NASA's $363M Aeronautics Research Contract Awarded to National Academy of Sciences
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $363,530 ($363.5K)
Contractor: National Academy of Sciences
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2022-10-01
End Date: 2026-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,460 days
Daily Burn Rate: $249/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: AERONAUTICS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY ROUNDTABLE (ARTR)
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20418
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $363,530 to NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES for work described as: AERONAUTICS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY ROUNDTABLE (ARTR) Key points: 1. The contract is for a significant duration, spanning nearly four years. 2. The awardee, National Academy of Sciences, is a well-established entity in scientific research. 3. The lack of competition raises questions about potential price discovery and value. 4. The sector is professional, scientific, and technical services, specifically related to aeronautics research.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract type is 'COST NO FEE', indicating the government will reimburse costs but pay no fee. This is unusual for a contract of this size and duration, suggesting a focus on research facilitation rather than profit-driven service delivery. Benchmarking is difficult without fee information.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. Without competition, there is no direct price discovery mechanism to ensure the most advantageous price for the government. The rationale for sole-sourcing is not provided.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in a higher cost to taxpayers than if the contract had been competitively bid.
Public Impact
Public funds are being allocated to a non-competitive contract for aeronautics research. The National Academy of Sciences will receive significant funding for its services. Taxpayers may not be receiving the best possible value due to the absence of competition. The long duration of the contract suggests a sustained need for these research services.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost-plus contract structure (implied by 'COST NO FEE')
- Long contract duration
Positive Signals
- Award to a reputable scientific body
- Focus on critical research area (aeronautics)
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under professional, scientific, and technical services, specifically within the aeronautics research domain. Spending in this sector often involves long-term, complex projects requiring specialized expertise. Benchmarks are difficult without specific service details, but large R&D contracts can range from millions to billions.
Small Business Impact
The awardee is the National Academy of Sciences, a large, established institution. There is no indication that small businesses were involved in this specific contract award, either as prime contractors or subcontractors.
Oversight & Accountability
The lack of competition warrants scrutiny from oversight bodies to ensure the justification for a sole-source award is sound and that the government is receiving fair value. Transparency regarding the selection process and cost controls is crucial.
Related Government Programs
- All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award lacks competitive pricing
- Potential for inflated costs without fee/profit motive
- Limited transparency on justification for non-competition
- Long contract duration may not reflect evolving needs
- Lack of small business participation
Tags
all-other-professional-scientific-and-te, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, dc, delivery-order, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $363,530 to NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. AERONAUTICS RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY ROUNDTABLE (ARTR)
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES.
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 $363,530.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.
What is the specific justification for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
The provided data does not include the justification for the sole-source award. Typically, sole-source contracts are used when only one responsible source can provide the required supplies or services, or in cases of urgent and compelling need. Without this information, it's impossible to assess the validity of the procurement approach.
How is the 'COST NO FEE' structure being managed to ensure cost efficiency and prevent overspending?
A 'COST NO FEE' contract means the government reimburses the contractor for allowable costs but pays no profit. While this can reduce overall cost, it requires robust government oversight to monitor expenses and ensure they are reasonable and allocable to the contract. The absence of a fee might incentivize efficiency, but the lack of a profit motive could also reduce contractor drive for innovation or cost savings.
What are the expected outcomes and deliverables for this $363 million aeronautics research investment?
