NASA's $205M contract for administrative services awarded to CSRA LLC, spanning five years
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $205,119,534 ($205.1M)
Contractor: Csra LLC
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2010-10-01
End Date: 2015-09-30
Contract Duration: 1,825 days
Daily Burn Rate: $112.4K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE
Sector: Other
Official Description: NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER WILL CONSOLIDATE SELECT BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL SERVICES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PERFORMED ACROSS THE AGENCY INTO A SINGLE SHARES SERVICES LOCATION.
Place of Performance
Location: BAY SAINT LOUIS, HANCOCK County, MISSISSIPPI, 39520
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $205.1 million to CSRA LLC for work described as: NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER WILL CONSOLIDATE SELECT BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL SERVICES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PERFORMED ACROSS THE AGENCY INTO A SINGLE SHARES SERVICES LOCATION. Key points: 1. The contract consolidates agency-wide business and technical services into a single location. 2. A single awardee suggests potential for economies of scale but also concentration of risk. 3. The contract's duration and cost-plus award fee structure warrant close performance monitoring. 4. This initiative aims to standardize and improve administrative support across NASA. 5. The geographic consolidation to Mississippi could have local economic implications.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The total contract value of $205.1 million over five years averages approximately $41 million annually. Benchmarking this against similar large-scale administrative service contracts across federal agencies is challenging without more granular data on the specific services provided. However, the cost-plus award fee structure allows for performance-based incentives, which can drive efficiency and value if managed effectively. The initial award amount appears reasonable for a comprehensive service consolidation.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple qualified vendors had the opportunity to bid. With four bidders identified, this suggests a competitive environment that should have driven a fair market price. The specific details of the evaluation criteria and the number of proposals received would provide further insight into the robustness of the competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Full and open competition generally benefits taxpayers by fostering a competitive environment that can lead to lower prices and better service quality.
Public Impact
NASA personnel will benefit from standardized and potentially more efficient administrative and technical support services. The contract delivers consolidated business and technical services, aiming for improved operational efficiency. The geographic impact is concentrated in Mississippi, where the shared services location is established. Workforce implications include the potential for job creation or reallocation within Mississippi for service delivery, and potential shifts in how NASA personnel interact with administrative functions.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Potential for vendor lock-in due to the consolidation of critical services.
- Performance risks associated with consolidating diverse functions into a single location.
- Reliance on a single contractor for essential administrative operations could pose continuity risks.
Positive Signals
- Consolidation offers potential for economies of scale and streamlined processes.
- The award fee structure incentivizes contractor performance and efficiency.
- Full and open competition suggests a robust selection process and potentially competitive pricing.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the professional, scientific, and technical services sector, specifically focusing on administrative and support functions. The market for such services is large and diverse, with many federal agencies outsourcing similar operational support. NASA's approach to consolidating these services into a shared services model is a strategic move to achieve greater efficiency and cost savings, aligning with broader government trends towards shared services.
Small Business Impact
The data indicates this contract was not specifically set aside for small businesses, and the prime contractor, CSRA LLC, is a large business. There is no explicit information on subcontracting plans for small businesses. The impact on the small business ecosystem would depend on whether CSRA actively engages small businesses for subcontracting opportunities to fulfill the contract requirements.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by NASA's contracting officers and program managers, ensuring adherence to contract terms and performance standards. The cost-plus award fee structure necessitates rigorous monitoring of performance metrics and financial expenditures. Transparency is generally maintained through contract reporting requirements, though specific public access to performance data may vary.
Related Government Programs
- NASA Shared Services Center Operations
- Federal Administrative Support Services
- IT and Business Process Outsourcing
- Government Shared Services Initiatives
Risk Flags
- Potential for single point of failure due to service consolidation.
- Performance metrics and award fee criteria require rigorous oversight.
- Contractor's ability to manage diverse administrative functions effectively.
