NASA Awards $42.4M for Snow and Ice DAAC Support to University of Colorado
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $42,384,322 ($42.4M)
Contractor: THE Regents of the University of Colorado
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2023-04-01
End Date: 2027-03-31
Contract Duration: 1,460 days
Daily Burn Rate: $29.0K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: SUPPORT FOR THE SNOW AND ICE DISTRIBUTED ACTIVE ARCHIVE CENTER (DAAC) FOR THE EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM DATA AND INFORMATION SYSTEM (EOSDIS)
Place of Performance
Location: BOULDER, BOULDER County, COLORADO, 80309
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $42.4 million to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO for work described as: SUPPORT FOR THE SNOW AND ICE DISTRIBUTED ACTIVE ARCHIVE CENTER (DAAC) FOR THE EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM DATA AND INFORMATION SYSTEM (EOSDIS) Key points: 1. Contract awarded to The Regents of the University of Colorado for essential Earth science data. 2. Focus on R&D in physical sciences, with a specific NAICS code for research. 3. Potential risk associated with sole-source procurement if competition was feasible. 4. The IT sector is indirectly supported through data archiving and distribution infrastructure.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract's cost-plus-fixed-fee structure requires careful monitoring to ensure efficiency. Benchmarking against similar R&D support contracts is necessary to validate pricing.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This limits price discovery and may not yield the best value for taxpayers without strong justification.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition raises concerns about potential overspending and whether a more cost-effective solution could have been secured through a competitive process.
Public Impact
Ensures continued access to critical snow and ice data for climate research. Supports NASA's Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). Facilitates scientific understanding of climate change and its impacts.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee structure requires diligent oversight.
Positive Signals
- Essential support for critical climate data.
- Long-term contract provides stability for research.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under research and development in physical sciences, specifically supporting a data archive for Earth observation. Spending benchmarks for similar R&D support services are difficult to establish due to the specialized nature of DAACs.
Small Business Impact
The contract was not awarded to a small business, and there is no indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within the provided data.
Oversight & Accountability
NASA's oversight will be crucial in managing the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure and ensuring the University of Colorado meets performance requirements for the DAAC support.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award
- Cost-plus-fixed-fee contract type
- Lack of small business participation noted
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, 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 $42.4 million to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO. SUPPORT FOR THE SNOW AND ICE DISTRIBUTED ACTIVE ARCHIVE CENTER (DAAC) FOR THE EARTH OBSERVING SYSTEM DATA AND INFORMATION SYSTEM (EOSDIS)
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 $42.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-04-01. End: 2027-03-31.
What is the justification for the sole-source award, and what steps were taken to ensure fair pricing?
The justification for a sole-source award typically involves unique capabilities or a critical need that cannot be met by other sources. NASA would need to document why competition was not feasible or advantageous. Fair pricing in such cases relies heavily on pre-negotiated rates, historical data, and independent cost analyses to ensure the government is not overpaying for the services rendered.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this contract, and how will NASA measure the effectiveness of the DAAC support?
Key performance indicators would likely include data availability, data quality, processing timeliness, user support response times, and system uptime. NASA will measure effectiveness through regular performance reviews, audits, user feedback mechanisms, and adherence to data management and archival standards. These metrics ensure the DAAC continues to provide reliable and accurate data essential for scientific research.
What is the potential impact on future research if this critical data archive experiences disruptions or data loss?
Disruptions or data loss from the Snow and Ice DAAC could severely hinder climate change research, weather forecasting, and disaster preparedness efforts. It could lead to significant delays in scientific publications, invalidate previous research relying on consistent data streams, and necessitate costly data recovery or reconstruction efforts. The long-term consequence is a diminished capacity to understand and respond to critical environmental changes.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › General Science and Technology R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Solicitation ID: 80GSFC23R0028
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3100 MARINE ST STE 481 572 UCB, BOULDER, CO, 80309
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: $68,179,012
Exercised Options: $53,987,266
Current Obligation: $42,384,322
Actual Outlays: $34,226,416
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-04-01
Current End Date: 2027-03-31
Potential End Date: 2027-03-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-03-30
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