NASA's $29.8M contract for space science and exploration support awarded to Johns Hopkins University
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $29,801,343 ($29.8M)
Contractor: THE Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2008-03-04
End Date: 2012-11-30
Contract Duration: 1,732 days
Daily Burn Rate: $17.2K/day
Competition Type: NOT COMPETED
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: MINI-RF PAYLOAD DEVELOPMENT, INTEGRATION, OPERATIONS, SPACE SCIENCE, COMMUNICATIONS, AND CHANDRAYAAN-1 MISSION GROUND SUPPORT THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PERFORM THE WORK THAT IS DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. THE OVERALL SCOPE OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED WILL SUPPORT ALL OF NASA S MISSION DIRECTORATES. THESE EFFORTS CAN BE CHARACTERIZED AS AEROSPACE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT (ARDES). THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE TASKS TO BE DEVELOPED WILL BE TO CONDUCT SUPPORTING RESEARCH AND ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT DESIGNED TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO SPACE SCIENCE AND SPACE EXPLORATION AND ASSIST NASA IN THE FORMULATION AND EXECUTION OF ITS PROGRAMS BY PROVIDING NASA WITH TECHNICAL ADVICE, STUDIES, AND REPORTS OF INVESTIGATIONS. EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE CONTRACTOR, IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ASSIGNED TASKS, WHICH INCLUDE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, PARTNERING AND COMMERCIALIZATION ACTIVITIES, SHALL SEEK TO ENHANCE THE VALUE AND CONTRIBUTION OF TECHNOLOGY TO THE NATION S TECHNOLOGICAL COMPETITIVENESS, PROSPERITY, QUALITY OF LIFE, AND OTHER NATIONAL PRIORITIES. INDIVIDUAL TASK ORDERS WILL FALL WITHIN ONE OF TWO BROAD CATEGORIES: 1) ESSENTIAL RESEARCH CAPABILITY OF SPACE SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, AND RELATED WORK IN THE SUPPORTING ESSENTIAL RESEARCH CAPABILITIES OF SYSTEMS TEST AND EVALUATION, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, AND SIMULATION, MODELING AND OPERATIONS ANALYSIS . TASK ORDERS WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF ESSENTIAL RESEARCH CAPABILITIES ARE INTENDED TO PRESERVE THE NATION S CAPABILITIES TO PERFORM ROBOTIC SPACE MISSIONS OVER THE FULL MISSION LIFE CYCLE FROM CONCEPT FORMULATION THROUGH MISSION OPERATIONS AND DATA ANALYSIS. NASA IS CONTRACTING FOR SUPPORT IN SEVERAL KEY RESEARCH, ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT COMPETENCIES THAT ARE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THESE MISSIONS. 2) OTHER AEROSPACE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT. TASK ORDERS WITHIN THE CATEGORY OF OTHER AEROSPACE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT ARE INTENDED TO INCLUDE A BROAD BASE OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL CAPABILITIES RELEVANT TO NASA PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES AND ASSIGNMENTS REGARDLESS OF CATEGORY, TASK ORDERS MAY BE ISSUED RELATED TO AUTONOMOUS DEEP-SPACE AND EARTH-ORBITING SPACECRAFT OR MAJOR SUBSYSTEMS, EXPERIMENTS, INSTRUMENTS OR OTHER DEVICES THAT MAY BE CARRIED AS PAYLOADS ON THE SPACE SHUTTLE OR ON OTHER SPACECRAFT. TASK ASSIGNMENTS WILL EXPLICITLY DESCRIBE A BROAD RANGE OF HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, SYSTEMS ENGINEERING, SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS, AND MANAGEMENT EFFORTS INCLUDING PROGRAM AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION.
