NASA awards $24.1M for astrobiology research, with a 7-year contract duration
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $24,100,810 ($24.1M)
Contractor: Ascentech Enterprises, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2002-09-15
End Date: 2009-10-31
Contract Duration: 2,603 days
Daily Burn Rate: $9.3K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ASTROBIOLOGY AND SPACE RESEARCH SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: MOFFETT FIELD, SANTA CLARA County, CALIFORNIA, 94035
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $24.1 million to ASCENTECH ENTERPRISES, INC. for work described as: RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ASTROBIOLOGY AND SPACE RESEARCH SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF), which incentivizes contractor performance. 3. The duration of the contract is over 7 years, indicating a long-term research need. 4. The contractor, Ascentech Enterprises, Inc., has been awarded this significant research and development contract. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 541710 points to R&D in physical, engineering, and life sciences. 6. The contract was awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this contract is challenging without specific performance metrics or comparable contract data. The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure allows for flexibility in costs but also introduces potential for cost overruns if not managed tightly. The award fee component aims to align contractor incentives with NASA's objectives, potentially leading to better value if performance is strong. However, the lack of detailed performance data makes a definitive value assessment difficult.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under a full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of two bidders suggests a moderate level of competition for this specific research and technology development requirement. While two bidders is better than a sole-source award, a higher number of bidders would typically lead to more robust price discovery and potentially lower costs for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition, even with a limited number of bidders, generally provides a better opportunity for taxpayers to receive competitive pricing compared to sole-source or limited competition scenarios.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are NASA's astrobiology and space research programs, advancing scientific understanding. Services delivered include research and technology development critical for space exploration and the search for life beyond Earth. The geographic impact is primarily at NASA research facilities and potentially involves collaboration with academic institutions. Workforce implications include employment for scientists, researchers, engineers, and support staff involved in cutting-edge space science.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee contracts can sometimes lead to higher overall costs if award fees are consistently maximized without proportional performance gains.
- The long contract duration (over 7 years) increases the risk of scope creep or evolving research needs not being adequately addressed without contract modifications.
- Limited competition (2 bidders) may have resulted in a higher price than if more firms had participated.
Positive Signals
- Awarding through full and open competition provides a baseline for fair pricing and access to a wider pool of potential contractors.
- The Cost Plus Award Fee structure incentivizes contractor performance, potentially leading to higher quality research outcomes.
- The contract supports critical scientific research in astrobiology, aligning with national space exploration goals.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development (R&D) sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. The market for astrobiology and space research services is specialized, often involving a mix of government agencies, academic institutions, and private research firms. Spending in this area is driven by national priorities in space exploration and scientific discovery. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within NASA's broader R&D portfolio and other agencies funding similar scientific endeavors.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that this contract included small business set-asides. The contractor, Ascentech Enterprises, Inc., is not explicitly identified as a small business in the provided data. The implications for small businesses would depend on subcontracting opportunities, which are not detailed here. Without specific subcontracting plans or goals, the direct impact on the small business ecosystem is unclear.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by NASA's contracting officers and program managers, ensuring adherence to the contract terms and performance requirements. The Cost Plus Award Fee structure implies performance monitoring to determine award fee payments. Transparency is generally maintained through contract award databases and public reporting, though specific performance details may be proprietary. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of suspected fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Astrobiology Program
- NASA Space Research Programs
- Federal Research and Development Spending
- Scientific Research Services Contracts
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns inherent in Cost Plus Award Fee contracts.
- Risk of performance not meeting expectations for award fee determination.
- Long contract duration may not align with evolving research needs.
- Limited competition (2 bidders) could impact price competitiveness.
Tags
nasa, research-and-development, astrobiology, space-research, cost-plus-award-fee, full-and-open-competition, definitive-contract, california, science-and-technology, long-term-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $24.1 million to ASCENTECH ENTERPRISES, INC.. RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT FOR THE ASTROBIOLOGY AND SPACE RESEARCH SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ASCENTECH ENTERPRISES, 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 $24.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2002-09-15. End: 2009-10-31.
