NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory contract with Caltech totals $18.6M for R&D support
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $18,624,031 ($18.6M)
Contractor: California Institute of Technology
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2012-10-01
End Date: 2018-09-30
Contract Duration: 2,190 days
Daily Burn Rate: $8.5K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF GROUND SYSTEMS AND SERVICES SUPPORT FOR GSFC VIA HEADQUARTERS (AMMOS TOOLS AND SERVICES) THE CONTRACT IS THE SPONSORING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) AND THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CONTRACTOR), A PRIVATE NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, WHICH ESTABLISHES THE RELATIONSHIP FOR THE OPERATION OF THE FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (FFRDC) KNOWN AS THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY. THE CONTRACTOR, JPL, IS REQUIRED TO PERFORM WORK THAT IS DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY THE NASA MANAGEMENT OFFICE (NMO) CONTRACTING OFFICERS. NASA SPONSORED WORK: JPL S PRIMARY MISSION IS TO SUPPORT THE NASA SCIENCE MISSION DIRECTORATE (SMD) IN CARRYING OUT THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES IDENTIFIED IN THE SMD SCIENCE PLAN. THE FOUR BROAD SCIENTIFIC AREAS ARE: EARTH SCIENCE, PLANETARY SCIENCE, HELIOPHYSICS, AND ASTROPHYSICS. IN PERFORMANCE OF THIS CONTRACT, JPL SHALL: 1) SUPPLY A BROAD BASE OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES RELEVANT TO NASA PROGRAM AND PROJECT RESPONSIBILITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS. 2) FOSTER ITS UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH A TOP-TIER UNIVERSITY TO FACILITATE THE INVOLVEMENT OF SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS, AND STUDENTS FROM THE UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH COMMUNITIES IN NASA MISSION AND IN SUPPORTING OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES. 3) SUPPORT NASA IN ENABLING PROGRAM AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPABILITIES. 4) DEVELOP SPACECRAFT AND INSTRUMENTS THAT ARE SENT TO VARIOUS DESTINATIONS WITH OUR SOLAR SYSTEM, INCLUDING EARTH ORBIT, PLANETS, PLANETARY SATELLITES, ASTEROIDS, AND COMETS. THESE MISSIONS MAY BE ORBITERS, LANDERS, OR ROVERS, AND TYPICALLY INCLUDE CUTTING-EDGE TECHNOLOGIES REQUIRED TO MEET SCIENTIFIC REQUIREMENTS. 5) PERFORM PROJECT TASKS INVOLVING: (I) AUTONOMOUS DEEP-SPACE, INNER-SPACE AND EARTH-ORBITING SPACECRAFT OR MAJOR SUBSYSTEMS, (II) EXPERIMENTS, INSTRUMENTS, OR OTHER DEVICES WHICH MAY BE CARRIED AS PAYLOAD ON SPACECRAFTS IN MISSIONS MANAGED BY OTHERS, AND/OR (III) GROUND-BASED SYSTEMS. 6) BEYOND ITS PRIMARY MISSION, JPL MAY PERFORM WORK FOR OTHER NASA MISSION DIRECTORATES OR OFFICES. 7) JPL IS ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE OPERATION, RESEARCH, TECHNOLOGY INSERTION, AND MANAGEMENT OF NASA S DEEP SPACE NETWORK TO PROVIDE TELECOMMUNICATION AND OPERATION SERVICES, INCLUDING DATA ACQUISITION AND DATA DELIVERY REQUIRED TO MEET ESTABLISHED AGENCY OBJECTIVES. 8) JPL IS ALSO REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN AND CONDUCT AN EDUCATION PROGRAM IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH THE NASA HEADQUARTERS EDUCATION OFFICE, THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY AT LARGE, AND IN SUPPORT TO NASA STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES TO IMPROVE STUDENT RETENTION IN THE SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING, AND MATHEMATICS (STEM) DISCIPLINES. WORK FOR NON-NASA SPONSORS: JPL MAY PERFORM WORK FOR NON-NASA SPONSORS. THIS WORK WILL BE DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY NMO CONTRACTING OFFICERS BASED ON TASK PLANS INITIATED BY THE CONTRACTOR.