Place of Performance
Location: LAUREL, HOWARD County, MARYLAND, 20723
State: Maryland Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $29.8 million to THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC for work described as: MINI-RF PAYLOAD DEVELOPMENT, INTEGRATION, OPERATIONS, SPACE SCIENCE, COMMUNICATIONS, AND CHANDRAYAAN-1 MISSION GROUND SUPPORT THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PERFORM THE WORK THAT IS DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. THE OVERALL SCOPE OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED WI… Key points: 1. Contract supports a broad range of NASA's mission directorates, focusing on aerospace research, development, and engineering. 2. Efforts include supporting space science and exploration through research and advanced technology development. 3. The contract aims to provide NASA with technical advice, studies, and reports for program formulation and execution. 4. Work is performed under task orders, allowing flexibility in addressing NASA's evolving needs. 5. The contractor, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, has a strong track record in aerospace research. 6. The contract's duration of over 4 years indicates a sustained need for these specialized services.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $29.8 million over approximately 4.5 years suggests a moderate investment in specialized aerospace research and development. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale R&D contracts for NASA is challenging without more specific task order details. However, the cost-plus-fixed-fee structure implies that while the contractor is reimbursed for allowable costs, a fixed fee is applied, which can provide some cost control for the agency. The absence of detailed performance metrics in the provided data makes a definitive value-for-money assessment difficult, but the long-term nature of the contract suggests perceived value by the agency.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This contract was not competed, indicating a sole-source award. This typically occurs when a specific contractor possesses unique capabilities, proprietary technology, or a demonstrated history of successful performance on related projects that make them the only viable option. The lack of competition means NASA did not explore alternative solutions or pricing from other potential providers, which could potentially lead to higher costs than if a competitive process had been undertaken.
Taxpayer Impact: A sole-source award means taxpayers did not benefit from the price reductions and innovation that can arise from a competitive bidding process.
Public Impact
Benefits NASA's mission directorates by providing critical research and development support. Advances space science and exploration through the development of new technologies and research. Supports the formulation and execution of NASA's strategic programs. Provides valuable technical advice and studies to inform agency decisions. The geographic impact is primarily national, supporting NASA's overall space program objectives.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Lack of competition may have resulted in a higher price than a competed contract.
- Limited transparency into specific task order performance and cost breakdowns.
- Sole-source nature restricts opportunities for other qualified research institutions.
Positive Signals
- Award to a reputable institution (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory) with established expertise.
- Contract duration suggests sustained need and successful past performance.
- Broad scope of work across multiple NASA directorates indicates strategic importance.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector, specifically focusing on aerospace research. The market for such specialized services is dominated by a few highly capable research institutions and defense contractors. NASA's spending in this area is crucial for maintaining its technological edge in space exploration and scientific discovery. Comparable spending benchmarks would involve analyzing other large R&D contracts awarded by NASA and other federal agencies for similar scientific and engineering support services.
Small Business Impact
The provided data indicates that small business participation was not a primary consideration for this contract, as it was awarded as a sole-source contract to a large university-affiliated laboratory. There is no indication of small business set-asides or subcontracting requirements. This means that opportunities for small businesses to contribute to this specific project are likely limited unless they are subcontracted by the prime awardee, which is not explicitly detailed.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would primarily be managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through its contracting officers and program managers. The task order structure allows for oversight of specific deliverables and milestones. Accountability is established through the cost-plus-fixed-fee payment structure, which requires the contractor to justify costs and achieve a fixed profit. Transparency is limited by the sole-source nature and the proprietary aspects of R&D, but NASA's internal procurement regulations and reporting requirements would apply.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Space Science Mission Directorate Programs
- NASA Aerospace Research and Development Initiatives
- Federal Research and Development Spending
- Space Exploration Technology Development
Risk Flags
- Sole-source award may lead to higher costs.
- Lack of competition limits price discovery.
- Limited public information on specific task order performance.
- Potential for cost overruns in R&D projects.
Tags
nasa, space-science, aerospace-research, research-and-development, cost-plus-fixed-fee, sole-source, johns-hopkins-university-applied-physics-laboratory, maryland, federal-contract, r&d
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $29.8 million to THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY LLC. MINI-RF PAYLOAD DEVELOPMENT, INTEGRATION, OPERATIONS, SPACE SCIENCE, COMMUNICATIONS, AND CHANDRAYAAN-1 MISSION GROUND SUPPORT THE CONTRACTOR SHALL PERFORM THE WORK THAT IS DESIGNATED IN TASK ORDERS ISSUED BY THE CONTRACTING OFFICER. THE OVERALL SCOPE OF WORK TO BE PERFORMED WILL SUPPORT ALL OF NASA S MISSION DIRECTORATES. THESE EFFORTS CAN BE CHARACTERIZED AS AEROSPACE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND ENGINEERING SUPPORT (ARDES). THE GENERAL NATURE OF THE TASKS TO BE DEVELOPED WILL BE TO CONDUCT SU
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is THE JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY APPLIED PHYSICS LABORATORY 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 $29.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2008-03-04. End: 2012-11-30.