What is Ascentech Enterprises, Inc.'s track record with NASA and in similar R&D contracts?
Ascentech Enterprises, Inc. has a history of performing research and development services, including work related to space and technology. Their track record with NASA would involve reviewing past performance evaluations, any contract disputes or awards, and the successful completion of previous projects. For this specific contract, understanding their performance history on similar Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contracts is crucial. A review of their past performance would assess their ability to manage costs, meet technical objectives, and achieve award fee targets. Without access to NASA's contractor performance evaluation reports (e.g., CPARS), a detailed assessment of their track record is limited to publicly available contract award data and general company information.
How does the $24.1 million contract value compare to similar astrobiology research contracts awarded by NASA or other agencies?
Comparing the $24.1 million value requires identifying comparable contracts based on scope, duration, and agency. Astrobiology and space research are specialized fields, and contract values can vary significantly based on the complexity and scale of the research. Contracts for fundamental research might be smaller, while those involving technology development for specific missions could be larger. A $24.1 million award over approximately seven years suggests a substantial, long-term research effort. To benchmark, one would need to analyze other NASA contracts in areas like planetary science, life detection, or space instrumentation, as well as similar R&D efforts funded by agencies like NSF or DoD. The 'full and open competition' aspect suggests the price was considered competitive at the time of award, but without specific comparable data, it's difficult to definitively state if it represents high or low value.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to assess Ascentech Enterprises, Inc.'s performance under this contract?
Under a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are critical for determining the award fee. While specific KPIs for this contract are not publicly detailed, they would typically align with NASA's objectives for astrobiology and space research. Examples could include the successful completion of research milestones, the development and testing of new technologies, the quality and impact of scientific publications or presentations, adherence to project timelines, and effective budget management. NASA would establish objective and subjective criteria against which Ascentech's performance is measured. The 'award fee' portion of the contract is directly tied to meeting or exceeding these KPIs, incentivizing the contractor to perform at a high level.
What is the historical spending trend for NASA's astrobiology and space research programs over the last decade?
Analyzing NASA's historical spending on astrobiology and space research requires examining budget allocations and contract awards over time. Generally, funding for such programs can fluctuate based on national priorities, scientific discoveries, and the lifecycle of major space missions. Astrobiology research, often intertwined with planetary science and exoplanet research, has seen consistent, albeit variable, investment from NASA. Major initiatives like the Mars Exploration Program, James Webb Space Telescope, and various astrobiology institutes receive significant funding. Over the last decade, there has been a growing emphasis on the search for life beyond Earth, which likely translates to sustained or increasing investment in related research and technology development. Specific figures would require detailed analysis of NASA's annual budget reports and contract databases.
What are the potential risks associated with a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract for long-term R&D projects?
Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contracts, while offering flexibility and incentivizing performance, carry inherent risks, especially for long-term R&D projects. A primary risk is cost growth; the 'cost-plus' nature means the government pays allowable costs, and if not tightly controlled, costs can exceed initial estimates. The 'award fee' component, while intended to motivate, can also be subjective and lead to disputes if performance evaluations are perceived as unfair. For R&D, the inherent uncertainty means that defining clear, measurable performance criteria upfront can be challenging, potentially leading to disagreements on whether award fees were earned. Furthermore, the contractor might focus on achieving award fee targets rather than the most critical scientific or technical breakthroughs if the fee structure is not perfectly aligned with overarching program goals. Long durations amplify these risks, as research landscapes and priorities can shift.
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: SPECIAL STUDIES/ANALYSIS, NOT R&D › SPECIAL STUDIES - NOT R and D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Contractor Details
Address: 6671 SW FWY STE 800, HOUSTON, TX, 77074
Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Minority Owned Business, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $34,132,421
Exercised Options: $34,132,421
Current Obligation: $24,100,810
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2002-09-15
Current End Date: 2009-10-31
Potential End Date: 2009-10-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2016-07-20
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