NASA's $58.1M contract for NESC technical expertise awarded to ATK Space Systems LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $58,105,007 ($58.1M)
Contractor: ATK Space Systems LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2007-01-25
End Date: 2012-05-25
Contract Duration: 1,947 days
Daily Burn Rate: $29.8K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: NNL07AM00T TECHNICAL EXPERTS, TESTING, PROJECT COORDINATION, AND DOCUMENT PREPARATION FOR NESC
Place of Performance
Location: HAMPTON, HAMPTON CITY County, VIRGINIA, 23681
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $58.1 million to ATK SPACE SYSTEMS LLC for work described as: NNL07AM00T TECHNICAL EXPERTS, TESTING, PROJECT COORDINATION, AND DOCUMENT PREPARATION FOR NESC Key points: 1. Contract awarded to ATK Space Systems LLC for technical expertise and project coordination. 2. Spending falls under Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 3. Full and open competition was conducted after excluding sources, suggesting a competitive process. 4. The contract duration was 1947 days, indicating a long-term need for these services.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract type is Cost Plus Award Fee, which can incentivize performance but may lead to higher costs if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar R&D contracts is difficult without more specific service details.
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'. This implies an initial broad solicitation followed by a narrowing of options, which can still yield competitive pricing if the exclusion criteria were justified and the remaining bidders were strong.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for specialized technical support and project coordination, which is essential for complex research and development projects like those managed by NESC.
Public Impact
Supports critical research and development activities for the National Aerospace Safety Council (NESC). Ensures specialized technical expertise is available for testing and project coordination. The long duration suggests a sustained need for these services, impacting long-term budget planning. Awarded to a single entity, ATK Space Systems LLC, for the duration of the contract.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Award Fee contracts can sometimes lead to cost overruns.
- The 'exclusion of sources' in competition needs further scrutiny for fairness.
- Lack of specific performance metrics makes it hard to assess value for money.
Positive Signals
- Awarded through a competitive process, indicating potential for good value.
- Supports critical R&D functions for a key government agency.
- Long contract duration provides stability for essential services.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. Spending in this area is crucial for innovation but can be complex to benchmark due to the specialized nature of the work.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses (ss: false, sb: false). This suggests the primary award went to a larger entity, and there's no immediate indication of subcontracting opportunities for small businesses within this specific award.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract was awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), a major federal agency with established oversight mechanisms. However, the Cost Plus Award Fee structure requires diligent monitoring to ensure costs are controlled and performance targets are met.
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
- Potential for cost overruns due to CPAF structure.
- Lack of transparency regarding 'exclusion of sources'.
- No clear indication of small business participation.
- Difficulty in benchmarking R&D contracts.
- Performance metrics for award fee are not specified.
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 $58.1 million to ATK SPACE SYSTEMS LLC. NNL07AM00T TECHNICAL EXPERTS, TESTING, PROJECT COORDINATION, AND DOCUMENT PREPARATION FOR NESC
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ATK SPACE SYSTEMS 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 $58.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2007-01-25. End: 2012-05-25.
How effectively did the 'exclusion of sources' process maintain a competitive environment for this contract?
The 'exclusion of sources' clause suggests that while the initial competition was open, certain entities were later removed from consideration. To ensure effectiveness, NASA must have had clear, justifiable reasons for exclusion, and the remaining bidders should have been robust enough to drive competitive pricing and innovation. Without details on the excluded parties and the rationale, it's difficult to definitively assess the impact on price discovery and overall value.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) used to determine award fees in this Cost Plus Award Fee contract?
The effectiveness of a Cost Plus Award Fee (CPAF) contract hinges on well-defined Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that align with the project's objectives. For this NESC contract, KPIs likely relate to technical milestones, project completion timelines, quality of deliverables, and potentially cost control. NASA's oversight team would need to rigorously track performance against these KPIs to justify any award fees paid to ATK Space Systems LLC, ensuring taxpayer money is spent efficiently.
What is the long-term strategic value of this $58.1M investment in technical expertise for NASA's R&D goals?
This significant investment in technical expertise, testing, and project coordination is vital for NASA's advanced research and development initiatives, particularly those managed by NESC. The value lies in ensuring the agency has access to specialized skills necessary for complex projects, potentially leading to breakthroughs in aerospace technology, safety improvements, and mission success. The long duration (1947 days) suggests a strategic, sustained commitment to these capabilities.
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: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › DEFENSE (OTHER) R&D
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: Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems LLC (UEI: 618705925)
Address: 5050 POWDER MILL RD, BELTSVILLE, MD, 20705
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $59,853,094
Exercised Options: $59,853,094
Current Obligation: $58,105,007
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNL07AA00B
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2007-01-25
Current End Date: 2012-05-25
Potential End Date: 2012-05-25 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2017-12-13
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