Place of Performance
Location: PASADENA, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 91109
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $18.6 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF GROUND SYSTEMS AND SERVICES SUPPORT FOR GSFC VIA HEADQUARTERS (AMMOS TOOLS AND SERVICES) THE CONTRACT IS THE SPONSORING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) AND THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CONTRACTOR), A PRIVATE NONPR… Key points: 1. Contract supports NASA's Science Mission Directorate objectives. 2. FFRDC model leverages specialized research capabilities. 3. Sole-source award raises questions about competition and cost-effectiveness. 4. Long-term contract (2012-2018) with significant value.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract is a Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) type, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed tightly. Benchmarking is difficult without specific task order details and comparable FFRDC contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract is sole-source, awarded to the California Institute of Technology for operating the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). This limits price discovery and competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are directed to a specific FFRDC for specialized research, potentially limiting broader economic benefits from competitive bidding.
Public Impact
Supports critical NASA scientific research and exploration missions. Ensures continued operation of the renowned Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Funds advanced research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences. Impacts the scientific community through research outputs and data.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition.
- CPFF contract type can increase cost risk.
- Lack of detailed task order information hinders full analysis.
Positive Signals
- Supports critical national science objectives.
- Leverages unique FFRDC capabilities.
- Long-term relationship fosters stability in research.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. FFRDCs like JPL are crucial for long-term, complex research projects that may not be suitable for traditional competitive contracting.
Small Business Impact
The contract is awarded to a large educational institution (Caltech) for FFRDC operations. There is no indication of small business participation in this specific contract award.
Oversight & Accountability
As an FFRDC, JPL operates under a specific agreement with NASA, implying a degree of oversight. However, the sole-source nature requires robust monitoring of performance and costs to ensure accountability.
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
- Sole-source award
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
- Potential for cost overruns
- Limited transparency on task order specifics
- FFRDC reliance may limit broader industry innovation
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ca, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $18.6 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. IGF::CL::IGF GROUND SYSTEMS AND SERVICES SUPPORT FOR GSFC VIA HEADQUARTERS (AMMOS TOOLS AND SERVICES) THE CONTRACT IS THE SPONSORING AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA) AND THE CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (CONTRACTOR), A PRIVATE NONPROFIT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION, WHICH ESTABLISHES THE RELATIONSHIP FOR THE OPERATION OF THE FEDERALLY FUNDED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT CENTER (FFRDC) KNOWN AS THE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY. THE CONTRACTOR, JPL, IS REQUIRED
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.
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 $18.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-10-01. End: 2018-09-30.
What is the cost-effectiveness of using a sole-source FFRDC for these research objectives compared to competitive bidding for similar R&D?
Sole-source FFRDCs are justified by unique capabilities and long-term strategic needs. While competitive bidding can drive down costs, it may not always yield the specialized expertise or continuity required for complex, mission-critical research like that undertaken by JPL. The cost-effectiveness hinges on whether the unique value provided by JPL outweighs the potential savings from competition.
What are the primary risks associated with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract for advanced research?
The primary risks of a CPFF contract in advanced research include potential cost overruns if the scope is not well-defined or if unforeseen technical challenges arise. The contractor has less incentive to control costs compared to fixed-price contracts. Effective oversight is crucial to manage scope creep and ensure efficient use of funds.
How effectively does this contract enable NASA's Science Mission Directorate to achieve its objectives?
The contract's effectiveness is tied to JPL's ability to deliver on task orders issued by NASA. Given JPL's established role and expertise in space exploration and science, it is likely effective in supporting SMD's objectives. However, measuring this effectiveness requires evaluating the successful completion of research projects and scientific discoveries enabled by the contract.
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: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4800 OAK GROVE DR, PASADENA, CA, 91109
Business Categories: Category Business, Federally Funded Research and Development Corp, Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $38,014,470
Exercised Options: $38,014,470
Current Obligation: $18,624,031
Actual Outlays: $45,929
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNN12AA01C
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2012-10-01
Current End Date: 2018-09-30
Potential End Date: 2018-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-04-28
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