NASA's $277.6M PAAC III contract for IT and engineering services awarded to ASRC Research and Technology Solutions LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $277,638,888 ($277.6M)
Contractor: Asrc Research and Technology Solutions LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2009-01-22
End Date: 2014-08-31
Contract Duration: 2,047 days
Daily Burn Rate: $135.6K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: PROGRAM ANALYSIS AND CONTROL (PAAC III) PROVIDES PLANNING AND SCHEDULING; CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY; DOCUMENTATION/LIBRARY; GENERAL BUSINESS; AND GENERAL ACCOUNTING SERVICES.
Place of Performance
Location: GREENBELT, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20771
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $277.6 million to ASRC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LLC for work described as: PROGRAM ANALYSIS AND CONTROL (PAAC III) PROVIDES PLANNING AND SCHEDULING; CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY; DOCUMENTATION/LIBRARY; GENERAL BUSINESS; AND GENERAL ACCOUNTING SERVICES. Key points: 1. The contract provided a broad range of services including IT, planning, configuration management, and accounting. 2. Awarded under full and open competition, indicating a competitive bidding process. 3. The contract type was Cost Plus Award Fee, which incentivizes contractor performance. 4. Services were delivered primarily in Maryland, impacting the local workforce. 5. The duration of the contract was over 6 years, suggesting a long-term need for these services. 6. The contract was awarded to ASRC Research and Technology Solutions LLC, a significant player in government contracting.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total award of $277.6 million over approximately 6.5 years suggests a substantial investment in support services. While specific performance metrics and award fee payouts are not detailed, the Cost Plus Award Fee structure implies a mechanism for incentivizing value. Benchmarking against similar large-scale IT and engineering support contracts would be necessary for a definitive value-for-money assessment, but the competitive award process provides a baseline for fair pricing.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
This contract was awarded under 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources,' which typically means that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The fact that it was competed broadly suggests that NASA sought the best possible offers. The number of bidders is not specified, but a full and open competition generally leads to more robust price discovery and potentially better pricing for the government.
Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process like this generally benefits taxpayers by ensuring that the government receives services at a price driven by market forces, rather than being limited to a single provider.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiary of this contract is NASA, which received essential IT, planning, and engineering support services. Services delivered included configuration management, information technology, documentation, general business, and accounting. The geographic impact was concentrated in Maryland, likely supporting local jobs and the regional economy. The contract supported a significant workforce, though specific numbers are not provided.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- The Cost Plus Award Fee structure can sometimes lead to higher overall costs if award fees are consistently maximized without clear, quantifiable performance improvements.
- Lack of detailed performance data makes it difficult to assess if the award fees truly reflect exceptional value.
- The broad scope of services could lead to potential inefficiencies if not managed tightly.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive pricing environment.
- The Cost Plus Award Fee structure is designed to incentivize contractor performance and efficiency.
- The contract duration indicates a sustained need and successful delivery of services over an extended period.
- The contractor, ASRC Research and Technology Solutions LLC, has a track record in government contracting, implying experience in managing such large-scale awards.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Engineering Services sector, specifically supporting government agencies with a broad range of IT and management functions. The market for such services is large and competitive, with numerous firms capable of providing these capabilities. NASA, as a major technology-focused agency, frequently procures these types of support services to augment its internal capabilities. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve looking at other large IT and professional services contracts awarded to federal agencies.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not set aside for small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). Therefore, there are no direct subcontracting implications for small businesses arising from a set-aside provision. However, the prime contractor may have voluntarily engaged small businesses as subcontractors, which is common in large federal contracts to leverage specialized capabilities and meet broader economic goals.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would have been managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). As a Cost Plus Award Fee contract, performance would be monitored against defined criteria to determine award fee payouts. Transparency would be facilitated through contract reporting mechanisms and potentially through public contract databases. Inspector General jurisdiction would apply in cases of fraud, waste, or abuse.
