NASA's $319M METS Contract Awarded to KBR WYLE Services for R&D
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $319,108,716 ($319.1M)
Contractor: KBR Wyle Services, LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2005-02-05
End Date: 2013-03-14
Contract Duration: 2,959 days
Daily Burn Rate: $107.8K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES (METS)SYSTEMS, SOFTWARE, AND IT ENGINEERING SERVICES
Place of Performance
Location: GREENBELT, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20770
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $319.1 million to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC for work described as: MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES (METS)SYSTEMS, SOFTWARE, AND IT ENGINEERING SERVICES Key points: 1. Contract awarded for Multidisciplinary Engineering and Technical Services (METS) supporting NASA. 2. KBR WYLE Services, LLC is the sole awardee for this definitive contract. 3. The contract spans nearly 8 years, from 2005 to 2013. 4. This award falls under Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 5. The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, indicating performance-based incentives.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The Cost Plus Award Fee structure allows for flexibility but can lead to higher costs if performance incentives are not tightly managed. Benchmarking against similar R&D service contracts is difficult due to the specialized nature of METS.
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 process was intended. However, the specific exclusion of sources warrants further investigation into its justification and impact on price discovery.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are utilized for advanced R&D services, with the ultimate impact on innovation and technological advancement needing to be assessed against the contract's cost.
Public Impact
Supports critical research and development for NASA's missions. Potential for technological advancements and scientific breakthroughs. Ensures continued engineering and technical support for complex systems. Long-term contract duration suggests sustained need for these services.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of specific performance metrics in provided data.
- Potential for cost overruns with Cost Plus Award Fee structure.
- Exclusion of sources in competition needs clarification.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition.
- Supports critical R&D for a major government agency.
- Long contract duration indicates sustained value.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on engineering and technical services. Spending in this area is crucial for innovation but can be subject to cost overruns if not managed effectively. Benchmarks are difficult due to the unique nature of R&D contracts.
Small Business Impact
The provided data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this award (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests the contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses, and their involvement may be limited to subcontracting opportunities.
Oversight & Accountability
The Cost Plus Award Fee structure implies performance incentives, which should be subject to rigorous oversight by NASA to ensure value for money. The long duration of the contract necessitates ongoing monitoring of performance and costs.
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
- Cost Plus Award Fee structure can lead to cost overruns.
- Exclusion of sources in competition warrants further scrutiny.
- Lack of detailed performance outcomes in provided data.
- Long contract duration increases risk of cost escalation if not managed.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, md, definitive-contract, 100m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $319.1 million to KBR WYLE SERVICES, LLC. MULTIDISCIPLINARY ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SERVICES (METS)SYSTEMS, SOFTWARE, AND IT ENGINEERING SERVICES
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is KBR WYLE SERVICES, 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 $319.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2005-02-05. End: 2013-03-14.
What specific R&D advancements or technological breakthroughs have resulted from this METS contract, and how do they justify the $319 million expenditure?
The provided data does not detail specific R&D advancements. To assess value, a review of NASA's project reports and documented outcomes linked to the METS contract would be necessary. This would allow for an evaluation of whether the technological progress and mission support achieved align with the significant investment made over its nearly eight-year duration.
How did the 'exclusion of sources' in the full and open competition process impact the final contract price and overall competitiveness?
The 'exclusion of sources' clause suggests that certain potential bidders were not considered, potentially limiting the competitive landscape. Without knowing which sources were excluded and the rationale, it's difficult to definitively assess the price impact. However, such exclusions can sometimes lead to higher prices than a truly unrestricted full and open competition might yield.
What mechanisms were in place to ensure the effectiveness of the Cost Plus Award Fee structure in driving desired performance outcomes for NASA's R&D objectives?
The effectiveness of a Cost Plus Award Fee structure hinges on clearly defined performance metrics and objective evaluation criteria. NASA would have needed to establish specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals for KBR WYLE Services. Regular performance reviews and transparent award fee determinations would be crucial to ensure the contractor was incentivized to meet or exceed R&D objectives.
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: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 5
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: KBR, Inc.
Address: 7701 GREENBELT RD STE 400, GREENBELT, MD, 20770
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $339,187,719
Exercised Options: $339,187,719
Current Obligation: $319,108,716
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Timeline
Start Date: 2005-02-05
Current End Date: 2013-03-14
Potential End Date: 2013-03-14 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2022-08-30
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