NASA awards $15M for Aircraft & Airfield Services to Vertex Aerospace LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $14,983,677 ($15.0M)
Contractor: Vertex Aerospace LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 1999-12-03
End Date: 2005-05-31
Contract Duration: 2,006 days
Daily Burn Rate: $7.5K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: AIRCRAFT AND AIRFIELD RELATES SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: MOUNTAIN VIEW, SANTA CLARA County, CALIFORNIA, 94035
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $15.0 million to VERTEX AEROSPACE LLC for work described as: AIRCRAFT AND AIRFIELD RELATES SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded to Vertex Aerospace LLC for $14.98M. 2. Services cover Aircraft and Airfield Related Services. 3. Contract duration spans from 1999 to 2005. 4. Awarded under Full and Open Competition. 5. The agency is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, which can lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar contracts is difficult without more detailed service descriptions and performance data.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the Cost Plus Award Fee structure may incentivize cost increases to achieve award fees, potentially impacting price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for aircraft and airfield services. The competitive nature of the award is positive, but the contract type warrants scrutiny for cost efficiency.
Public Impact
Supports critical NASA operations related to aircraft and airfield maintenance and services. Ensures operational readiness for aerospace research and development activities. Potential for job creation within the aerospace services sector.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee structure can lead to cost overruns.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes assessing value difficult.
- Contract duration is relatively long, increasing risk exposure.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under Full and Open Competition.
- Supports a critical government agency (NASA).
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on aerospace support. Spending benchmarks for similar services vary widely based on scope and duration.
Small Business Impact
No information is provided regarding small business participation in this contract. Further analysis would be needed to determine if small businesses were involved as subcontractors or prime contractors.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration is expected to ensure contract compliance and performance. The effectiveness of this oversight is not detailed in the provided data.
Related Government Programs
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee structure.
- Lack of detailed service scope.
- Long contract duration.
- No small business participation noted.
Tags
national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ca, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $15.0 million to VERTEX AEROSPACE LLC. AIRCRAFT AND AIRFIELD RELATES SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is VERTEX AEROSPACE 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 $15.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 1999-12-03. End: 2005-05-31.
What specific services are included under 'Aircraft and Airfield Related Services' and how do they align with NASA's mission objectives?
The provided data lacks specificity regarding the exact services. Typically, these could include aircraft maintenance, repair, overhaul, airfield operations, ground support, and related logistical functions. These services are crucial for supporting NASA's flight operations, research missions, and astronaut training programs, ensuring the readiness and safety of aviation assets.
How effectively did the Cost Plus Award Fee structure incentivize performance while controlling costs for Vertex Aerospace LLC?
The effectiveness of the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure is difficult to assess without performance data and award fee determinations. CPAF aims to incentivize contractor performance by linking a portion of the fee to achieving specific performance objectives. However, it can also lead to higher costs if the base fee is generous or if award criteria are not rigorously defined and monitored.
What was the competitive landscape for this contract, and did the full and open competition result in optimal pricing for taxpayers?
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple bidders were likely considered. This process generally promotes competitive pricing. However, the specific pricing outcomes and whether they represent optimal value for taxpayers cannot be determined solely from the award data. A detailed cost-benefit analysis and comparison with market rates would be necessary.
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation ID: RFP2-37116
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Contractor Details
Parent Company: L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (UEI: 008898843)
Address: 555 INDUSTRIAL DR S, MADISON, MS, 03
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $14,910,340
Exercised Options: $14,910,340
Current Obligation: $14,983,677
Timeline
Start Date: 1999-12-03
Current End Date: 2005-05-31
Potential End Date: 2005-05-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2010-08-30
More Contracts from Vertex Aerospace LLC
- T45 CLS Cmmars Task Order, Materials - Aircraft Maintenance — $1.5B (Department of Defense)
- Lccs Services for Army Fleet of C-12/Rc-12/Uc-35 Aircraft AT Worldwide Locations Includes Maintenance, Upgrades and Elective Improvements — $1.3B (Department of Defense)
- T-1 Contractor Operated and Maintained Base Supply (combs) — $734.8M (Department of Defense)
- Field and Sustainment Level Maintenance in Support of Aircraft Deployed in the Usarcent AOR — $728.3M (Department of Defense)
- E-6B Contractor Logistics Support (CLS) Follow-On Task Order — $650.8M (Department of Defense)
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 →