NASA Awards $20.8M for Nextel Material, Lacking Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $20,857 ($20.9K)
Contractor: Newtex Industries, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2026-04-08
End Date: 2026-05-07
Contract Duration: 29 days
Daily Burn Rate: $719/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: NEXTEL MATERIAL FOR MLI AND HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT TESTING
Place of Performance
Location: VICTOR, ONTARIO County, NEW YORK, 14564
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $20,857.36 to NEWTEX INDUSTRIES, INC. for work described as: NEXTEL MATERIAL FOR MLI AND HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT TESTING Key points: 1. Significant award for specialized material testing. 2. Sole source award raises questions about price discovery. 3. Limited competition may lead to higher costs. 4. Focus on advanced materials for aerospace applications.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The award of $20.86 million for specialized material testing lacks a clear benchmark for comparison due to its limited competition. Without competitive bids, assessing the value for money is difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
This contract was not competed under the Simplified Acquisition Procedures (SAP), indicating a potential limitation in the competitive process. The lack of open competition may have impacted price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: The absence of robust competition could result in taxpayers paying more than necessary for this specialized material.
Public Impact
Supports advanced aerospace research and development. Ensures availability of critical materials for NASA missions. Potential for future technological advancements stemming from material testing.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition
- Potential for overpricing
- Limited transparency in award process
Positive Signals
- Supports critical NASA research
- Procurement of specialized materials
Sector Analysis
This award falls within the aerospace and defense sector, specifically focusing on advanced materials. Spending in this area is often characterized by high R&D costs and specialized manufacturing requirements.
Small Business Impact
No information is available regarding small business participation in this contract. The award to Newtex Industries, Inc. does not specify if they are a small business.
Oversight & Accountability
The award process, particularly the lack of competition, warrants further oversight to ensure fair pricing and efficient use of taxpayer funds.
Related Government Programs
- Broadwoven Fabric Mills
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competitive bidding
- Potential for inflated pricing
- Limited transparency in procurement
- Sole-source dependency
Tags
broadwoven-fabric-mills, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ny, purchase-order, under-100k
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $20,857.36 to NEWTEX INDUSTRIES, INC.. NEXTEL MATERIAL FOR MLI AND HYPERVELOCITY IMPACT TESTING
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is NEWTEX INDUSTRIES, 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 $20,857.36.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-04-08. End: 2026-05-07.
What specific factors justified not competing this contract under SAP, and what was the process for determining fair and reasonable pricing without competitive quotes?
The justification for not competing under SAP and the process for determining fair and reasonable pricing without competitive quotes are not detailed in the provided data. Further investigation into NASA's procurement records would be necessary to understand the specific rationale and pricing methodologies employed for this sole-source award.
What are the potential risks associated with relying on a single source for critical materials like Nextel, especially concerning supply chain disruptions or future price escalations?
Relying on a single source for critical materials like Nextel poses risks of supply chain disruptions if the sole provider faces production issues or goes out of business. Additionally, without competition, there's a risk of future price escalations as the contractor may have less incentive to offer competitive pricing over time.
How will the effectiveness of this material testing be measured, and what are the expected outcomes for NASA's hypervelocity impact research?
The effectiveness of the material testing will likely be measured by the quality and comprehensiveness of the data generated, its adherence to NASA's testing protocols, and its contribution to understanding Nextel material performance under extreme conditions. Expected outcomes include improved material selection for spacecraft, enhanced safety, and advancements in hypervelocity impact mitigation strategies.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Manufacturing › Fabric Mills › Broadwoven Fabric Mills
Product/Service Code: NONMETALLIC FABRICATED MATERIALS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 8050 VICTOR MENDON RD, VICTOR, NY, 14564
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Manufacturer of Goods, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Indian (Subcontinent) American Owned Business, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $20,857
Exercised Options: $20,857
Current Obligation: $20,857
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Timeline
Start Date: 2026-04-08
Current End Date: 2026-05-07
Potential End Date: 2026-05-07 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-08
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 →