NASA's IGF Sentinel-6 Mission Formulation Phase Contract Totals $78.9M for JPL Research and Development

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $78,931,041 ($78.9M)

Contractor: California Institute of Technology

Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Start Date: 2016-05-05

End Date: 2018-09-30

Contract Duration: 878 days

Daily Burn Rate: $89.9K/day

Competition Type: NOT COMPETED

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: IGF::CL::IGF SENTINEL-6 MISSION - FORMULATION PHASE, PRE-PHASE A 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: JPLS 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 NASAS 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 $78.9 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for work described as: IGF::CL::IGF SENTINEL-6 MISSION - FORMULATION PHASE, PRE-PHASE A 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 ESTA… Key points: 1. The contract funds the formulation phase of the IGF Sentinel-6 Mission, focusing on research and development. 2. The California Institute of Technology, operating the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), is the sole contractor. 3. This FFRDC contract supports NASA's Science Mission Directorate objectives in Earth Science and Planetary Science. 4. The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, with a duration of 878 days. 5. The primary customer is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $78.9M for a formulation phase is substantial. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts for complex space missions is difficult without more detailed task orders and scope.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: sole-source

The contract is awarded to the California Institute of Technology (JPL), a Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC). This structure inherently limits competition, as FFRDCs are established for specific long-term strategic purposes.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are directed to a specialized research institution for a critical space mission, with limited opportunity for price competition impacting overall cost efficiency.

Public Impact

Supports critical Earth and planetary science research for NASA. The contract enables the development of advanced satellite technology. JPL's role as an FFRDC ensures specialized expertise for complex missions. The mission aims to provide vital data for climate and environmental monitoring.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

  • Limited competition due to FFRDC structure.
  • Cost-plus contract type can incentivize higher spending.
  • Contract duration and value require careful monitoring.

Positive Signals

  • Supports a high-priority NASA science mission.
  • Leverages established expertise of JPL/Caltech.
  • Clear alignment with scientific objectives.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector (NAICS 541712). Spending in this sector is often characterized by high innovation, long development cycles, and significant upfront investment, with benchmarks varying widely based on project complexity and scale.

Small Business Impact

The contract is awarded to a large non-profit educational institution (Caltech/JPL), which is not a small business. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within the provided data.

Oversight & Accountability

As an FFRDC contract, oversight is typically managed through NASA's Management Office (NMO) and contracting officers. The nature of the FFRDC relationship implies a high degree of government oversight and accountability for the work performed.

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 limits competitive pricing.
  • Cost-plus contract type may lead to cost overruns.
  • FFRDC structure inherently restricts broader market participation.
  • Long-term nature of R&D projects introduces inherent uncertainty.

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 $78.9 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. IGF::CL::IGF SENTINEL-6 MISSION - FORMULATION PHASE, PRE-PHASE A 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 $78.9 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2016-05-05. End: 2018-09-30.

What is the expected scientific return on investment for the $78.9M allocated to the formulation phase?

The scientific return on investment is expected to be significant, contributing to NASA's Science Mission Directorate's objectives in Earth and planetary science. This includes advancing our understanding of climate change, atmospheric conditions, and other critical environmental factors through data gathered by the Sentinel-6 mission. The formulation phase is crucial for defining the mission's scientific goals and ensuring its technical feasibility.

What are the primary risks associated with the sole-source nature of this FFRDC contract?

The primary risk of a sole-source FFRDC contract is the lack of competitive pressure, which could potentially lead to higher costs or less innovation compared to a fully competed contract. However, FFRDCs are established to provide unique, long-term capabilities and expertise that may not be readily available in the commercial market, mitigating some of these risks through established relationships and specialized knowledge.

How effectively does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract structure balance cost control with mission objectives?

The CPFF structure aims to balance cost control by setting a fixed fee for the contractor's effort, incentivizing efficiency. However, the cost-plus nature means the government bears the risk of actual costs incurred. For complex R&D like space missions, this structure can be appropriate for managing uncertainties, but requires robust oversight to ensure costs remain reasonable and aligned with the fixed fee and overall mission goals.

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: $170,784,093

Exercised Options: $170,784,093

Current Obligation: $78,931,041

Actual Outlays: $153,973

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: 2016-05-05

Current End Date: 2018-09-30

Potential End Date: 2018-09-30 00:00:00

Last Modified: 2025-03-31

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