Vertex Aerospace LLC contract for aircraft and airfield services awarded by NASA totals over $14.7 million
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $14,795,158 ($14.8M)
Contractor: Vertex Aerospace LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2005-04-25
End Date: 2010-03-31
Contract Duration: 1,801 days
Daily Burn Rate: $8.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: AIRCRAFT AND AIRFIELD REALTED SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: MOFFETT FIELD, SANTA CLARA County, CALIFORNIA, 94035, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $14.8 million to VERTEX AEROSPACE LLC for work described as: AIRCRAFT AND AIRFIELD REALTED SERVICES Key points: 1. The contract value of $14.7 million over its period of performance suggests a significant investment in aviation support services. 2. Full and open competition was utilized, indicating a broad market solicitation for these services. 3. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF), which incentivizes contractor performance through award incentives. 4. The contract duration of approximately 5 years (1801 days) allows for sustained service delivery. 5. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 488190 points to specialized support activities within the air transportation sector. 6. The contract was awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), suggesting a need for specialized aerospace-related support.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
Benchmarking the value of this $14.7 million contract is challenging without specific service details or comparable contract data. However, the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure implies that NASA sought to control costs while incentivizing high performance. The relatively long duration of the contract suggests a stable, ongoing need for these services. Further analysis would require understanding the specific deliverables and comparing them to industry standards for similar aviation support contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting that multiple bidders were likely solicited and evaluated. This approach is generally expected to foster competitive pricing and ensure the government receives the best value. The number of bidders and the specific evaluation criteria would provide further insight into the intensity of the competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition typically benefits taxpayers by driving down prices through market forces and ensuring a wide range of qualified contractors can compete for government business.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are likely NASA's aviation operations and personnel who rely on these aircraft and airfield services. Services delivered likely include maintenance, repair, ground support, and potentially airfield management for NASA facilities. The geographic impact is centered around the location of the contract performance, indicated by 'CALIFORNIA' (SN). Workforce implications include employment opportunities for skilled technicians, mechanics, and support staff within the aerospace and aviation sectors.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- The Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract type can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not managed diligently, as the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs plus an award fee based on performance.
- Lack of specific performance metrics and award fee criteria makes it difficult to assess the effectiveness of the incentive structure.
- The broad NAICS code 488190 for 'Other Support Activities for Air Transportation' may obscure the specific nature and complexity of the services provided, hindering detailed value analysis.
Positive Signals
- The use of full and open competition suggests a commitment to leveraging market competition to achieve favorable pricing and service quality.
- The contract's long duration (1801 days) indicates a stable, long-term requirement, allowing for efficient service planning and execution.
- The award fee component of the contract structure provides a mechanism to incentivize and reward high contractor performance, potentially leading to better outcomes.
Sector Analysis
The aviation support services sector is critical for the functioning of air transportation, encompassing a wide range of activities from aircraft maintenance to airfield operations. This contract falls within the broader aerospace and defense industry, which is characterized by high technical requirements and stringent quality standards. Comparable spending benchmarks would depend on the specific services rendered, but contracts for airfield operations and aircraft support can range from millions to billions of dollars depending on scale and scope.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates that small business participation was not a primary focus for this contract, as 'sb' is false and 'ss' (small business set-aside) is also false. This suggests the contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses may exist but are not explicitly detailed in the provided summary data. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether Vertex Aerospace LLC actively seeks small business subcontractors for specialized services.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the contracting officer and the relevant program office within NASA. Accountability measures are embedded in the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure, where performance against defined criteria dictates the award fee. Transparency is generally facilitated through contract award databases, but detailed performance reports and fee determinations are often internal. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply if any fraud, waste, or abuse were suspected.
Related Government Programs
- Aircraft Maintenance Services
- Airfield Operations Support
- Aerospace Support Contracts
- NASA Procurement
- Transportation Infrastructure Support
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to CPAF structure if not managed effectively.