Related Government Programs
- NASA IT Support Services
- Engineering and Technical Services Contracts
- Professional Services Contracts
- Information Technology Services
- Program Management Support
Risk Flags
- Contract duration exceeds 5 years
- Cost Plus Award Fee contract type
- Broad scope of services
Tags
nasa, it-services, engineering-services, professional-services, cost-plus-award-fee, full-and-open-competition, maryland, large-contract, asrc-research-and-technology-solutions-llc, program-analysis-and-control-iii
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $277.6 million to ASRC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS LLC. PROGRAM ANALYSIS AND CONTROL (PAAC III) PROVIDES PLANNING AND SCHEDULING; CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT; INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY; DOCUMENTATION/LIBRARY; GENERAL BUSINESS; AND GENERAL ACCOUNTING SERVICES.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ASRC RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS 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 $277.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2009-01-22. End: 2014-08-31.
What was the specific performance criteria used to determine award fees for ASRC Research and Technology Solutions LLC under the PAAC III contract?
The provided data does not specify the exact performance criteria used for award fee determination under the PAAC III contract. Typically, Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contracts establish a set of measurable performance objectives, key performance indicators (KPIs), and qualitative standards. These might include metrics related to on-time delivery, cost control, technical quality, customer satisfaction, and innovation. The contractor's achievement against these criteria would then be evaluated by the government contracting officer, who would determine the amount of award fee, if any, to be paid. Without access to the contract's Performance Work Statement (PWS) or award fee plan, a detailed breakdown of these criteria remains unavailable.
How does the per-unit cost of services under PAAC III compare to similar NASA contracts or industry benchmarks?
The provided data does not include specific per-unit cost breakdowns for the services rendered under the PAAC III contract, making direct comparison difficult. The total award amount of $277.6 million over approximately 2047 days (about 6.7 years) represents the total contract value, not a standardized unit cost. To perform a meaningful comparison, one would need to identify specific service units (e.g., labor hours, IT support tickets, project milestones) and their associated costs. Benchmarking would then involve comparing these unit costs against similar services procured by NASA or other federal agencies, as well as against prevailing market rates for comparable private sector services. The 'N/A' for CPU in the schema reflects this data limitation.
What was the track record of ASRC Research and Technology Solutions LLC with NASA prior to or during the PAAC III contract?
ASRC Research and Technology Solutions LLC (ASRC RTS) has a significant history of contracting with NASA and other federal agencies. Prior to and during the PAAC III contract (2009-2014), ASRC RTS was involved in numerous other federal awards, often in areas related to IT, engineering, and scientific support. Their extensive experience suggests a familiarity with government contracting processes and NASA's operational requirements. A comprehensive review of their past performance evaluations (e.g., Contractor Performance Assessment Reporting System - CPARS) would provide deeper insights into their reliability, quality of work, and overall performance history with NASA and other clients.
What were the primary risks associated with the PAAC III contract, and how were they managed?
Potential risks associated with a contract like PAAC III, which involves a broad scope of IT and engineering services over several years, could include scope creep, cost overruns, contractor performance issues, and technological obsolescence. Given the Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure, a key risk is ensuring that the award fees are tied to demonstrable, high-level performance rather than just effort. Management of these risks would typically involve robust government oversight, clear definition of requirements in the Performance Work Statement (PWS), regular performance reviews, proactive communication with the contractor, and strict adherence to the contract's terms and conditions. The competitive nature of the award also serves as a risk mitigation factor by selecting a contractor presumed to be capable and competitive.
How did the total spending on PAAC III compare to NASA's overall IT and engineering support spending during the contract period?
The total spending of $277.6 million on the PAAC III contract represents a significant portion of NASA's budget allocated to IT and engineering support services during its performance period (2009-2014). However, without access to NASA's comprehensive budget data for those years, a precise comparison is not possible. NASA's overall spending in these categories encompasses numerous other contracts, internal resources, and research initiatives. PAAC III was one of several large contracts providing essential support functions. To contextualize this spending, one would need to analyze NASA's annual budget reports and contract databases to determine the proportion of IT and engineering support expenditure represented by PAAC III.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Architectural, Engineering, and Related Services › Engineering Services
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: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (UEI: 076637073)
Address: 6303 IVY LANE STE 130, GREENBELT, MD, 20770
Business Categories: 8(a) Program Participant, Alaskan Native Corporation Owned Firm, Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Limited Liability Corporation, Minority Owned Business, Native American Owned Business, Small Business, Small Disadvantaged Business, Special Designations
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $296,000,000
Exercised Options: $296,000,000
Current Obligation: $277,638,888
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2009-01-22
Current End Date: 2014-08-31
Potential End Date: 2014-08-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2021-07-13
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