NASA Awards $93M IT Support Contract to General Dynamics for Goddard Space Flight Center
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $93,054,531 ($93.1M)
Contractor: General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2013-03-01
End Date: 2018-08-28
Contract Duration: 2,006 days
Daily Burn Rate: $46.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: IT
Official Description: IGF::OT::IGF CISTO-SCTS - THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE HIGH END COMPUTING AND DATA SUPPORT, AS WELL AS GENERAL SUPPORT SERVICES, FOR THE NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT (GSFC) COMPUTATIONAL AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICE (CISTO). THE COMPUTATIONAL AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICE (CISTO) PROVIDES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) AND COMPUTATIONAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE GSFC SCIENCES AND EXPLORATION DIRECTORATE (SED). THIS INCLUDES ACCESS TO HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING, NETWORKING, MASS STORAGE, INFORMATION SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES, COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE EXPERTISE, REAL TIME TRANSMISSION OF SATELLITE DATA, AND SUPPORT FOR THE NASA HIGH END COMPUTING (HEC) PROGRAM. THE OFFICE ALSO ENGAGES IN A NUMBER OF EDUCATIONAL AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS. CISTO IS SED'S INTERFACE WITH GSFC'S CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER AND IT ORGANIZATIONS IN THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE (CODE 700) REGARDING IT SECURITY POLICY, IMPLEMENTATION, AND SERVICES; ENTERPRISE ARCHITECTURE DEVELOPMENT AND COMPLIANCE; STRATEGIC IT INVESTMENT PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT; AND NASA AND GSFC IT POLICIES AND INITIATIVES. CISTO ALSO DEVELOPS STRATEGIES TO OPTIMIZE COST-EFFECTIVE USE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES. AT A TOP LEVEL, THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF OBJECTIVES DESIGNED TO MEET THE MISSION AND VISION OF CISTO: 1. PROVIDE HIGH-END COMPUTING AND DATA SYSTEMS AND SERVICES DESIGNED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF THE NASA SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING COMMUNITIES. 2. PROVIDE A RAPID RESPONSE TO CHANGING SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING REQUIREMENTS AS WELL AS THE CHANGING TECHNOLOGY NEEDED TO BEST MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS. 3. EVOLVE THE FOCUS FROM DATA CENTRIC SERVICES TO KNOWLEDGE CENTRIC SERVICES THAT ENABLE THE USE OF NASA OBSERVATIONAL AND MODEL DATA IN NEW AND INNOVATIVE WAYS. 4. PROVIDE A COMPLETE SET OF SUPPORT SERVICES FROM LOW-LEVEL SYSTEM ADMINISTRATION TO HIGH-LEVEL APPLICATION SUPPORT FOR THE NASA SCIENTIFIC AND ENGINEERING COMMUNITIES. 5. SUSTAIN A RICH AND ROBUST OPERATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WITH A HIGH LEVEL OF OPERATIONAL AVAILABILITY AND CAPABILITY. 6. PUSH THE ENVELOPE OF SYSTEMS AND SERVICES WITHIN CISTO AND THE NCCS TO OPEN NEW AND MORE EFFICIENT METHODS FOR MODELING, DATA ANALYTICS, COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT, AND DISTRIBUTION. 7. CONSTANTLY LOOK FOR THE BEST VALUE SOLUTIONS FOR THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE USE OF COMMODITY COMPONENTS, OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE, PARTNERSHIPS, AND COMPETITIVE PROCUREMENTS. 8. PROVIDE MISSION-SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND FREE TECHNOLOGIES TO ACQUIRE AND PROCESS DIRECT BROADCAST DATA; INTRODUCE THE USER COMMUNITY TO DIRECT READOUT SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGIES; AND PROVIDE USERS WITH A DESIGN TEMPLATE TO RECEIVE, PROCESS, AND ANALYZE THEIR OWN DIRECT READOUT DATA.
Place of Performance
Location: GREENBELT, PRINCE GEORGES County, MARYLAND, 20771
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $93.1 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC. for work described as: IGF::OT::IGF CISTO-SCTS - THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE HIGH END COMPUTING AND DATA SUPPORT, AS WELL AS GENERAL SUPPORT SERVICES, FOR THE NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT (GSFC) COMPUTATIONAL AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICE (CISTO). THE COMPUTATIONAL AND INFOR… Key points: 1. Contract supports high-end computing, data, and IT services for NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. 2. General Dynamics Information Technology, Inc. is the primary contractor. 3. The contract was awarded under full and open competition. 4. Services include high-performance computing, networking, and data transmission support.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $93.05 million over approximately 5.5 years suggests a reasonable annual spend for comprehensive IT and computing support services. Benchmarking against similar large-scale IT support contracts for federal agencies would provide a more precise assessment.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
Awarded under full and open competition, this method likely fostered competitive pricing and ensured the government received the best value. The competitive process allows multiple vendors to bid, driving down costs and improving service quality.
