NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory contract with Caltech for astronomy and physics research totals $215M over 7 years

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $21,538,916 ($21.5M)

Contractor: California Institute of Technology

Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Start Date: 2012-10-01

End Date: 2019-09-29

Contract Duration: 2,554 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.4K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF SMD, RNA ASTRONOMY AND PHYSICS FY2004-FY2008 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

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $21.5 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF SMD, RNA ASTRONOMY AND PHYSICS FY2004-FY2008 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 ESTABLI… Key points: 1. This contract funds the operation of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). 2. The work supports NASA's Science Mission Directorate, focusing on Earth science, astronomy, and physics. 3. The contract was not competed, raising potential concerns about price discovery and value for money. 4. The sector is R&D, a critical area for scientific advancement and national competitiveness.

Value Assessment

Rating: questionable

The contract is a cost-plus-fixed-fee agreement for operating an FFRDC. Without detailed task order breakdowns and comparisons to similar FFRDC management contracts, assessing its pricing efficiency is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract was not competed, likely due to the unique nature of operating an FFRDC like JPL. This lack of competition limits price discovery and may result in higher costs than a competitive process.

Taxpayer Impact: As a sole-source contract for a critical research facility, taxpayers are funding a specific operational model. The value is derived from JPL's unique capabilities, but the cost-effectiveness is less certain without competition.

Public Impact

Supports cutting-edge scientific research in astronomy, physics, and Earth science. Funds the operation of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a key national asset for space exploration and research. Ensures continued development of technologies and scientific understanding crucial for national interests. The FFRDC model allows for long-term strategic research alignment with government objectives.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Lack of competition for FFRDC operations
  • Potential for cost overruns in cost-plus contracts
  • Limited transparency in task order pricing

Positive Signals

  • Supports critical scientific research and development
  • Leverages unique capabilities of JPL
  • Long-term strategic alignment with NASA's mission

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically R&D in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is crucial for innovation but can be difficult to benchmark due to the specialized nature of the work.

Small Business Impact

This contract is with a large educational institution (Caltech) for the operation of an FFRDC. There is no indication of small business participation within the prime contract itself, though subcontractors may be involved.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by NASA, which is responsible for oversight. As an FFRDC, JPL operates under specific government guidelines, but the lack of competition warrants close monitoring of expenditures and performance.

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
  • Cost-plus contract type
  • Potential for cost overruns
  • Limited transparency in pricing
  • FFRDC management can be complex to oversee

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 $21.5 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. IGF::CL::IGF SMD, RNA ASTRONOMY AND PHYSICS FY2004-FY2008 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

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 $21.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-10-01. End: 2019-09-29.

How does the cost of operating JPL under this sole-source contract compare to the cost of similar FFRDCs or research institutions if they were competitively procured?

Benchmarking the cost of operating JPL against similar FFRDCs or research institutions under competitive contracts is challenging due to the unique nature and scale of JPL's mission. However, a lack of competition inherently limits the government's ability to ensure the most cost-effective solution. Detailed analysis of JPL's operational costs, overhead, and management fees relative to its scientific output would be necessary for a more precise value assessment.

What are the specific risks associated with a sole-source FFRDC contract, particularly concerning cost control and performance metrics?

The primary risk of a sole-source FFRDC contract is the absence of competitive pressure, which can lead to inflated costs and reduced incentive for efficiency. Performance metrics must be rigorously defined and monitored by the contracting agency to ensure objectives are met. Without competition, there's also a risk that the contractor may not proactively seek cost-saving measures, relying instead on the fixed fee structure.

To what extent does this contract ensure effective utilization of taxpayer funds for advancing scientific discovery and technological innovation?

The effectiveness of taxpayer funds hinges on JPL's scientific output and technological advancements. While JPL is a world-renowned institution, the sole-source nature of this contract raises questions about whether the current funding level represents the best possible value. Continuous evaluation of research outcomes, project success rates, and alignment with national scientific priorities is crucial to confirm effective utilization.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical ServicesScientific Research and Development ServicesResearch and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENTSpace 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: $22,164,977

Exercised Options: $22,164,977

Current Obligation: $21,538,916

Actual Outlays: $66,901

Contract Characteristics

Multi-Year Contract: Yes

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM 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: 2019-09-29

Potential End Date: 2019-09-29 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2021-03-02

More Contracts from California Institute of Technology

View all California Institute of Technology federal contracts →

Other National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracts

View all National Aeronautics and Space Administration contracts →

Explore Related Government Spending