NSF's $610M IODP System Integration Contract Awarded to Consortium for Ocean Leadership

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $609,772,535 ($609.8M)

Contractor: Consortium for Ocean Leadership, Inc.

Awarding Agency: National Science Foundation

Start Date: 2003-09-30

End Date: 2015-06-30

Contract Duration: 4,291 days

Daily Burn Rate: $142.1K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: Other

Official Description: SYSTEM INTEGRATION FOR THE INTEGRATED OCEAN DRILLING PROGRAM (IODP)

Place of Performance

Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20005

State: District of Columbia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Science Foundation obligated $609.8 million to CONSORTIUM FOR OCEAN LEADERSHIP, INC. for work described as: SYSTEM INTEGRATION FOR THE INTEGRATED OCEAN DRILLING PROGRAM (IODP) Key points: 1. Significant investment in scientific infrastructure, supporting long-term oceanographic research. 2. Full and open competition suggests a robust market for these specialized services. 3. Long contract duration (12 years) presents potential for cost overruns and evolving needs. 4. Focus on technical services within a niche scientific domain.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $609.8 million over 12 years is substantial. Benchmarking is difficult due to the specialized nature of system integration for ocean drilling, but the cost per year is approximately $50.8 million.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and potentially better value for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers funded a significant investment in scientific research infrastructure, aiming for long-term scientific advancement.

Public Impact

Supports critical scientific research into Earth's climate and geological history. Enhances international collaboration in oceanographic exploration. Invests in advanced technological capabilities for data acquisition and management.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Long contract duration increases risk of scope creep and cost escalation.
Lack of small business participation noted.
Specialized nature of services may limit future contractor options.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting market availability.
Supports a high-priority scientific research program.
Long-term commitment provides stability for research operations.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within professional, scientific, and technical services, specifically IT and system integration for a large-scale scientific program. Spending benchmarks for such specialized, long-term scientific infrastructure projects are highly variable.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (ss=false, sb=false). This suggests the prime contractor is a large entity, and opportunities for small businesses may be limited to subcontracting roles.

Oversight & Accountability

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the awarding and oversight agency. The long duration of the contract necessitates ongoing monitoring to ensure performance, cost control, and adherence to scientific objectives.

Related Government Programs

All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
National Science Foundation Contracting
National Science Foundation Programs

Risk Flags

Long contract duration increases risk of cost escalation and technological obsolescence.
Lack of small business participation.
Highly specialized service may limit future competition.
Potential for scope creep over the 12-year period.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Science Foundation awarded $609.8 million to CONSORTIUM FOR OCEAN LEADERSHIP, INC.. SYSTEM INTEGRATION FOR THE INTEGRATED OCEAN DRILLING PROGRAM (IODP)

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is CONSORTIUM FOR OCEAN LEADERSHIP, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: National Science Foundation (National Science Foundation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $609.8 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-09-30. End: 2015-06-30.

What specific system integration challenges were identified that justified the extensive 12-year contract duration and $610M cost?

The Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) involves complex global operations, requiring sophisticated system integration for data management, sensor networks, and operational control across multiple research vessels and international partners. The long duration likely reflects the phased nature of scientific objectives, technological evolution, and the need for sustained support to maximize the return on investment in scientific discovery.

How effectively did the full and open competition process ensure competitive pricing for such a specialized, long-term scientific service?

While full and open competition is a positive indicator, the highly specialized nature of IODP system integration may have limited the number of truly capable bidders. The agency's ability to secure competitive pricing depends on the thoroughness of the solicitation, the clarity of requirements, and the evaluation criteria used. Further analysis of the bidding landscape and final negotiated price against independent cost estimates would be needed for a definitive assessment.

What are the primary risks associated with the long contract duration (12 years) for system integration in a rapidly evolving technological landscape?

The primary risks include technological obsolescence, where the integrated systems may become outdated before the contract ends, requiring costly upgrades or replacements. Scope creep is another significant risk, as project requirements can evolve over such a long period, leading to cost overruns. Additionally, maintaining contractor performance and accountability over an extended duration requires robust oversight mechanisms to prevent complacency or degradation of service quality.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services

Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Offers Received: 4

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1201 NEW YORK AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20005

Business Categories: Category Business, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $609,772,535

Exercised Options: $609,772,535

Current Obligation: $609,772,535

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED

Timeline