- Performance metrics for award fee are not publicly detailed, making objective assessment difficult.
- Broad service category may obscure specific risks associated with specialized aviation support.
Tags
aviation-services, aircraft-maintenance, airfield-operations, nasa, vertex-aerospace-llc, cost-plus-award-fee, full-and-open-competition, california, federal-contract, aerospace, transportation-support
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $14.8 million to VERTEX AEROSPACE LLC. AIRCRAFT AND AIRFIELD REALTED 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 $14.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2005-04-25. End: 2010-03-31.
What specific aircraft and airfield services are covered under this contract?
The provided data identifies the contract under NAICS code 488190 ('Other Support Activities for Air Transportation') and the broad category 'AIRCRAFT AND AIRFIELD RELATED SERVICES'. However, the specific services are not detailed. Typically, such contracts can encompass a wide array of activities including, but not limited to, aircraft line maintenance, heavy maintenance and repair, component overhaul, ground support equipment operation and maintenance, airfield pavement maintenance, lighting systems support, and potentially air traffic control support services if applicable to the NASA facility. The exact scope would be defined in the contract's Statement of Work (SOW).
How does the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure compare to other contract types for similar services?
Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contracts are often used when the scope of work is not precisely defined or when performance incentives are crucial. Unlike Firm-Fixed-Price (FFP) contracts, CPAF reimburses the contractor for allowable costs and provides a base fee plus an additional award fee based on performance against specific criteria. This differs from Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF), where the fee is fixed. For complex aviation support services, CPAF allows flexibility while incentivizing the contractor to exceed minimum performance standards, potentially leading to better value than a simple cost-plus contract, but requires robust performance metrics and oversight to prevent cost escalation.
What is the historical spending pattern for similar aircraft and airfield services at NASA?
Analyzing historical spending patterns for similar services at NASA requires access to comprehensive contract databases and filtering by relevant NAICS codes, service descriptions, and agencies. Without specific historical data for this contract or comparable ones, it's difficult to establish a precise trend. However, NASA's operational tempo, research activities, and facility maintenance needs would dictate consistent or fluctuating spending in this area. Factors like fleet size, research program demands, and infrastructure upgrades influence the scale and frequency of such contracts over time. A review of past NASA procurements in aviation support would reveal trends in contract values, durations, and competition levels.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) likely used to determine the award fee for Vertex Aerospace LLC?
While the specific KPIs are not provided, for a contract involving aircraft and airfield services under a CPAF structure, typical performance indicators would likely focus on mission-critical aspects. These could include aircraft availability rates, on-time maintenance completion percentages, adherence to safety protocols (e.g., zero major safety incidents), quality of repairs (e.g., low repeat failure rates), response times for unscheduled maintenance, efficiency in airfield operations, and compliance with environmental regulations. The award fee would be determined by how well Vertex Aerospace LLC meets or exceeds targets set for these KPIs, as outlined in the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) and evaluation criteria.
How does the $14.7 million contract value compare to the overall NASA budget for aviation support?
The $14.7 million contract value represents a specific procurement for aircraft and airfield-related services. To assess its significance relative to NASA's overall budget for aviation support, one would need to know the total annual or multi-year budget allocated by NASA for such services across all its centers and missions. This single contract's value could be a small fraction of the total if NASA operates a large fleet or multiple airfields, or it could represent a substantial portion if it covers a critical, specialized function or a smaller facility. Without the broader budget context, it's hard to determine if this represents significant or minor spending within NASA's aviation portfolio.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Transportation and Warehousing › Support Activities for Air Transportation › Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Transportation R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: L-3 Communications Holdings, Inc. (UEI: 008898843)
Address: 555 INDUSTRIAL DR S, MADISON, MS, 39110
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $17,015,844
Exercised Options: $15,956,547
Current Obligation: $14,795,158
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Timeline
Start Date: 2005-04-25
Current End Date: 2010-03-31
Potential End Date: 2010-05-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2015-08-31
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