NASA Awards $7.2M for High-Altitude Flight Payload Services to World View Enterprises Inc
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $722,650 ($722.6K)
Contractor: World View Enterprises Inc
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2024-03-15
End Date: 2026-12-01
Contract Duration: 991 days
Daily Burn Rate: $729/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 24
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Transportation
Official Description: FLIGHT AND PAYLOAD INTEGRATION SERVICES GAMMA-RAY AND ANTIMATTER SURVEY (GRAMS) PAYLOAD UNDER PROFILE 2: EXPOSURE TO HIGH-ALTITUDE AND LONG-DURATION FLIGHT.
Place of Performance
Location: TUCSON, PIMA County, ARIZONA, 85756
State: Arizona Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $722,650 to WORLD VIEW ENTERPRISES INC for work described as: FLIGHT AND PAYLOAD INTEGRATION SERVICES GAMMA-RAY AND ANTIMATTER SURVEY (GRAMS) PAYLOAD UNDER PROFILE 2: EXPOSURE TO HIGH-ALTITUDE AND LONG-DURATION FLIGHT. Key points: 1. Contract awarded for specialized high-altitude and long-duration flight exposure. 2. World View Enterprises Inc. secured the delivery order. 3. The contract is for Firm Fixed Price, indicating defined scope and cost. 4. This award falls under the Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation sector.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The award amount of $7,226,500 appears reasonable for specialized flight services. Benchmarking against similar high-altitude payload deployment contracts would provide a more precise assessment, but the value seems aligned with the technical requirements.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method is expected to yield fair market prices and ensure the best value for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently for this specialized scientific payload integration.
Public Impact
Supports scientific research through advanced payload integration and flight services. Enhances NASA's capabilities in high-altitude atmospheric and space research. Potential for technological advancements in stratospheric flight and sensor deployment.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited public information on specific performance metrics for this delivery order.
- Potential for cost overruns if unforeseen technical challenges arise with the payload or flight profile.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition.
- Firm Fixed Price contract provides cost certainty.
- Supports critical scientific research objectives for NASA.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the aerospace and specialized transportation sector, focusing on high-altitude flight operations for scientific payloads. Spending in this niche area is driven by research and development needs, often involving unique technological requirements and limited providers.
Small Business Impact
The data does not indicate any specific set-asides for small businesses. Analysis of subcontracting plans would be necessary to determine small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
NASA's procurement processes typically include oversight mechanisms. Further review of contract clauses and performance monitoring would clarify the extent of accountability for this specific delivery order.
Related Government Programs
- Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for technical challenges in high-altitude operations.
- Reliance on a single contractor for this specific delivery order.
- Limited public data on contractor's past performance in similar high-altitude missions.
- Firm Fixed Price may not fully account for unforeseen complexities in novel flight profiles.
Tags
nonscheduled-chartered-freight-air-trans, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, az, delivery-order, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $722,650 to WORLD VIEW ENTERPRISES INC. FLIGHT AND PAYLOAD INTEGRATION SERVICES GAMMA-RAY AND ANTIMATTER SURVEY (GRAMS) PAYLOAD UNDER PROFILE 2: EXPOSURE TO HIGH-ALTITUDE AND LONG-DURATION FLIGHT.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is WORLD VIEW ENTERPRISES INC.
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 $722,650.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2024-03-15. End: 2026-12-01.
What are the specific scientific objectives of the GRAMS payload and how does this flight service contribute to achieving them?
The GRAMS payload aims to survey gamma-ray and antimatter in the upper atmosphere. This high-altitude, long-duration flight service is crucial for exposing the payload to the target environment, enabling data collection that could advance our understanding of cosmic rays, dark matter, and fundamental physics. The successful execution of this flight is directly tied to achieving these significant scientific research goals.
What are the primary technical risks associated with exposing sensitive scientific payloads to high-altitude, long-duration flights, and how are they mitigated?
Key risks include extreme temperature fluctuations, radiation exposure, atmospheric pressure variations, and potential hardware failures during extended flight. Mitigation strategies likely involve rigorous environmental testing of the payload and flight system, redundant critical components, robust thermal management systems, and detailed flight planning to optimize exposure conditions while minimizing stress on the equipment.
How does the Firm Fixed Price contract structure ensure cost-effectiveness for this specialized service, given the inherent uncertainties of novel flight operations?
The Firm Fixed Price (FFP) structure shifts the risk of cost overruns to the contractor, World View Enterprises Inc. This incentivizes efficient project management and cost control. However, for novel operations, the initial price must adequately account for potential unforeseen challenges. NASA's oversight will be critical to ensure the FFP doesn't lead to compromised quality or scope reduction if unexpected issues arise.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Nonscheduled Air Transportation › Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation
Product/Service Code: TRANSPORT, TRAVEL, RELOCATION › TRANSPORTATION OF THINGS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 24
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 1805 E AEROSPACE PKWY, TUCSON, AZ, 85756
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $722,650
Exercised Options: $722,650
Current Obligation: $722,650
Actual Outlays: $262,106
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 80AFRC24DA006
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2024-03-15
Current End Date: 2026-12-01
Potential End Date: 2026-12-01 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-02
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