NASA's $35M Base Engineering Contract with Vantage Partners LLC: R&D Spending Analysis
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $35,106,860 ($35.1M)
Contractor: Vantage Partners LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2012-05-15
End Date: 2017-05-31
Contract Duration: 1,842 days
Daily Burn Rate: $19.1K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: BASE ENGINEERING
Place of Performance
Location: CLEVELAND, CUYAHOGA County, OHIO, 44135
State: Ohio Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $35.1 million to VANTAGE PARTNERS LLC for work described as: BASE ENGINEERING Key points: 1. Contract awarded for R&D in physical, engineering, and life sciences. 2. Vantage Partners LLC secured the contract through full and open competition. 3. The contract duration was 1842 days, indicating a long-term project. 4. No small business participation was reported, a potential area for review.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts is difficult without more specific cost breakdowns.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition after exclusion of sources, suggesting a competitive bidding process. This method generally promotes price discovery and potentially better value.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award suggests efforts to secure fair pricing, but the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure warrants scrutiny for taxpayer impact.
Public Impact
Supports critical research and development for NASA's engineering needs. Long-term contract suggests significant investment in a specific area of expertise. Lack of small business involvement may limit broader economic impact.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure
- No small business participation
Positive Signals
- Full and open competition
- Long contract duration indicates sustained need
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically for physical, engineering, and life sciences. Spending in this area is crucial for technological advancement but can be complex to benchmark due to unique project scopes.
Small Business Impact
The contract data indicates no small business participation. This suggests that larger, established firms were the primary bidders or that specific requirements may have excluded smaller entities. Future contracts could explore opportunities for small business engagement.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by NASA, a federal agency with established oversight mechanisms. The 'AW' (Awarding Agency) and 'SA' (Funding Agency) being the same suggests direct oversight. Further review would be needed to assess specific oversight activities during contract performance.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure may lead to cost overruns.
- Lack of small business participation.
- Limited transparency on final cost vs. estimate.
- Effectiveness of R&D outcomes not detailed.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, oh, do, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $35.1 million to VANTAGE PARTNERS LLC. BASE ENGINEERING
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is VANTAGE PARTNERS 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 $35.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2012-05-15. End: 2017-05-31.
What was the final cost compared to the initial estimate, and how did the fixed fee component impact overall value?
The provided data does not include final cost versus estimate or detailed breakdowns of the fixed fee's impact. A Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract requires careful monitoring to ensure the fixed fee remains reasonable relative to the effort expended and that costs do not escalate beyond initial projections. Without this data, a definitive value assessment is challenging.
What were the specific R&D deliverables, and how effectively were they met given the contract's duration and cost?
The data lacks specifics on the R&D deliverables and their successful completion. The 1842-day duration suggests a substantial project, but effectiveness hinges on NASA's assessment of the outcomes. Post-award reviews or performance reports would be necessary to evaluate the technical success and impact of the research conducted under this contract.
Were there any opportunities missed to engage small businesses in this significant R&D contract?
The absence of small business participation is noted. Given the contract's value and duration, there might have been opportunities for subcontracting or set-asides. Agencies often strive for small business inclusion to foster innovation and economic growth. A review of the procurement strategy could reveal if such opportunities were considered or actively pursued.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Vantage Systems, Inc. (UEI: 828923482)
Address: 10210 GREENBELT RD STE 400, LANHAM, MD, 04
Business Categories: Black American Owned Business, Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $35,106,860
Exercised Options: $35,106,860
Current Obligation: $35,106,860
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Cost or Pricing Data: NOT OBTAINED - WAIVED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNC12BA01B
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2012-05-15
Current End Date: 2017-05-31
Potential End Date: 2017-05-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2014-03-18
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