NASA's Dragonfly Mission to Titan: JHU/APL Awarded $129M for Preliminary Design and Instrument Development
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $129,321,585 ($129.3M)
Contractor: THE Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2018-03-16
End Date: 2022-03-31
Contract Duration: 1,476 days
Daily Burn Rate: $87.6K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: DRAGONFLY PHASE A JOHNS HOPKINS APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY (JHU/APL) WILL PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR THE DRAGONFLY MISSION. DRAGONFLY IS A PROPOSED NEW FRONTIERS MISSION TO SEND A RELOCATABLE LANDER TO SATURN'S MOON TITAN. APL WILL FUND ITS TECHNICAL PARTNERS AND NON-GOVERNMENT SCIENCE TEAM COINVESTIGATORS THROUGH SUBCONTRACTS. ALL EFFORT BY NASA CENTER PARTNERS (GSFC, AMES, LANGLEY, AND JPL) WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH INTER-AGENCY TRANSFERS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS ON THE WORK IS THE INITIATION OF THE PRELIMINARY DESIGN OF THE DRAGONFLY SPACECRAFT, INITIATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE GROUND SYSTEM, CONTINUED DEVELOPMENT OF THE SCIENCE INSTRUMENTS (DRAGMET, DRAGNS, DRAGONCAM, AND DRAMS/DRACO), INITIATION OF DEVELOPMENT OF DETAILED MISSION DESIGN PLAN AND INITIATION OF WORK TOWARDS ACHIEVING NEPA COMPLIANCE AND LAUNCH APPROVAL.
Place of Performance
Location: LAUREL, HOWARD County, MARYLAND, 20723
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $129.3 million to THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC for work described as: DRAGONFLY PHASE A JOHNS HOPKINS APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY (JHU/APL) WILL PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR THE DRAGONFLY MISSION. DRAGONFLY IS A PROPOSED NEW FRONTIERS MISSION TO SEND A RELOCATABLE LANDER TO SATURN'S MOON TITAN. APL WILL FUND ITS TECHNICAL PARTNERS AND NON-GOVERNMENT SCIENC… Key points: 1. Significant investment in a high-profile New Frontiers mission to Saturn's moon Titan. 2. JHU/APL leads, with NASA centers providing inter-agency support, indicating a collaborative but centralized approach. 3. Focus on preliminary design and instrument development suggests early-stage project with inherent R&D risks. 4. The sector is dominated by large, specialized research institutions and government agencies.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $129M for preliminary design and instrument development appears reasonable for a complex space mission. Benchmarking against similar early-stage space mission contracts would provide further context.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was awarded to JHU/APL, indicating a sole-source or limited competition scenario, likely due to JHU/APL's specialized expertise and established role in the mission. This limits price discovery through competitive bidding.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are directed towards a high-priority scientific endeavor with potential for significant discovery, but the lack of competition may result in a higher cost than a fully competed contract.
Public Impact
Advancement of scientific understanding of Saturn's moon Titan and potential for life. Development of cutting-edge scientific instruments and spacecraft technology. Potential for future mission phases and further scientific exploration. Job creation and economic activity within the aerospace and research sectors.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Risk of cost overruns in early-stage R&D.
- Potential for schedule delays in complex space missions.
- Dependence on a single entity (JHU/APL) for critical early development.
Positive Signals
- JHU/APL's proven track record in space mission development.
- Clear focus on critical preliminary design and instrument work.
- Alignment with NASA's strategic exploration goals.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically for physical, engineering, and life sciences. Spending in this area is characterized by long development cycles, high upfront investment, and significant technological risk, often involving specialized institutions like JHU/APL.
Small Business Impact
The contract does not appear to directly involve small businesses as prime contractors. JHU/APL will subcontract to its technical partners and non-government science team members, but the primary award is to a large research institution.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight will likely be managed by NASA, ensuring adherence to project milestones and budget. The inter-agency transfers and subcontracting structure require robust monitoring to ensure accountability and efficient use of funds.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competitive pricing.
- High R&D component carries inherent technological and cost risks.
- Long development timeline for space missions increases potential for delays.
- Complexity of a relocatable lander on an extraterrestrial body.
- Dependence on JHU/APL for critical early-stage development.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, md, delivery-order, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $129.3 million to THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC. DRAGONFLY PHASE A JOHNS HOPKINS APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY (JHU/APL) WILL PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR THE DRAGONFLY MISSION. DRAGONFLY IS A PROPOSED NEW FRONTIERS MISSION TO SEND A RELOCATABLE LANDER TO SATURN'S MOON TITAN. APL WILL FUND ITS TECHNICAL PARTNERS AND NON-GOVERNMENT SCIENCE TEAM COINVESTIGATORS THROUGH SUBCONTRACTS. ALL EFFORT BY NASA CENTER PARTNERS (GSFC, AMES, LANGLEY, AND JPL) WILL BE FUNDED THROUGH INTER-AGENCY TRANSFERS. THE PRIMARY FOCUS ON THE WORK IS THE INITIATION OF THE PRELIMI
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY 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 $129.3 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2018-03-16. End: 2022-03-31.
What is the projected total cost of the Dragonfly mission, and how does this initial $129M phase compare to similar New Frontiers missions at this stage?
The total projected cost for the Dragonfly mission is not detailed in this award. However, $129 million for preliminary design and instrument development represents a significant initial investment. Benchmarking against previous New Frontiers missions like OSIRIS-REx or New Horizons at their preliminary design phases would be necessary to assess if this figure is within the expected range for such complex endeavors.
What are the specific risks associated with the preliminary design and instrument development for a mission to Titan, and how are they being mitigated?
Risks include the harsh environment of Titan (low temperatures, methane atmosphere), the complexity of a relocatable lander, and the development of novel scientific instruments (DRAGMET, DRAGNS, DRAGONCAM, DRAMS/DRACO). Mitigation strategies likely involve rigorous testing, iterative design processes, and leveraging JHU/APL's extensive experience with challenging space environments and instrument development.
How will the success of this preliminary phase impact the overall effectiveness and scientific return of the Dragonfly mission?
The success of this preliminary phase is critical for the overall effectiveness of the Dragonfly mission. A well-defined preliminary design and fully functional instruments are foundational for subsequent mission phases, including detailed design, fabrication, testing, and launch. Effective execution here directly translates to achieving the mission's scientific objectives of exploring Titan's habitability and prebiotic chemistry.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: THE Johns Hopkins University
Address: JOHNS HOPKINS RD 11100, LAUREL, MD, 20723
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $134,121,585
Exercised Options: $134,121,585
Current Obligation: $129,321,585
Actual Outlays: $125,743,462
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 23
Total Subaward Amount: $3,540,780
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNN06AA01C
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2018-03-16
Current End Date: 2022-03-31
Potential End Date: 2022-03-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2024-02-11
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