detailed here. To understand the spending trend, one would need access to the contract's funding history, including annual obligations and expenditures, to see how the $421M was disbursed over the 3676 days of its performance period.
How does the cost per unit for services under this contract compare to similar R&D contracts at NASA or other agencies?
Determining a 'per-unit cost' for this contract is exceptionally difficult due to its broad and complex nature. The contract supports 'aerospace research, development, and engineering support (ARDES)' across all of NASA's mission directorates, encompassing activities like 'conduct supporting research and advanced technology development designed to make contributions to space science and space exploration.' There are no clearly defined, quantifiable units of service (e.g., 'per study,' 'per report,' 'per hour of specific research') that can be easily isolated and benchmarked. The contract is also sole-source, meaning direct cost comparisons with competitively bid, similar R&D efforts are not readily available. To perform a meaningful comparison, one would need to break down the contract into specific task orders and their associated deliverables, then attempt to find comparable task orders from other agencies or NASA contracts, which is beyond the scope of this summary data.
What specific performance metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) are used to evaluate the contractor's success?
The provided data does not explicitly detail the specific performance metrics or Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) used to evaluate The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC's performance under the JEPI contract. However, given the nature of the work described ('aerospace research, development, and engineering support,' 'technical advice, studies, and reports'), performance is likely assessed based on the successful completion of task orders, adherence to technical requirements, timely delivery of research findings and reports, and the quality of technical advice provided. For Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contracts, performance is also often tied to meeting cost and schedule targets within the scope of approved task orders, although the primary focus is on technical execution and achieving research objectives. A thorough review of the contract's Statement of Work (SOW) and any associated Performance Work Statements (PWS) would be necessary to identify the precise KPIs.
What is the track record of The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC with NASA contracts of similar scope and value?
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL) has a long and extensive track record of supporting NASA and other government agencies with complex research, development, and engineering projects. JHUAPL is a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) and is well-known for its expertise in areas such as space science, planetary exploration, missile defense, and advanced technology development. They have been instrumental in numerous NASA missions and programs, often serving in critical roles that require deep scientific and engineering knowledge. While the specific JEPI contract is substantial, JHUAPL's history suggests a strong capability to manage and execute large-scale, high-impact R&D efforts for NASA. Their status as a UARC often positions them for direct, non-competitive awards due to their unique capabilities and mission alignment with government objectives.
Are there any identified risks associated with the sole-source nature of this contract, and how are they mitigated?
The primary risk associated with the sole-source nature of this contract is the potential lack of competitive pressure, which could lead to less favorable pricing or reduced incentive for innovation compared to a fully competed contract. Without multiple bidders, NASA may not have explored the full range of available technological solutions or cost-saving approaches. Mitigation strategies for sole-source contracts often involve robust government oversight, detailed cost analysis, and strong negotiation practices. NASA would likely conduct thorough price and cost realism analyses to ensure the awarded price is fair and reasonable. Furthermore, the government would maintain close monitoring of contractor performance through regular reviews and adherence to the contract's technical requirements to ensure value is being delivered despite the absence of direct competition.
What is the expected impact of this contract on future space science and exploration initiatives by NASA?
This contract is designed to have a significant and direct impact on NASA's future space science and exploration initiatives. By providing foundational research, advanced technology development, and critical technical support across all mission directorates, the JEPI contract helps lay the groundwork for future missions and scientific discoveries. The work performed under this contract likely contributes to understanding fundamental scientific questions about the universe, developing new capabilities for exploring planets and celestial bodies, and informing the strategic direction of NASA's long-term goals. The sustained support over a decade suggests that the research and development funded here are intended to yield advancements that will be relevant for many years to come, potentially enabling new mission concepts and enhancing the scientific return of ongoing and future endeavors.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: JOHNS HOPKINS RD 11100, LAUREL, MD, 20723
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $42,237,651
Exercised Options: $42,237,651
Current Obligation: $42,149,651
Actual Outlays: $12,529,789
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNN06AA01C
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2013-06-06
Current End Date: 2023-06-30
Potential End Date: 2023-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2024-03-20
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