NASA's GOLD Mission Contract Awarded for $39.1M to University of Colorado for Space Research
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $39,100,299 ($39.1M)
Contractor: THE Regents of the University of Colorado
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2018-03-01
End Date: 2027-04-30
Contract Duration: 3,347 days
Daily Burn Rate: $11.7K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: GLOBAL-SCALE OBSERVATIONS OF THE LIMB AND DISK (GOLD) MISSION. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE THE PERSONNEL, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, AND FACILITIES NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOLD MISSION AS DESCRIBED IN THE GOLD CONCEPT STUDY REPORT. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE REPORTS, REVIEWS, AND DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL MANAGE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SCIENCE TEAM. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL MAINTAIN THE GOLD SCIENCE DATA CENTER (SDC) AT UCF, AND SHALL PERFORM DATA REDUCTION AND ANALYSIS FOR THREE YEARS AFTER THE COMPLETION OF COMMISSIONING THE GOLD INSTRUMENT. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PRESENT THE SCIENTIFIC RESULTS IN PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLISHED PAPERS, AND PROVIDE RAW DATA AND DATA PRODUCTS FOR ARCHIVING TO AN APPROVED DATA ARCHIVE. THE CONTRACTOR IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALGORITHM DEVELOPMENT AND SCIENCE PLANNING AND ANALYSIS OF MISSION DATA AND THE PUBLICATION OF RESULTS. THE GOLD PROJECT SHALL FOLLOW THE GUIDELINES OF A MISSION OF OPPORTUNITY AND THE GOLD CONTRACT. THE GOLD PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (PI) SHALL HAVE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SUCCESSFUL COMPLETION OF THIS PROJECT. THE PI SHALL DELEGATE PROJECT MANAGEMENT TASKS TO THE PROJECT MANAGER (PM) AS APPROPRIATE. THE PM SHALL DIRECT THE GOLD PROJECT AND HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OVERALL TECHNICAL PERFORMANCE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT OF THE CONTRACT AND ALL SUBCONTRACTS. THE PI/PM SHALL BE THE FOCAL POINT FOR ALL CONTACT WITH THE GOVERNMENT. THE PM AND STAFF SHALL SUPPORT THE PI AS REQUIRED INCLUDING THE SCHEDULING AND COORDINATING OF MEETINGS AND REVIEWS, SCHEDULE CONTROL AND REPORTING, FINANCIAL CONTROL AND REPORTING, SUBCONTRACT MANAGEMENT, CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT AND DOCUMENTATION, PROGRESS REPORTS AND REVIEWS AS WELL AS ALL ANOMALY REPORTING ACTIVITIES.
Place of Performance
Location: BOULDER, BOULDER County, COLORADO, 80303
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $39.1 million to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO for work described as: GLOBAL-SCALE OBSERVATIONS OF THE LIMB AND DISK (GOLD) MISSION. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE THE PERSONNEL, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, AND FACILITIES NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOLD MISSION AS DESCRIBED IN THE GOLD CONCEPT STUDY REPORT. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE REPORTS, REVIEWS, A… Key points: 1. This contract focuses on research and development in space sciences, specifically for the GOLD mission. 2. The University of Colorado is the sole awardee, indicating a specialized capability or limited competition. 3. The contract duration is substantial, spanning over 9 years, suggesting a long-term research commitment. 4. The 'COST NO FEE' pricing structure implies the contractor bears financial risk if costs exceed projections.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $39.1M over approximately 9 years for a complex space mission suggests a reasonable allocation of resources. However, without specific benchmarks for similar space science missions, a precise value assessment is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs compared to a competitive process. The justification for sole-source is not provided.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are allocated to a single entity for a specific research mission, with potential for reduced cost efficiency due to lack of competition.
Public Impact
Advances scientific understanding of Earth's upper atmosphere through the GOLD mission. Supports advanced research and development in space science and technology. The University of Colorado contributes to national scientific endeavors. Potential for new discoveries and publications in atmospheric science.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition may lead to higher costs.
- Sole-source award requires strong justification for public trust.
- Long contract duration increases risk of cost overruns or scope creep.
Positive Signals
- Focus on critical scientific research (space science).
- Award to a reputable academic institution.
- Clear mission objectives outlined in the concept study report.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities, though the description points more towards physical sciences and space exploration. The value is moderate for a multi-year NASA mission.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to involve small business participation, as it is a sole-source award to a large university. There is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
NASA's oversight will be crucial to ensure the successful execution of the GOLD mission and the effective use of funds, especially given the sole-source nature of the award and the long duration.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competitive pricing.
- Potential for cost overruns on a long-term R&D project.
- Contractor bears financial risk ('COST NO FEE').
- Lack of transparency regarding justification for sole-source.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-social-s, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, co, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $39.1 million to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO. GLOBAL-SCALE OBSERVATIONS OF THE LIMB AND DISK (GOLD) MISSION. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE THE PERSONNEL, MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT, AND FACILITIES NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOLD MISSION AS DESCRIBED IN THE GOLD CONCEPT STUDY REPORT. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PROVIDE REPORTS, REVIEWS, AND DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL ASPECTS OF THE PROGRAM. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL MANAGE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE SCIENCE TEAM. THE CONTRACTOR SHALL MAINTAIN THE GOLD SCIENCE DATA CENTER (SDC) AT UCF, AND SHALL PERFORM DATA REDUCTION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO.
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 $39.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-03-01. End: 2027-04-30.
What is the justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis, and how does NASA ensure fair pricing without competition?
The justification for a sole-source award typically stems from a unique capability, specialized knowledge, or the need for continuity with prior work. NASA would likely rely on detailed cost proposals, independent cost estimates, and rigorous negotiation to ensure fair pricing. However, without competition, the potential for overpayment remains a concern that requires robust internal oversight and justification.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for the GOLD mission, and how will contractor performance be measured against them?
Key performance indicators for the GOLD mission would likely include successful instrument commissioning, data acquisition quality and quantity, timely data processing and analysis, scientific publications, and successful archiving of data. NASA would establish specific metrics and milestones within the contract, with regular reviews to assess the contractor's adherence to these performance standards.
Given the 'COST NO FEE' structure, what are the potential risks to the contractor, and how might this impact mission execution?
Under a 'COST NO FEE' contract, the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs but receives no profit. This places the financial risk on the contractor if costs exceed projections. This could incentivize cost control but might also lead to a reluctance to undertake additional, potentially costly, research or problem-solving if not explicitly covered, potentially impacting mission flexibility or scope.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › OTHER RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 80GSFC18R0028
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3100 MARINE ST., RM 479 572 UCB, BOULDER, CO, 80303
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Government, Higher Education, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business, Higher Education (Public), U.S. Regional/State Government
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $51,531,976
Exercised Options: $42,900,106
Current Obligation: $39,100,299
Actual Outlays: $29,084,668
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 40
Total Subaward Amount: $9,032,562
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-03-01
Current End Date: 2027-04-30
Potential End Date: 2029-04-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-07
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