NASA Awards $5.3M for Specialized Engineering and Test Services to Aerospace Corp
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $529,932 ($529.9K)
Contractor: THE Aerospace Corporation
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2023-10-01
End Date: 2026-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,095 days
Daily Burn Rate: $484/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: NASA-WIDE SPECIALIZED ENGINEERING, EVALUATION, AND TEST SERVICES FOR EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS MODELING AND ANALYSIS SUPPORT.
Place of Performance
Location: ORLANDO, BREVARD County, FLORIDA, 32899
State: Florida Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $529,932.09 to THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION for work described as: NASA-WIDE SPECIALIZED ENGINEERING, EVALUATION, AND TEST SERVICES FOR EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS MODELING AND ANALYSIS SUPPORT. Key points: 1. Contract awarded to The Aerospace Corporation for critical engineering and testing support. 2. Focus on exploration ground systems modeling and analysis highlights advanced technological needs. 3. The contract's 'not competed' status raises questions about potential cost efficiencies. 4. Spending falls within the R&D sector, specifically physical, engineering, and life sciences.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract is a Cost Plus Fixed Fee type, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar specialized engineering contracts is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.
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 potentially increases costs for taxpayers as competitive pressure is absent.
Taxpayer Impact: The lack of competition may result in a higher cost to taxpayers compared to a competitively awarded contract for similar services.
Public Impact
Supports NASA's ambitious exploration ground systems, crucial for future space missions. The award to a single, established contractor may ensure continuity and specialized expertise. Potential for cost savings through future competition or performance-based incentives should be explored.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost-plus contract type
Positive Signals
- Supports critical NASA exploration goals
- Experienced contractor
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is vital for technological advancement but requires careful oversight due to its specialized nature and often unique requirements.
Small Business Impact
This contract does not appear to involve small business participation, as indicated by the 'sb' field being false. Future contracts should explore opportunities for small business involvement where feasible.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'not competed' status warrants close oversight to ensure the fixed fee is reasonable and that the contractor delivers effectively on the specialized engineering and testing requirements.
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 limits competition.
- Cost-plus contract type carries inherent cost risk.
- Lack of small business participation.
- Specialized nature of services may limit contractor pool.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, fl, delivery-order, 100k-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $529,932.09 to THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION. NASA-WIDE SPECIALIZED ENGINEERING, EVALUATION, AND TEST SERVICES FOR EXPLORATION GROUND SYSTEMS MODELING AND ANALYSIS SUPPORT.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE AEROSPACE CORPORATION.
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 $529,932.09.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-10-01. End: 2026-09-30.
What is the justification for not competing this specialized engineering and test services contract?
The justification for not competing this contract is not provided in the data. Typically, sole-source awards are made when only one responsible source can provide the required services, or in cases of urgent need. Further investigation into NASA's procurement records would be necessary to understand the specific rationale.
How does the cost-plus fixed fee structure impact the risk of cost overruns for this contract?
Cost-plus fixed fee contracts shift some of the cost risk to the government. While the contractor has an incentive to control costs to maximize their fixed fee profit, there's a risk that costs could escalate beyond initial estimates, requiring additional funding from NASA. Robust oversight is crucial.
What is the expected impact of this contract on NASA's exploration ground systems development timeline?
This contract is expected to provide essential modeling and analysis support, which is critical for the successful development and testing of exploration ground systems. By ensuring specialized engineering expertise is available, it aims to de-risk complex technical challenges and keep the overall development timeline on track.
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 › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 2310 EAST EL SEGUNDO BLVD, EL SEGUNDO, CA, 90245
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Tax Exempt, Nonprofit Organization, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $675,211
Exercised Options: $675,211
Current Obligation: $529,932
Actual Outlays: $427,821
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: 80GSFC19D0011
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-10-01
Current End Date: 2026-09-30
Potential End Date: 2026-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-09
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