NASA's $855M Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract awarded to Lumen Technologies for telecommunications services
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $855,582 ($855.6K)
Contractor: Lumen Technologies Government Solutions, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2020-06-01
End Date: 2027-09-30
Contract Duration: 2,677 days
Daily Burn Rate: $320/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: Other
Official Description: ENTERPRISE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS (EIS) - REGIONAL MAF - ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS, OPTICAL WAVELENGTH SERVICES (OWS) WITH ETHERNET INTERFACES.
Place of Performance
Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22203
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $855,581.65 to LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, INC. for work described as: ENTERPRISE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS (EIS) - REGIONAL MAF - ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS, OPTICAL WAVELENGTH SERVICES (OWS) WITH ETHERNET INTERFACES. Key points: 1. Contract provides essential wired telecommunications services, supporting NASA's vast operational needs. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust market for these services. 3. Long-term duration (over 7 years) indicates a strategic investment in network infrastructure. 4. Firm Fixed Price contract type offers cost certainty for the agency. 5. The contract's value places it as a significant procurement within the telecommunications sector. 6. Virginia is the primary state for service delivery, impacting regional infrastructure.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $855.6 million over approximately 7.5 years suggests a substantial investment in telecommunications infrastructure. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale government telecommunications contracts is challenging without more specific service details. However, the firm-fixed-price nature of the contract provides cost predictability. The per-unit cost for specific services like optical wavelength services would be the key metric for a detailed value assessment, which is not readily available in the provided data.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. The presence of 5 bids (implied by 'no': 5) suggests a competitive marketplace for these telecommunications services. A competitive process generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more favorable terms for the government compared to sole-source or limited competition awards.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the competitive bidding process, which is expected to drive down costs and ensure NASA receives the best value for its investment in critical telecommunications infrastructure.
Public Impact
NASA personnel and operations across various facilities will benefit from reliable and advanced telecommunications services. The contract supports the delivery of essential network connectivity, including optical wavelength services, crucial for data transfer and communication. Services are primarily delivered in Virginia, potentially impacting the local economy and workforce in the telecommunications sector. The contract underpins NASA's mission-critical functions, ensuring seamless communication for research, development, and operational activities.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in due to the long-term nature of the contract, if not managed carefully.
- Dependence on a single provider for critical infrastructure could pose risks if the provider experiences service disruptions.
- Ensuring ongoing cost-effectiveness throughout the contract's lifespan will require diligent oversight.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a healthy market and potential for competitive pricing.
- Firm Fixed Price contract type provides budget certainty for NASA.
- Long-term contract allows for strategic planning and investment in network upgrades.
- Supports a critical function for NASA's operational continuity and mission success.
Sector Analysis
The telecommunications industry is a vast and critical sector, underpinning nearly all government and commercial operations. This contract falls within the Wired Telecommunications Carriers sub-sector, focusing on providing high-capacity data transmission services. The market is characterized by significant infrastructure investment and evolving technologies. NASA's spending here is consistent with the trend of federal agencies consolidating and modernizing their network services through large, strategic contracts like the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) program.
Small Business Impact
The provided data indicates that this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses (sb: false). While Lumen Technologies is a large prime contractor, the contract's structure may offer opportunities for small businesses to participate as subcontractors. The extent of small business subcontracting will depend on Lumen's specific subcontracting plan and the availability of qualified small business providers for specialized services within the telecommunications domain.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract will primarily reside with NASA's contracting officers and program managers. The firm-fixed-price nature simplifies some aspects of financial oversight. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and reporting requirements. The specific Inspector General jurisdiction would typically be NASA's OIG, responsible for investigating fraud, waste, and abuse related to NASA procurements.
Related Government Programs
- General Services Administration (GSA) - Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS)
- Other Federal Agency Telecommunications Contracts
- Network Services Procurement
- Wired Telecommunications Services
Risk Flags
- Long-term contract duration
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical infrastructure
- Potential for price increases upon contract renewal if not managed proactively
Tags
telecommunications, nasa, lumen-technologies, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, wired-telecommunications-carriers, virginia, enterprise-infrastructure-solutions, network-services, optical-wavelength-services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $855,581.65 to LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, INC.. ENTERPRISE INFRASTRUCTURE SOLUTIONS (EIS) - REGIONAL MAF - ACCESS ARRANGEMENTS, OPTICAL WAVELENGTH SERVICES (OWS) WITH ETHERNET INTERFACES.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is LUMEN TECHNOLOGIES GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS, INC..
