Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Who got paid, how much, for what, and whether it is defensible. Citizen opinion on the record, not a mandate.
Status and record
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SYSTEMS SERVICES THE PRINCIPAL PURPOSE OF THIS CONTRACT IS TO PROVIDE ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING SUPPORT SERVICES AND RELATED WORK TO EED, ISTD, SED, MESA, RELATED ORGANIZATIONS AND OTHER NASA CENTERS AND LOCATIONS SPECIFIED IN TASK ORDERS, FOR THE STUDY, DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, FABRICATION, INTEGRATION, TESTING, VERIFICATION, AND OPERATIONS OF SPACE FLIGHT, AIRBORNE, AND GROUND SYSTEM HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE, INCLUDING DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO ENABLE FUTURE SPACE AND SCIENCE MISSIONS.
$671.1M · DEFINITIVE CONTRACT · National Aeronautics and Space Administration · MD
FEDERAL SPENDING · CITIZEN OPINION
Was this federal payment to SCIENCE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS, INC. worth it?
$671.1M · National Aeronautics and Space Administration to SCIENCE SYSTEMS AND APPLICATIONS, INC.
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What this award is
AI analysis
This is a contract where NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is paying a company called Science Systems and Applications, Inc. to provide electrical and electronic engineering support. The company will help design, build, test, and operate hardware and software for space missions, aircraft systems, and ground equipment.
DEEPER CONTEXTAnalysis · Risks · Arguments
WHY THIS MONEY IS BEING SPENT
WHY WAS THIS FUNDED?
NASA is authorized by Congress to conduct space exploration and science missions, which requires specialized engineering expertise that the agency contracts out to private companies. This contract supports several NASA divisions that need ongoing technical support for space flight and related systems.
WHAT PUBLIC PROBLEM IS IT TRYING TO SOLVE?
Designing and operating spacecraft, airborne systems, and supporting ground equipment requires highly specialized engineering skills. This contract ensures NASA has access to the electrical and electronic engineering talent needed to carry out its space and science missions without maintaining a massive in-house workforce for every specialty.
WHO BENEFITS?
Engineers and technical staff employed by Science Systems and Applications, Inc. benefit directly through jobs. The broader public benefits through the advancement of space exploration, scientific research, and new technologies that can eventually have civilian applications.
Plain-language reading generated from the USASpending award record. Not legal or financial advice.
RISKS AND TRADEOFFS
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
At roughly $671 million over about seven years, this large contract carries risks related to cost overruns, oversight of contractor performance, and ensuring taxpayers receive full value for the work delivered. The contract type is listed as unknown, which makes it harder to assess how costs and risks are shared between NASA and the contractor.
WHAT HAPPENS IF FUNDING IS REMOVED?
If this contract were cancelled, NASA would lose a significant source of specialized electrical and electronic engineering support, which could delay or disrupt the design and development of space missions and related systems. NASA would need to find alternative contractors or hire more in-house staff, both of which take time and resources.
FOR AND AGAINST
ARGUMENTS FOR
- •Space and science missions depend on cutting-edge electrical engineering, and contracting out this work lets NASA access specialized skills efficiently without permanently expanding its own workforce.
- •Developing new technologies through this contract can lead to innovations that benefit not just space exploration but also everyday civilian technology.
- •Long-term contracts like this provide stability for skilled engineering work, helping NASA plan and execute multi-year missions more reliably.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST
- •A contract worth over $671 million going to a single company raises questions about whether competitive bidding produced the best value for taxpayers.
- •The contract type is listed as unknown, making it difficult for the public to determine how performance and costs are being monitored and controlled.
- •Critics may argue that NASA could perform more of this engineering work in-house at lower long-term cost, rather than relying heavily on outside contractors.
SPENDING TIMELINE
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