Taxpayer Impact: The competitive award process aims to ensure taxpayer funds are used efficiently for essential IT and computing services supporting critical NASA missions.
Public Impact
Ensures continued operation of critical IT infrastructure for space exploration and scientific research. Supports advanced computing capabilities vital for data analysis and simulations. Facilitates real-time data transmission from satellites, crucial for ongoing missions. Contributes to NASA's educational and outreach programs by providing necessary technological support.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Contract duration is lengthy, potentially leading to cost inefficiencies if needs change.
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type can incentivize contractor to increase costs.
- No specific mention of small business participation.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through full and open competition, suggesting competitive pricing.
- Supports critical NASA scientific and exploration missions.
- Includes a broad range of essential IT and computing services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the IT services sector, specifically focusing on computer facilities management. The value is substantial, reflecting the complex and high-demand nature of IT support for a major research and development agency like NASA.
Small Business Impact
The provided data indicates that small business participation was not a factor in this contract (ss: false, sb: false). Further analysis would be needed to determine if opportunities for small businesses were overlooked or if the scope inherently excluded them.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a federal agency with established oversight mechanisms. The use of full and open competition suggests a degree of accountability in the procurement process.
Related Government Programs
- Computer Facilities Management Services
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Contracting
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration Programs
Risk Flags
- Potential for cost overruns due to CPFF contract type.
- Lack of explicit small business participation.
- Long contract duration may not adapt well to rapidly changing IT needs.
- Reliance on a single large contractor for critical IT functions.
Tags
computer-facilities-management-services, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, md, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $93.1 million to GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC.. IGF::OT::IGF CISTO-SCTS - THE PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE HIGH END COMPUTING AND DATA SUPPORT, AS WELL AS GENERAL SUPPORT SERVICES, FOR THE NASA GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT (GSFC) COMPUTATIONAL AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICE (CISTO). THE COMPUTATIONAL AND INFORMATION SCIENCES AND TECHNOLOGY OFFICE (CISTO) PROVIDES INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT) AND COMPUTATIONAL SERVICES TO SUPPORT THE GSFC SCIENCES AND EXPLORATION DIRECTORATE (SED). THIS INCLUDES ACCESS TO HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPU
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is GENERAL DYNAMICS INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, INC..
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 $93.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2013-03-01. End: 2018-08-28.
How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar IT support contracts at other federal research agencies?
A comparative analysis of annual spending on IT and high-end computing support services across agencies like NSF, DOE, or DoD research arms would be necessary. Factors like the scope of services, specific technological requirements, and contract types (e.g., CPFF vs. fixed-price) would need to be considered for a fair comparison. Without this data, it's difficult to definitively assess if the $93 million over five years represents a benchmark or an outlier.
What are the specific risks associated with the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) contract type in this context?
The CPFF structure carries inherent risks for the government, primarily the potential for cost overruns. While a fixed fee provides some predictability, the contractor is reimbursed for all allowable costs, which could incentivize less stringent cost control. This necessitates robust oversight from NASA to monitor expenditures and ensure costs remain reasonable and necessary for the defined scope of work.
To what extent does this contract enable NASA's long-term scientific and exploration goals?
This contract is foundational for NASA Goddard's scientific and exploration directorate, providing the essential computing power, data storage, and IT infrastructure required for complex simulations, data analysis from missions, and advanced research. Its effectiveness is directly tied to enabling cutting-edge scientific discovery and the successful execution of space exploration objectives by ensuring reliable and high-performance technological support.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Computer Facilities Management Services
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › General Science and Technology R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Solicitation ID: NNG12411365
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: General Dynamics Corp
Address: 15000 CONFERENCE CENTER DR, CHANTILLY, VA, 20151
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $103,000,000
Exercised Options: $103,000,000
Current Obligation: $93,054,531
Actual Outlays: $79,268
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 9
Total Subaward Amount: $10,428,518
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2013-03-01
Current End Date: 2018-08-28
Potential End Date: 2018-08-28 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2024-09-20
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