NASA Awards $2.1M for PHASA-35 Aircraft Payload Integration to Prismatic Ltd
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $2,100,000 ($2.1M)
Contractor: Prismatic Ltd
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2025-08-01
End Date: 2027-03-08
Contract Duration: 584 days
Daily Burn Rate: $3.6K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: SUPPORT PAYLOAD INTEGRATION READINESS FOR THE PHASA-35 BLOCK 20 AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING INTERFACE DEFINITION, STRUCTURAL SUBSTANTIATION, AND EARLY INTEGRATION VERIFICATION TESTING FOR A SENSOR PAYLOAD.
Place of Performance
Location: TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, SIERRA County, NEW MEXICO, 87901
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $2.1 million to PRISMATIC LTD for work described as: SUPPORT PAYLOAD INTEGRATION READINESS FOR THE PHASA-35 BLOCK 20 AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING INTERFACE DEFINITION, STRUCTURAL SUBSTANTIATION, AND EARLY INTEGRATION VERIFICATION TESTING FOR A SENSOR PAYLOAD. Key points: 1. The contract focuses on critical integration tasks for the PHASA-35 Block 20 aircraft's sensor payload. 2. Prismatic Ltd. is the sole awardee, indicating a lack of broader competition for this specific task. 3. The firm fixed-price contract type aims to control costs, but the limited competition warrants scrutiny. 4. This spending falls under 'Other Support Activities for Air Transportation', a niche sector.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The award amount of $2.1M for payload integration appears reasonable given the specialized nature of the work. However, without comparable contracts for similar advanced aircraft systems, a definitive pricing assessment is challenging.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, suggesting a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may not leverage the full competitive landscape, potentially impacting the best value for taxpayers.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition for this specialized integration work means taxpayers may not be benefiting from the most cost-effective solution available.
Public Impact
Supports advanced aerospace technology development, potentially leading to future innovations. The sole-source nature raises questions about efficient use of taxpayer funds. Focuses on a specific aircraft program, limiting broad public impact beyond the defense/aerospace sector. Contract duration extends over multiple fiscal years, requiring sustained oversight.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition.
- Lack of clear justification for sole-source.
- Potential for cost overruns due to limited oversight.
Positive Signals
- Supports advanced aerospace technology.
- Firm fixed-price contract type.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the aerospace and defense sector, specifically supporting the integration of advanced payload systems for an unmanned aerial vehicle. Spending benchmarks in this area are highly variable due to the specialized and often cutting-edge nature of the technology involved.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this contract award. The specialized nature of the work and the sole-source award suggest a focus on a specific prime contractor.
Oversight & Accountability
The sole-source nature of this award necessitates robust oversight from NASA to ensure the contractor is meeting all performance requirements and that costs remain within the agreed-upon fixed price. Transparency regarding the justification for the sole-source award is crucial.
Related Government Programs
- Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competitive pressure.
- Potential for cost inefficiencies due to lack of competition.
- Limited transparency on justification for sole-source.
- Dependence on a single contractor for critical integration.
Tags
other-support-activities-for-air-transpo, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, nm, delivery-order, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $2.1 million to PRISMATIC LTD. SUPPORT PAYLOAD INTEGRATION READINESS FOR THE PHASA-35 BLOCK 20 AIRCRAFT, INCLUDING INTERFACE DEFINITION, STRUCTURAL SUBSTANTIATION, AND EARLY INTEGRATION VERIFICATION TESTING FOR A SENSOR PAYLOAD.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is PRISMATIC LTD.
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 $2.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-08-01. End: 2027-03-08.
What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and what steps were taken to ensure fair pricing without competition?
The justification for a sole-source award typically stems from unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or urgent needs where only one vendor can fulfill the requirement. NASA should have documented the rationale and conducted a price analysis, potentially using historical data or independent cost estimates, to validate the fairness of the fixed price, even without competitive bids.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this payload integration, and how will NASA measure Prismatic Ltd.'s success in meeting them?
Key performance indicators would likely include successful interface definition, structural substantiation meeting specified tolerances, and timely completion of early integration verification testing. NASA will measure success through documented test results, adherence to technical specifications, and milestone completion reports, ensuring the sensor payload is ready for integration as per the contract's technical requirements.
What is the long-term strategic value of this PHASA-35 Block 20 program, and how does this payload integration contribute to NASA's broader mission objectives?
The PHASA-35 program likely contributes to NASA's objectives in areas such as high-altitude, long-endurance surveillance, atmospheric research, or communications relay. Successful payload integration is a critical step towards validating the aircraft's capabilities for these potential applications, paving the way for future operational use or further technological development.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Support Activities for Air Transportation › Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: LETTER RFP
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Ball Corporation
Address: UNIT 2 OMEGA PARK, ALTON
Business Categories: Category Business, Foreign Owned, International Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $2,100,000
Exercised Options: $2,100,000
Current Obligation: $2,100,000
Actual Outlays: $1,400,000
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 80ARC025D0006
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-08-01
Current End Date: 2027-03-08
Potential End Date: 2027-03-08 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
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