The data provided does not detail the specific research objectives, deliverables, or expected outcomes of the Aeronautics Research and Technology Roundtable (ARTR) contract. Understanding these would be crucial for evaluating the effectiveness and value of this significant investment in aeronautics research and technology.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › All Other Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
Product/Service Code: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2101 CONSTITUTION AVE NW, WASHINGTON, DC, 20418
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $572,710
Exercised Options: $451,882
Current Obligation: $363,530
Actual Outlays: $241,446
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 80HQTR22DA003
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2022-10-01
Current End Date: 2026-09-30
Potential End Date: 2027-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-09
More Contracts from National Academy of Sciences
- Federal Contract — $88.5M (Department of Health and Human Services)
- Administer Airport Cooperative Research Program — $73.1M (Department of Transportation)
- Federal Contract — $32.3M (Department of Defense)
- THE Contractor Shall Conduct Studies on Questions of National Importance Within the Domain of the Science Mission Directorate And/Or Relating to Space and Earth Sciences — $23.2M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
- Research Support Services — $15.6M (Department of Commerce)
Other National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracts
- International Space Station — $22.4B (THE Boeing Company)
- TAS::80 0124::TAS Design, Development, Test&evaluation of Project Orion — $15.5B (Lockheed Martin Corp)
- Provide Developmental Hardware and Test Articles, and Manufacture and Assemble Ares I Upper Stages. the Upper Stage (US) Element IS an Integral Part of the Ares I Launch Vehicle and Provides the Second Stage of Flight. the US Element IS Responsible for the Roll Control During the First Stage Burn and Separation; and Will Provide the Guidance and Navigation, Command and Data Handling, and Other Avionics Functions for the Ares I During ALL Phases of the Ascent Flight. the US Element IS a NEW Design That Emphasizes Safety, Operability, and Minimum Life Cycle Cost. the Overall Design, Development, Test and Evaluation (ddt&e), Production, and Sustaining Engineering Efforts Include Activities Performed by Three Organizations; the Nasa Design Team (NDT), the Upper Stage Production Contractor (uspc) and the Instrument Unit Production Contractor (iupc). for Clarity, the Uspc Will BE Referred to AS the Contractor Throughout This Document. Nasa IS Responsible for the Integration of the Primary Elements of the Ares I Launch Vehicle Including: the First Stage, US Including Instrument Unit (IU), and US Engine; and Will Also Integrate the Ares I Launch Vehicle AT the Launch Site. Nasa IS Responsible for the Ddt&e, Including Technical and Programmatic Integration of the US Subsystems and Government-Furnished Property. Nasa Will Lead the Effort to Develop the Requirements and Specifications of the US Element, the Development Plan and Testing Requirements, and ALL Design Documentation, Initial Manufacturing and Assembly Process Planning, Logistics Planning, and Operations Support Planning. Development, Qualification, and Acceptance Testing Will BE Conducted by Nasa and the Contractor to Satisfy Requirements and for Risk Mitigation. Nasa IS Responsible for the Overall Upper Stage Verification and Validation Process and Will Require Support From the Contractor. the Contractor IS Responsible for the Manufacture and Assembly of the Upper Stage Test Flight and Operational Upper Stage Units Including the Installation of Upper Stage Instrument Unit, the Government-Furnished US Engine, Booster Separation Motors, and Other Government-Furnished Property. a Description of the Nasa Managed and Performed Efforts IS Contained in the US Work Packages and Will BE Made Available to the Contractor to Ensure Their Understanding of the Roles and Responsibilities of the NDT, Iupc, and Contractor During the Design, Development, and Operation of the US Element. the US Conceptual Design Described in the Uso-Clv-Se-25704 US Design Definition Document (DDD) IS the Baseline Design for This Contract. the Contractors Early Role Will BE to Provide Producibility Engineering Support to Nasa VIA the Established US Office Structure and to Provide Inputs Into the Final Design Configuration, Specifications, and Standards. Nasa Will Transition the Manufacturing and Assembly, Logistics Support Infrastructure, Configuration Management, and the Sustaining Engineering Functions to the Contractor AT the KEY Points During the Development and Implementation of the Program Currently Planned to Occur NO Later Than 90 Days After the Completion of the Following Major Milestones: Manufacturing and Assembly US Preliminary Design Review (PDR) Logistics Support Infrastructure US PDR Configuration Management US Critical Design Review CDR) Sustaining Engineering US Design Certification Review (DCR) After the Completion of an Orderly Transition of Roles and Responsibilities to the Contractor, Nasa Will Assume an Insight Role Into the Contractors Production, Sustaining Engineering, and Operations Support of the Ares I US Test Program and Flight Hardware. After DCR, the Contractor Will BE Responsible for Sustaining Engineering PER SOW Section 4.7, AS Necessary to Maintain and Support the US Configuration and for Production and Operations Support — $10.5B (THE Boeing Company)
- Space Program Operations Contract (spoc) — $8.5B (United Space Alliance, LLC)
- Joint Us/Russian Human Space Flight Activities — $4.7B (Russia Space Agency)
View all National Aeronautics and Space Administration contracts →