NASA's $45.2M Contract with University of Alaska Systems for Research Services Awarded in 1999
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $45,220,298 ($45.2M)
Contractor: University of Alaska Systems
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 1999-11-15
End Date: 2003-11-17
Contract Duration: 1,463 days
Daily Burn Rate: $30.9K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: R&D
Place of Performance
Location: FAIRBANKS, FAIRBANKS NORTH STAR County, ALASKA, 99775
State: Alaska Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $45.2 million to UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA SYSTEMS for work described as: Key points: 1. Significant contract value of $45.2 million awarded over 4 years. 2. Sole-source award to University of Alaska Systems suggests limited competition. 3. Contract type 'COST NO FEE' indicates potential for cost overruns. 4. Focus on research services within the Alaska region.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The 'COST NO FEE' contract type, awarded in 1999, raises concerns about cost control and value for money. Without a fixed price or incentive structure, the government bears the risk of cost increases. Benchmarking is difficult due to the age and specific nature of the research.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
The contract was awarded on a sole-source basis, indicating a lack of full and open competition. This limits price discovery and may result in higher costs for taxpayers compared to a competitive procurement.
Taxpayer Impact: The sole-source nature of this award likely resulted in a higher cost to taxpayers than if it had been competitively bid.
Public Impact
Research conducted under this contract may have long-term implications for scientific understanding and technological advancement. The significant investment in a single institution highlights potential for concentrated expertise but also risks dependency. Public funds are being utilized for specialized research, the direct benefits of which may not be immediately apparent to the general public.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
- Cost-plus-no-fee contract type shifts cost risk to the government.
- Contract awarded in 1999, data may be outdated.
- Lack of small business participation noted.
Positive Signals
- Supports research and development in a specific geographic region (Alaska).
- Leverages specialized academic expertise from the University of Alaska Systems.
- Long contract duration suggests a sustained need for the services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically supporting scientific research. The value of $45.2 million over four years is substantial for a single research award, particularly when awarded sole-source.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates no small business participation in this contract. This is common for large, specialized research grants awarded to major academic institutions.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would have been managed by NASA. The 'COST NO FEE' structure necessitates robust monitoring to ensure funds are used appropriately and efficiently, though specific oversight details are not provided.
Related Government Programs
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Lack of competition
- Cost risk to government
- Potential for cost overruns
- Outdated contract data
- No small business involvement
Tags
national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ak, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $45.2 million to UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA SYSTEMS. See the official description on USAspending.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is UNIVERSITY OF ALASKA SYSTEMS.
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 $45.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 1999-11-15. End: 2003-11-17.
What was the specific research conducted under this contract and what were its key outcomes?
The specific research focus is not detailed in the provided data. However, given the awardee (University of Alaska Systems) and the agency (NASA), it likely involved scientific research relevant to space exploration, Earth sciences, or aerospace engineering, potentially with a focus on Arctic or Alaskan environments. The outcomes would typically be scientific publications, data sets, or technological advancements.
What were the justifications for awarding this contract on a sole-source basis?
Sole-source awards are typically justified when only one responsible source is available or capable of meeting the agency's needs. For specialized research, this could be due to unique expertise, proprietary technology, or specific facilities possessed by the University of Alaska Systems that were deemed essential for the project's success by NASA.
How did the 'Cost No Fee' structure impact the final expenditure compared to the initial estimate?
The 'Cost No Fee' structure means the contractor is reimbursed for all allowable costs but receives no additional fee or profit. This structure shifts the financial risk entirely to the government. Without knowing the initial estimated cost and the final expenditure, it's impossible to definitively say how it impacted the final cost, but it inherently allows for costs to rise without a direct profit incentive for the contractor to control them.
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Contractor Details
Address: 201 ASC, FAIRBANKS, AK, 00
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $-81,012
Exercised Options: $-81,012
Current Obligation: $45,220,298
Timeline
Start Date: 1999-11-15
Current End Date: 2003-11-17
Potential End Date: 2003-11-17 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2010-12-15
More Contracts from University of Alaska Systems
- Operate and Maintain the Alska Satellite Facility Data and Appl., CTR for the Eosd & ISP — $31.4M (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
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 →