NASA awards $352K contract for Russia travel support, highlighting niche administrative services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $35,227 ($35.2K)
Contractor: Barrios Technology, LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2026-04-16
End Date: 2027-04-15
Contract Duration: 364 days
Daily Burn Rate: $97/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL TO RUSSIA AND FORMER SOVIET STATES: VISA PROCESSING AND LETTER OF INVITATION COORDINATION FOR NASA HEADQUARTERS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AND INTERAGENCY RELATIONS
Place of Performance
Location: WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA County, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 20546
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $35,226.62 to BARRIOS TECHNOLOGY, LLC for work described as: ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL TO RUSSIA AND FORMER SOVIET STATES: VISA PROCESSING AND LETTER OF INVITATION COORDINATION FOR NASA HEADQUARTERS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AND INTERAGENCY RELATIONS Key points: 1. Contract focuses on specialized administrative support for international travel, a critical but often overlooked function. 2. The award to Barrios Technology, LLC suggests a need for specific expertise in navigating complex international relations and visa processes. 3. While the dollar amount is modest, the nature of the service implies potential geopolitical risks and the need for robust security protocols. 4. The contract's duration of one year indicates a need for ongoing, but not long-term, support for these specific travel arrangements. 5. This award falls within the Research and Development sector, though its primary function is administrative rather than scientific. 6. The firm fixed-price structure aims to control costs for these defined administrative services.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $352,266.62 for a one-year period appears reasonable for highly specialized administrative support involving international travel to sensitive regions. Benchmarking this specific service is challenging due to its niche nature. However, the cost per day is approximately $965, which is within a plausible range for dedicated personnel managing complex logistical and diplomatic requirements. Without more comparable contracts for similar services, a definitive value-for-money assessment is difficult, but the fixed-price nature suggests an attempt to cap expenditures.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES.' This indicates that while the competition was intended to be open, specific circumstances led to the exclusion of certain potential bidders. The exact reasons for this exclusion are not detailed in the provided data. A limited competition may result in fewer offers and potentially less aggressive pricing compared to full and open competition.
Taxpayer Impact: A limited competition may mean taxpayers do not benefit from the most competitive pricing achievable through a broader bidding process.
Public Impact
NASA Headquarters' Office of International and Interagency Relations benefits from streamlined visa processing and letter of invitation coordination. Facilitates official travel for NASA personnel to Russia and former Soviet states, enabling diplomatic and scientific engagement. The service supports the operational continuity of NASA's international partnerships and collaborations. Ensures compliance with international travel regulations and protocols for government employees.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Geopolitical instability in Russia could impact travel and the effectiveness of the support services.
- Reliance on a single contractor for sensitive international travel logistics may pose a risk if the contractor experiences performance issues.
- The 'exclusion of sources' in the competition raises questions about the breadth of market engagement and potential cost implications.
Positive Signals
- The contract is firm fixed-price, providing cost certainty for the government.
- Barrios Technology, LLC has a history of supporting NASA, suggesting familiarity with agency requirements.
- The contract duration is clearly defined, allowing for focused support over a specific period.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the administrative support services category within the broader Research and Development sector, specifically NAICS code 541715. While the primary function is administrative, it supports R&D-related international engagement. The market for specialized international travel support, particularly for government agencies dealing with complex geopolitical landscapes, is niche. Comparable spending would likely be found across various agencies requiring similar logistical and diplomatic support for their personnel's international missions.
Small Business Impact
The provided data indicates that this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications or specific impacts on the small business ecosystem stemming from a set-aside provision. The prime contractor, Barrios Technology, LLC, may be a small or large business, but the contract itself does not mandate small business participation through a set-aside.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily reside with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), specifically the contracting officer and program officials within the Office of International and Interagency Relations. As a delivery order under a larger contract, existing oversight mechanisms for that parent contract would apply. Transparency is facilitated through public contract databases like FPDS. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA International Travel Support
- Visa Processing Services
- Government Travel Management
- Embassy Coordination Services
- Foreign Affairs Support Contracts
Risk Flags
- Geopolitical Risk
- Niche Service Requirement
- Limited Competition Concerns
- International Travel Complexity
Tags
nasa, administrative-support, international-travel, russia, former-soviet-states, visa-processing, firm-fixed-price, limited-competition, research-and-development, delivery-order, district-of-columbia
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $35,226.62 to BARRIOS TECHNOLOGY, LLC. ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL TO RUSSIA AND FORMER SOVIET STATES: VISA PROCESSING AND LETTER OF INVITATION COORDINATION FOR NASA HEADQUARTERS OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AND INTERAGENCY RELATIONS
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is BARRIOS TECHNOLOGY, LLC.
