NASA's JUNO Phase B contract awarded to Caltech for $651.6M, a sole-source R&D effort
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $651,588,745 ($651.6M)
Contractor: California Institute of Technology
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2005-11-23
End Date: 2011-09-25
Contract Duration: 2,132 days
Daily Burn Rate: $305.6K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 51
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: JUNO PHASE B - MSFC
Place of Performance
Location: PASADENA, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 91125
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $651.6 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for work described as: JUNO PHASE B - MSFC Key points: 1. Contract awarded to a single entity, limiting competitive pricing. 2. Significant R&D spending in the physical sciences sector. 3. Long duration (2132 days) suggests complex, multi-year project. 4. Cost-plus award fee structure incentivizes performance but can increase costs.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The cost-plus award fee structure, while incentivizing, can lead to higher final costs compared to fixed-price contracts. Benchmarking is difficult without more detailed cost breakdowns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, meaning NASA did not solicit bids from multiple vendors. This lack of competition limits price discovery and potentially leads to higher costs.
Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competition may result in taxpayers paying more than if the contract had been competitively bid.
Public Impact
Supports advanced scientific research and development in space exploration. Potential for groundbreaking discoveries in physical and engineering sciences. Long-term project requiring sustained funding and oversight.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Cost-plus award fee structure
- Lack of small business participation
Positive Signals
- Supports critical R&D for NASA
- Awarded to a reputable institution (Caltech)
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (NAICS 541710). Spending in this sector is crucial for technological advancement and scientific discovery, often characterized by high risk and long development cycles.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates no specific allocation or mention of small business participation in this contract. Larger, sole-source R&D contracts often do not prioritize small business subcontracting unless explicitly mandated.
Oversight & Accountability
The long duration and cost-plus nature of this contract necessitate robust oversight from NASA to ensure project milestones are met and costs remain controlled. Tracking performance against award fee criteria is essential.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition.
- Cost-plus structure can lead to higher costs.
- Lack of transparency in specific cost breakdowns.
- Long contract duration increases risk exposure.
- No clear indication of small business involvement.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, ca, delivery-order, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $651.6 million to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY. JUNO PHASE B - MSFC
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY.
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 $651.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2005-11-23. End: 2011-09-25.
What specific research objectives were achieved under JUNO Phase B, and how did they align with NASA's strategic goals?
The JUNO Phase B contract supported the initial design, development, and testing phases for NASA's Juno mission to Jupiter. Its objectives included refining the spacecraft's scientific instruments, ensuring mission readiness, and finalizing the mission architecture to maximize scientific return within budget and schedule constraints, aligning with NASA's exploration and scientific discovery goals.
Given the sole-source nature, what mechanisms were in place to ensure cost reasonableness and prevent potential overruns?
As a sole-source contract, cost reasonableness was likely managed through detailed negotiation, independent cost estimates by NASA, and rigorous oversight of expenditures. The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure incentivized contractor performance against defined criteria, with fee determination based on NASA's evaluation of performance, providing some control over costs tied to outcomes.
How did the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure influence the project's execution and ultimate cost compared to other contract types?
The CPAF structure aimed to balance flexibility for R&D with cost control by linking a portion of the contractor's profit to performance metrics. While it incentivized meeting technical and schedule goals, it also allowed costs to fluctuate based on performance, potentially leading to higher final costs than a fixed-price contract if performance was exceptionally high or if cost overruns occurred and were subsequently awarded.
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: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 51
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 4800 OAK GROVE DR, PASADENA, CA, 91109
Business Categories: Category Business, Government, U.S. National Government, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $678,019,000
Exercised Options: $678,019,000
Current Obligation: $651,588,745
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NAS703001
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2005-11-23
Current End Date: 2011-09-25
Potential End Date: 2011-09-25 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-02-17
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