NASA's JPL Contract with Caltech: $19.2M for Earth Explorer Missions
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $19,238,796 ($19.2M)
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: $8.8K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF JPL EARTH EXPLORER MISSIONS OFFICE 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 $19.2 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF JPL EARTH EXPLORER MISSIONS OFFICE 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 RE… Key points: 1. Contract supports NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) for Earth science research. 2. Sole-source award to California Institute of Technology (Caltech) for FFRDC operation. 3. Potential risk in limited competition for specialized research and development. 4. Sector focus on R&D aligns with NASA's scientific mission objectives.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $19.2M over six years for operating a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) like JPL appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the work. Benchmarking is difficult without specific task order details.
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). This is typical for FFRDCs, but limits price discovery through competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are directed towards a specialized research institution for critical scientific missions, with oversight expected to ensure value.
Public Impact
Supports critical Earth science research and exploration missions. Leverages the expertise of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Contracting mechanism ensures continuity of FFRDC operations. Potential for scientific breakthroughs impacting climate and environmental understanding.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 87 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competitive pricing.
- Lack of detailed task order information hinders granular cost analysis.
Positive Signals
- Supports a critical national research asset (JPL).
- Clear alignment with NASA's scientific mission.
- Long-term operational agreement provides stability.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector. Spending in this area is often characterized by long-term investments and specialized expertise, with FFRDCs playing a key role.
Small Business Impact
The contract is awarded to a large non-profit educational institution (Caltech) for the operation of an FFRDC. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this specific award.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by NASA, with oversight expected through task orders and performance monitoring. The FFRDC structure implies a high level of government oversight on operations and research direction.
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
- Limited transparency on task order specifics
- Potential for cost overruns without strong oversight
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 $19.2 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. IGF::CL::IGF JPL EARTH EXPLORER MISSIONS OFFICE 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 ISSU
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 $19.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-10-01. End: 2018-09-30.
How does the cost of operating JPL under this contract compare to similar FFRDCs or research institutions performing comparable scientific research?
Benchmarking the operational cost of JPL against similar FFRDCs is challenging due to the unique nature of each center and its specific mission portfolio. However, the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure suggests that NASA aims to control overall costs while incentivizing efficient performance. A detailed review of task order expenditures and outcomes would be necessary for a more precise comparison.
What are the primary risks associated with a sole-source contract for operating a critical research facility like JPL?
The primary risk of a sole-source contract is the lack of competitive pressure, which could potentially lead to higher costs or less innovation than might be achieved through a competitive process. However, for FFRDCs like JPL, the specialized expertise and established infrastructure often make a sole-source arrangement necessary and justifiable to ensure continuity and mission success.
How effectively does this contract structure ensure that taxpayer funds are used to achieve NASA's scientific objectives for Earth exploration?
The contract's cost-plus-fixed-fee structure, combined with NASA's oversight through task orders, is designed to ensure funds are directed towards specific scientific objectives. The FFRDC model itself is intended to provide objective, government-directed research. Effectiveness is ultimately measured by the scientific return on investment and the achievement of NASA's stated mission goals.
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: $50,427,600
Exercised Options: $50,427,600
Current Obligation: $19,238,796
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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