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 $35,226.62.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-04-16. End: 2027-04-15.
What is the track record of Barrios Technology, LLC in providing similar international administrative support services to government agencies?
Barrios Technology, LLC has a demonstrated history of supporting NASA and other government entities with various technical, engineering, and administrative services. While specific details on their past performance in *this exact niche* of visa processing and invitation coordination for travel to Russia and former Soviet states are not explicitly detailed in the provided data, their long-standing relationship with NASA suggests a level of competence and familiarity with agency protocols. To fully assess their track record for this specific requirement, a review of past performance evaluations on similar contracts, particularly those involving international logistics and sensitive regions, would be necessary. Their ability to secure this contract indicates they likely met the agency's requirements for relevant experience.
How does the cost of this contract compare to similar administrative support services for international travel?
Directly comparing the cost of this $352,266.62 contract is challenging due to the highly specialized nature of providing administrative support for travel to Russia and former Soviet states, including visa processing and invitation coordination. This is not a standard travel agency booking. The value is tied to expertise in navigating complex international regulations, diplomatic channels, and potential security considerations. The firm fixed-price structure provides cost certainty. A rough daily cost of approximately $965 suggests a dedicated resource or team focused on these specific, high-stakes administrative tasks. Without more data on comparable niche services, it's difficult to benchmark definitively, but the price appears aligned with specialized government support functions.
What are the primary risks associated with this contract, beyond standard contractor performance issues?
The primary risks extend beyond typical contractor performance and are significantly influenced by the geopolitical context. The destination countries (Russia and former Soviet states) present inherent geopolitical instability, which could lead to sudden travel restrictions, visa denials, or security threats, impacting the necessity and execution of the travel itself, and thus the support services. Furthermore, reliance on specific administrative processes for sensitive travel means that any disruption to these processes, whether due to political changes, sanctions, or the contractor's internal issues, could have significant diplomatic or operational consequences for NASA. The 'exclusion of sources' in the procurement also introduces a risk of suboptimal pricing or limited innovative solutions.
How effective is this contract likely to be in facilitating NASA's international and interagency relations?
This contract is likely to be effective in its defined scope: facilitating official travel by handling the administrative burdens of visa processing and letter of invitation coordination. By outsourcing these complex, time-consuming, and potentially sensitive tasks to a specialized contractor like Barrios Technology, LLC, NASA's Office of International and Interagency Relations can focus its resources on the strategic aspects of diplomacy and collaboration. The effectiveness hinges on the contractor's ability to navigate the specific bureaucratic and political landscapes of the destination countries efficiently and securely. Assuming successful execution, it directly supports the operational aspect of maintaining and developing international partnerships.
What has been NASA's historical spending on similar administrative support for international travel, particularly to Russia and former Soviet states?
Historical spending data specifically for 'administrative support for official travel to Russia and former Soviet states: visa processing and letter of invitation coordination' by NASA is not readily available in the provided snippet. This particular service appears to be a niche requirement. NASA's overall spending on international programs and related administrative support would be significantly larger, but isolating this specific function across past years would require a detailed analysis of historical contract databases, searching for keywords related to travel support, visa services, and specific geographic regions. The current award of $352,266.62 suggests a moderate level of expenditure for this specialized need over a one-year period.
What are the implications of the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' procurement method for this contract?
The procurement method 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' implies that NASA initially intended to solicit offers from all responsible sources but subsequently excluded certain ones. The reasons for exclusion are critical but not provided. This could stem from specific technical requirements, past performance issues with certain vendors, or other justifications. While it aims for broad competition, the exclusion means the pool of potential bidders was smaller than in a truly unrestricted full and open competition. This can impact the number of proposals received and potentially the level of price competition, possibly leading to higher costs for taxpayers compared to a scenario with maximum bidder participation.
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: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 13100 SPACE CENTER BLVD, HOUSTON, TX, 77059
Business Categories: Category Business, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $317,999
Exercised Options: $317,999
Current Obligation: $35,227
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 80MSFC21D0009
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-04-16
Current End Date: 2027-04-15
Potential End Date: 2027-04-15 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-09
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