NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory contract for Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Phase E awarded to California Institute of Technology for $162.5M

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $162,542,026 ($162.5M)

Contractor: California Institute of Technology

Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Start Date: 2012-10-01

End Date: 2019-09-30

Contract Duration: 2,555 days

Daily Burn Rate: $63.6K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER: PHASE E 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 $162.5 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER: PHASE E 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 … Key points: 1. Contract supports NASA's Science Mission Directorate objectives in Earth Science and Planetary Science. 2. Operates as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) for NASA. 3. Work is performed under task orders issued by NASA. 4. Contract duration spans nearly 7 years, from October 2012 to September 2019. 5. Focuses on research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences. 6. Contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, indicating potential for cost overruns. 7. No small business set-aside or subcontracting reported, suggesting limited small business involvement.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract's value of $162.5 million over nearly seven years for operating an FFRDC like JPL is difficult to benchmark without specific task order details. Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts can sometimes lead to higher costs if not managed tightly. However, the specialized nature of JPL's work and its unique role as an FFRDC may justify the investment.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

This contract was not competed and was awarded sole-source to the California Institute of Technology, which operates the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). This is typical for FFRDCs, which are established for long-term, specialized research and development needs.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the specialized expertise and infrastructure of JPL, which is uniquely positioned to conduct complex space missions. However, the lack of competition means there was no opportunity to test the market for potentially lower costs.

Public Impact

Benefits NASA's Science Mission Directorate by enabling continued operation and research for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Delivers scientific data and insights related to planetary science, contributing to our understanding of Mars. Geographic impact is national, with research potentially influencing global scientific understanding. Workforce implications include continued employment for highly skilled scientists, engineers, and technicians at JPL.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

• Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type carries inherent risk of cost overruns if not rigorously managed.
• Sole-source award limits opportunities for competitive pricing and potential cost savings for taxpayers.
• Long contract duration without clear performance metrics in the provided data could obscure efficiency.

Positive Signals

• Contract supports a critical scientific mission (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter) with significant research value.
• Utilizes a unique and established FFRDC (JPL) with proven expertise in space exploration.
• Long-term nature of the contract provides stability for ongoing research and development.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. The aerospace and defense industry, where JPL operates, is characterized by high R&D investment and specialized, often sole-source, contracting due to unique technological requirements. Comparable spending benchmarks are difficult to establish due to the unique FFRDC structure and mission-specific nature of the work.

Small Business Impact

The contract data indicates no small business set-aside (ss=false) and no indication of subcontracting to small businesses (sb=false). As this is a sole-source award to a large FFRDC operated by a major university, it is unlikely to have direct subcontracting opportunities for small businesses. The focus is on leveraging JPL's established capabilities.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight is provided by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through its Management Office and Contracting Officers who issue task orders. As an FFRDC, JPL is subject to specific oversight frameworks designed to ensure alignment with federal research objectives and responsible use of funds. Transparency is facilitated through NASA's reporting requirements, though specific details of task order performance and cost management are not publicly detailed in this summary.

Related Government Programs

• NASA Science Mission Directorate
• Mars Exploration Program
• Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs)
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Operations

Risk Flags

• Sole-source award limits price competition.
• Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type can lead to cost escalation.
• FFRDC status implies specialized, non-competitive needs.

Tags

research-and-development, nasa, california, sole-source, cost-plus-fixed-fee, ffrdc, space-exploration, planetary-science, mars-reconnaissance-orbiter, operations, large-contract

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $162.5 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. IGF::CL::IGF MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER: PHASE E 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 IS

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 $162.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2012-10-01. End: 2019-09-30.

What is the historical spending trend for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) under NASA contracts?

Historical spending data for JPL under NASA contracts shows a consistent and significant investment over many years, reflecting its critical role in space exploration and research. While this specific contract for Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Phase E ran from FY2012 to FY2019 with a value of approximately $162.5 million, JPL's overall funding from NASA typically encompasses a broader portfolio of missions and research initiatives. Annual funding can fluctuate based on mission lifecycles, new project starts, and congressional appropriations. For instance, JPL's total budget often ranges in the hundreds of millions to over a billion dollars annually, covering a wide array of planetary science, Earth science, and astrophysics missions, as well as technology development. Analyzing trends requires looking at aggregate NASA budget allocations to JPL across different fiscal years and mission categories.

How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract structure impact cost control for this NASA contract?

The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract structure for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Phase E contract with JPL means that NASA reimburses JPL for all allowable costs incurred, plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit. This structure is often used for research and development or complex projects where the scope or costs are not precisely definable at the outset. While it allows flexibility for unforeseen technical challenges, it carries a risk of cost overruns if the "cost" component escalates significantly beyond initial estimates. NASA's oversight is crucial in managing these costs by scrutinizing allowable expenses and ensuring efficient operations. The fixed fee, however, provides a predictable profit margin for the contractor, incentivizing completion rather than cost minimization beyond what's necessary to achieve the fixed fee.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used by NASA to evaluate JPL's performance under this contract?

While specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Phase E contract are not detailed in the provided data, NASA typically evaluates FFRDC performance through a combination of technical, schedule, and cost metrics. For a mission operations phase like 'Phase E', KPIs would likely include mission data return rates, instrument operational status and reliability, achievement of scientific objectives, adherence to operational timelines, and effective resource management. NASA's oversight likely involves regular technical reviews, progress reports, and milestone assessments. Given JPL's FFRDC status, performance is also assessed against its charter and its ability to provide objective, government-directed research and development capabilities, ensuring alignment with NASA's strategic goals.

What is the significance of JPL operating as a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC) for NASA?

JPL's designation as an FFRDC by NASA is highly significant. FFRDCs are unique entities established to meet specific long-term research and development needs of the government that cannot be effectively met by the private sector or government laboratories alone. JPL, operated by the California Institute of Technology, provides NASA with a dedicated, objective research and development capability, particularly in the realm of space exploration and planetary science. This structure allows for continuity, specialized expertise, and a focus on national interests without the profit motive driving private contractors. NASA relies on JPL for its deep technical knowledge, innovative problem-solving, and its ability to undertake complex, high-risk, high-reward missions like those associated with Mars exploration.

Are there any comparable contracts for operating deep space missions or FFRDCs that can be used for benchmarking?

Benchmarking this contract is challenging due to JPL's unique status as an FFRDC and the specialized nature of operating a deep space mission like the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Direct comparisons with typical service contracts are not appropriate. However, NASA's overall budget allocations to JPL and other FFRDCs can serve as a broad benchmark. For instance, other NASA FFRDCs or large-scale R&D programs within agencies like the Department of Defense (e.g., MIT Lincoln Laboratory) involve significant, long-term funding. The cost per year for this contract ($162.5M / ~7 years ≈ $23.2M/year) needs to be viewed in the context of the highly specialized personnel, infrastructure, and mission complexity involved, which are not easily replicated or priced competitively in the open market.

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: $207,114,833

Exercised Options: $207,114,833

Current Obligation: $162,542,026

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: 2019-09-30

Potential End Date: 2019-09-30 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2024-07-15

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