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 $855,581.65.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-06-01. End: 2027-09-30.
What is the historical spending pattern for NASA on telecommunications services similar to this contract?
Analyzing NASA's historical spending on telecommunications requires examining procurement data over several years. Agencies like NASA typically have ongoing needs for network connectivity, data transmission, and voice services. Spending often fluctuates based on technology upgrades, infrastructure modernization projects, and the consolidation of services under larger contract vehicles. The Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) program, under which this contract falls, is a GSA-led initiative designed to provide agencies with a comprehensive suite of telecommunications and IT network services, aiming to achieve better pricing and service through competition and consolidation. Prior to EIS, agencies utilized older GSA schedules and individual contracts. Understanding NASA's specific spending would involve looking at previous contract awards for similar services, potentially under older GSA schedules or direct procurements, and comparing the volume and cost of services procured.
How does the pricing of Lumen Technologies' services compare to market rates for Optical Wavelength Services (OWS)?
A precise comparison of Lumen Technologies' pricing for Optical Wavelength Services (OWS) under this NASA contract to general market rates is difficult without access to the specific negotiated rates and service level agreements. OWS pricing is influenced by factors such as bandwidth, distance, service level agreements (SLAs), and geographic availability. Generally, large government contracts awarded through full and open competition aim to secure competitive pricing. However, government pricing can sometimes differ from commercial rates due to specific security requirements, reporting obligations, and the long-term nature of the commitments. Benchmarking would require accessing anonymized pricing data from similar government OWS contracts or obtaining quotes from commercial providers for comparable service configurations.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) and service level agreements (SLAs) associated with this contract?
The provided data does not detail the specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) or Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for this NASA contract. However, for telecommunications services, particularly Optical Wavelength Services (OWS) and access arrangements, typical KPIs and SLAs would focus on network availability (uptime), latency, jitter, packet loss, and restoration times in case of outages. These metrics are crucial for ensuring the reliability and performance of NASA's mission-critical communications. The contract likely specifies penalties for failing to meet these SLAs and potential bonuses for exceeding performance targets. Detailed information on these would be found within the contract's statement of work and associated appendices.
What is Lumen Technologies' track record with NASA and other federal agencies for similar telecommunications services?
Lumen Technologies, and its predecessor entities (like CenturyLink), has a significant track record of providing telecommunications and IT services to government agencies, including NASA. They are a major player in the federal telecommunications market and are an awardee of the GSA's Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions (EIS) program, which this contract is part of. Their experience includes delivering a wide range of network services, such as managed network services, Ethernet, optical transport, and unified communications. Evaluating their specific track record with NASA would involve reviewing past contract performance evaluations (e.g., CPARS reports, if publicly available) and assessing their history of meeting delivery schedules, performance requirements, and budget constraints on similar large-scale government contracts.
What are the potential risks associated with relying on a single provider for critical network infrastructure over a long contract duration?
Relying on a single provider like Lumen Technologies for critical network infrastructure over a long duration (over 7 years) presents several potential risks. Firstly, there's the risk of vendor lock-in, making it difficult and costly to switch providers if performance degrades or better alternatives emerge. Secondly, service disruptions, whether due to technical failures, cyberattacks, or unforeseen events impacting the provider, could have a significant impact on NASA's operations. Thirdly, the fixed-price nature, while offering cost certainty, might lead to the agency not benefiting from potential market price reductions if technology costs decrease significantly over the contract term. Finally, there's a risk related to the provider's long-term financial stability and strategic direction, which could impact service continuity.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Information › Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) › Wired Telecommunications Carriers
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › ADP AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY
Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 931 14TH STE 1000 B, DENVER, CO, 80202
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $1,318,456
Exercised Options: $1,069,868
Current Obligation: $855,582
Actual Outlays: $766,695
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: GS00Q17NSD3006
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-06-01
Current End Date: 2027-09-30
Potential End Date: 2029-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-03
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