NASA's Glory Mission Total Irradiance Monitor Contract Exceeds $28M, Awarded to University of Colorado
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $28,037,818 ($28.0M)
Contractor: THE Regents of the University of Colorado
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2004-02-24
End Date: 2015-02-28
Contract Duration: 4,022 days
Daily Burn Rate: $7.0K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: TOTAL IRRADIANCE MONITOR FOR THE GLORY MISSION
Place of Performance
Location: BOULDER, BOULDER County, COLORADO, 80303, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $28.0 million to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO for work described as: TOTAL IRRADIANCE MONITOR FOR THE GLORY MISSION Key points: 1. Contract value of $28.04M for a critical space mission instrument. 2. Sole-source award to the University of Colorado raises questions about competition. 3. Long contract duration (2004-2015) suggests potential for cost overruns or scope creep. 4. The 'COST NO FEE' contract type may shift risk to the government. 5. Lack of competition and 'COST NO FEE' structure are key risk factors.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The 'COST NO FEE' contract type is unusual for a complex instrument development. Without competitive bidding, it's difficult to assess if the $28M price is reasonable compared to similar scientific instrument development contracts.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was awarded sole-source to the University of Colorado. This lack of competition limits price discovery and may have resulted in a higher overall cost than if multiple vendors had bid.
Taxpayer Impact: The absence of competitive bidding and the 'COST NO FEE' structure could lead to taxpayers bearing a higher cost for this critical scientific instrument.
Public Impact
The Glory mission aims to study Earth's climate by measuring solar irradiance, a vital component of climate science. The instrument's failure or delay could impact long-term climate data collection and understanding. University research institutions are often recipients of sole-source contracts for specialized R&D, but transparency is crucial.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole-source award
- Cost-plus contract type (implied by 'COST NO FEE')
- Long contract duration
- Lack of clear performance metrics in provided data
Positive Signals
- Awarded to a reputable research institution
- Supports a critical climate science mission
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under engineering services for scientific research and development, specifically for a space mission. Benchmarks for similar specialized instrument development contracts are difficult to ascertain without more detailed project scope and competitive data.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates no specific provisions or set-asides for small businesses in this sole-source award to a university.
Oversight & Accountability
The 'COST NO FEE' contract type, while potentially incentivizing the contractor, requires robust government oversight to ensure cost control and adherence to scope. The long duration necessitates continuous monitoring.
Related Government Programs
- Engineering Services
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award limits competition and price discovery.
- Cost-plus contract type ('COST NO FEE') shifts cost risk to the government.
- Long contract duration increases potential for cost overruns and scope creep.
- Lack of transparency in justification for sole-source award.
- Potential for reduced contractor incentive for cost control.
Tags
engineering-services, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, co, dca, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $28.0 million to THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO. TOTAL IRRADIANCE MONITOR FOR THE GLORY MISSION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO.
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 $28.0 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2004-02-24. End: 2015-02-28.
What specific technical capabilities did the University of Colorado possess that justified a sole-source award for this instrument?
Sole-source awards are typically justified when only one responsible source is capable of meeting the government's requirements. For specialized scientific instruments like the Total Irradiance Monitor, this could be due to unique intellectual property, prior development work, or highly specialized expertise and facilities possessed by the university that cannot be replicated by other potential contractors within the required timeframe.
How did the 'COST NO FEE' contract structure impact the government's ability to control costs and manage risk?
A 'COST NO FEE' contract means the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs but receives no fee or profit. While this might seem beneficial, it can reduce the contractor's incentive to control costs aggressively, as their profit isn't tied to efficiency. The government bears the full financial risk of cost overruns and must implement stringent oversight to manage expenditures effectively.
What is the long-term scientific impact and cost-effectiveness of the Glory mission's Total Irradiance Monitor, given its significant cost and duration?
The Total Irradiance Monitor is crucial for understanding solar energy input to Earth's climate system. Its data is vital for climate modeling and long-term trend analysis. The cost-effectiveness hinges on the quality and longevity of the data collected versus the $28M investment. If the instrument performs as expected and provides invaluable climate data for years, the expenditure could be deemed cost-effective for scientific advancement.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services
Product/Service Code: SPACE VEHICLES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 3100 MARINE STREET, BOULDER, CO, 80309
Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $32,807,859
Exercised Options: $32,807,859
Current Obligation: $28,037,818
Timeline
Start Date: 2004-02-24
Current End Date: 2015-02-28
Potential End Date: 2015-02-28 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2015-08-18
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