NASA's $90.6M R&D Contract with Amentum Technology Faces Scrutiny Over Long Duration and Limited Competition
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $90,643,929 ($90.6M)
Contractor: Amentum Technology, Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2004-01-30
End Date: 2014-01-31
Contract Duration: 3,654 days
Daily Burn Rate: $24.8K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 8
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: RESEARCH OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND ENGINEERING
Place of Performance
Location: HAMPTON, HAMPTON CITY County, VIRGINIA, 23681
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $90.6 million to AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC. for work described as: RESEARCH OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND ENGINEERING Key points: 1. Significant R&D spending of $90.6M over a decade. 2. Amentum Technology, Inc. secured the contract. 3. Contract duration of 3654 days raises questions about efficiency. 4. The sector is Research and Development, specifically physical, engineering, and life sciences.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract's 10-year duration and fixed-price nature suggest potential for overpayment or underperformance if not closely managed. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts of this scale and duration is difficult without more granular cost data.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, which is positive for price discovery. However, the long duration and multiple delivery orders may have limited ongoing competitive pressure.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds were used for extensive R&D over a decade. While innovation is valuable, the long-term nature and fixed price warrant scrutiny to ensure value for money.
Public Impact
Long-term R&D investment supports potential technological advancements. Contract duration raises concerns about adaptability to evolving research needs. NASA's reliance on a single contractor for an extended period could limit access to diverse expertise. The fixed-price structure may not adequately incentivize cost efficiency over the contract's lifespan.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Extended contract duration (10 years)
- Potential for contractor lock-in
- Fixed-price may not reflect evolving R&D costs
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition
- Supports critical R&D operations
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. Spending benchmarks in this area are highly variable due to the nature of innovation and project scope.
Small Business Impact
The provided data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved as subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to assess small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The long duration of the contract necessitates robust oversight from NASA to ensure performance, manage risks, and verify that the R&D objectives are being met efficiently and effectively.
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
- Extended contract duration
- Potential for cost overruns in fixed-price R&D
- Risk of technological obsolescence
- Limited ongoing competition
- Lack of clear performance metrics for R&D outcomes
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, national-aeronautics-and-space-administr, va, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $90.6 million to AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC.. RESEARCH OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND ENGINEERING
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is AMENTUM 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 $90.6 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2004-01-30. End: 2014-01-31.
What specific R&D advancements or outcomes resulted from this decade-long contract, and how do they justify the significant investment?
Assessing the value requires examining the tangible outputs of the R&D conducted. This includes patents, prototypes, scientific publications, or technologies transferred to operational use. Without documented achievements, the $90.6M investment's return remains unclear, potentially indicating a need for more outcome-oriented contract structures in future R&D procurements.
Given the 10-year duration, what mechanisms were in place to mitigate the risk of technological obsolescence or shifts in research priorities?
A contract spanning a decade in R&D inherently carries risks of obsolescence. Effective mitigation would involve regular performance reviews, phased funding tied to milestones, and clear clauses allowing for contract modification or termination if research directions diverge significantly. The absence of such details suggests a potential oversight in managing long-term R&D risks.
How did the 'full and open competition' at the outset translate into sustained cost-effectiveness over the contract's 10-year lifespan?
While initial competition is a positive indicator, its long-term impact on cost-effectiveness depends on contract management. Mechanisms like competitive re-solicitation for subsequent phases, performance-based incentives, or regular price reasonableness checks are crucial. If the contract simply rolled over without ongoing competitive pressure or performance validation, the initial competition's benefit may have diminished over time.
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: OPERATION OF GOVT OWNED FACILITY › OPERATE GOVT OWNED BUILDINGS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 8
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Jacobs Engineering Group Inc
Address: 600 WILLIAM NORTHERN BLVD, TULLAHOMA, TN, 37388
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $91,500,000
Exercised Options: $91,500,000
Current Obligation: $90,643,929
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNL04AA03B
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2004-01-30
Current End Date: 2014-01-31
Potential End Date: 2014-01-31 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2023-04-11
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