What is the specific expertise of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory that led to this sole-source award?
Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU APL) is a recognized leader in applied research and development, particularly in areas critical to national security and space exploration. Their expertise spans a wide range of disciplines including space science, advanced materials, systems engineering, and information technology. For this contract, JHU APL's established track record with NASA, potentially including prior work on specific space science payloads, mission operations, or ground support systems, likely made them the sole source. Their deep understanding of NASA's complex requirements and their proven ability to deliver innovative solutions in challenging environments are key factors that often lead to sole-source awards for highly specialized R&D efforts.
How does the cost-plus-fixed-fee (CPFF) contract structure compare to other contract types for R&D services?
The Cost-Plus-Fixed-Fee (CPFF) contract type is common for research and development efforts where the scope of work is not precisely defined at the outset, or where innovation and exploration are primary goals. In a CPFF contract, the contractor is reimbursed for all allowable costs incurred in performing the work, plus a predetermined fixed fee representing profit. This structure incentivizes the contractor to control costs, as the fee remains constant regardless of the final cost. Compared to fixed-price contracts, CPFF offers more flexibility for evolving R&D projects but carries a higher risk of cost overruns for the government if not managed diligently. It differs from cost-plus-incentive-fee (CPIF) contracts, where the fee can be adjusted based on performance against targets.
What are the potential risks associated with a sole-source award for a contract of this magnitude?
Sole-source awards, while sometimes necessary for unique capabilities, carry inherent risks. The primary risk is the potential for inflated pricing, as the absence of competition removes the downward pressure on costs that a bidding process provides. Taxpayers may end up paying more than they would have in a competitive scenario. Another risk is a lack of innovation; without competing proposals, the government might miss out on novel approaches or more cost-effective solutions offered by other potential contractors. Furthermore, sole-source awards can create a perception of favoritism and may limit opportunities for other capable businesses to engage with the agency, potentially hindering the broader development of the industrial base.
Can we assess the value for money without knowing the specific deliverables and performance metrics?
Assessing the true value for money for this contract is challenging without detailed information on the specific deliverables, milestones, and performance metrics outlined in the task orders. The contract value of $29.8 million over approximately 4.5 years provides a broad financial context, but the effectiveness and efficiency of the spending depend entirely on the outcomes achieved. While the contractor's reputation and the contract's duration suggest perceived value by NASA, a definitive value-for-money assessment requires comparing the achieved results against the investment. This would involve evaluating the scientific advancements, technological innovations, and contributions to NASA's mission objectives relative to the costs incurred.
What historical spending patterns exist for similar aerospace R&D support contracts at NASA?
Historical spending patterns for similar aerospace R&D support contracts at NASA often show significant and sustained investment in specialized research and development. Contracts of this nature, particularly those supporting core mission directorates like Space Science, tend to be long-term and awarded to institutions with deep expertise, such as university-affiliated laboratories or established aerospace firms. The total dollar amounts can vary widely depending on the specific scope, duration, and technological complexity, but multi-million dollar awards over several years are common. These contracts are crucial for NASA's continuous innovation and exploration efforts, reflecting a consistent budgetary priority for advanced research and engineering 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 › Space R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: NOT COMPETED
Solicitation Procedures: ONLY ONE SOURCE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: THE Johns Hopkins University
Address: JOHNS HOPKINS RD 11100, LAUREL, MD, 20723
Business Categories: Category Business, Not Designated a Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $34,724,937
Exercised Options: $34,724,937
Current Obligation: $29,801,343
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL ITEM PROCEDURES NOT USED
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: NNN06AA01C
IDV Type: IDC
Timeline
Start Date: 2008-03-04
Current End Date: 2012-11-30
Potential End Date: 2012-11-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2022-04-01
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