Tags
nasa, administrative-services, csra-llc, definitive-contract, cost-plus-award-fee, full-and-open-competition, mississippi, large-business, professional-services, shared-services
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $205.1 million to CSRA LLC. NASA SHARED SERVICES CENTER WILL CONSOLIDATE SELECT BUSINESS AND TECHNICAL SERVICES THAT ARE CURRENTLY PERFORMED ACROSS THE AGENCY INTO A SINGLE SHARES SERVICES LOCATION.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is CSRA 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 $205.1 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2010-10-01. End: 2015-09-30.
What is the track record of CSRA LLC in managing large-scale federal administrative service contracts?
CSRA LLC, now part of General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT), has a significant history of managing large federal contracts across various agencies. Prior to its acquisition, CSRA was known for providing IT and professional services. Its experience includes managing complex IT infrastructure, application development, and business process support. Evaluating CSRA's performance on similar contracts would involve reviewing past performance evaluations, contract awards, and any documented issues or successes. Given its scale, the company has likely managed contracts with similar consolidation and service delivery objectives, though specific details on this NASA contract's performance would require access to NASA's internal performance reports and award fee determinations.
How does the annual cost of this contract compare to similar administrative service consolidations in other federal agencies?
The annual cost of approximately $41 million for this NASA contract needs to be contextualized by the scope and complexity of the services consolidated. Direct comparisons are difficult without detailed service level agreements and performance metrics from other agencies' contracts. However, federal agencies increasingly utilize shared services models to achieve economies of scale. Costs can vary significantly based on the number of employees supported, the types of services (e.g., HR, finance, IT help desk, procurement), and the geographic location of service delivery. Generally, well-managed shared services aim to reduce per-unit costs compared to decentralized operations, but the overall annual spend reflects the scale of the consolidated functions.
What are the primary risks associated with consolidating administrative services into a single location and contractor?
Consolidating administrative services into a single location and contractor presents several key risks. Firstly, there's a risk of vendor lock-in, where NASA becomes heavily reliant on CSRA, potentially limiting future flexibility or negotiation power. Secondly, operational risks arise from concentrating diverse functions; any disruption at the single service location (e.g., IT outage, natural disaster, staffing issues) could have a widespread impact across NASA. Thirdly, performance risks exist if the contractor fails to meet service level agreements or deliver the expected efficiencies. Finally, there's a risk that the anticipated cost savings or performance improvements may not materialize if the consolidation is not managed effectively or if the contract's award fee structure doesn't adequately incentivize desired outcomes.
How effective has the cost-plus award fee (CPAF) structure been in driving performance for this specific contract?
The effectiveness of the Cost-Plus Award Fee (CPAF) structure is determined by how well NASA has defined and measured performance criteria and how these metrics align with the agency's objectives for service consolidation. CPAF allows for a base fee plus an award fee based on contractor performance against pre-defined metrics. To assess its effectiveness, one would need to examine NASA's performance evaluations for CSRA, the amount of award fees paid out, and whether these payments correlate with demonstrable improvements in efficiency, cost savings, or service quality. Without access to these internal assessments, it's difficult to definitively state its effectiveness, but the structure itself is designed to incentivize superior performance.
What has been the historical spending trend for administrative services at NASA prior to this consolidation contract?
Analyzing historical spending trends for administrative services at NASA prior to this consolidation contract would provide crucial context for evaluating the value proposition of the current agreement. This would involve examining NASA's budget allocations and expenditures on administrative functions across various centers and departments over several years. Understanding the baseline spending allows for a more accurate assessment of whether the consolidated model, under CSRA, is achieving projected cost savings or efficiencies. A significant reduction in overall administrative spending post-consolidation would indicate success, whereas an increase might signal issues with the contract's pricing, scope, or management.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services › Office Administrative Services › Office Administrative Services
Product/Service Code: SUPPORT SVCS (PROF, ADMIN, MGMT) › ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 4
Pricing Type: COST PLUS AWARD FEE (R)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: General Dynamics Corp
Address: 7700 HUBBLE DR, LANHAM SEABROOK, MD, 20706
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $205,119,534
Exercised Options: $205,119,534
Current Obligation: $205,119,534
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NOT OBTAINED - WAIVED
Timeline
Start Date: 2010-10-01
Current End Date: 2015-09-30
Potential End Date: 2015-09-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2024-10-29
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