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
IGF::CT::IGF THIS "TASK ORDER" HAS BEEN CREATED IN THE CONTRACT MANAGEMENT MODULE (CMM) SYSTEM FOR FUNDING PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT AN ACTUAL TASK ORDER WITH A STATEMENT OF WORK AND OTHER TASK ORDER REQUIREMENTS. THIS "TASK ORDER" HAS BEEN CREATED FOR FUNDING OBLIGATIONS ONLY AND TO ACCOUNT FOR CMM AND SAP FINANCIAL SYSTEM FUNCTIONALITY. THIS "TASK ORDER" IS TO FUND NNL13AA14C CLIN 1 (MAINTENANCE). CENTER MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS, AND ENGINEERING (CMOE) CONTRACT. REQUIREMENT FOR THE MAINTENANCE, OPERATIONS, AND ENGINEERING OF LARC'S INSTITUTIONAL FACILITIES AND HIGHLY TECHNICAL RESEARCH FACILITIES FOR MISSION SUCCESS. THE CMOE CONTRACT WILL PROVIDE CORE SUPPORT SERVICES TO LARC IN THE AREAS OF INSTITUTIONAL AND RESEARCH OPERATIONS, MAINTENANCE, AND ENGINEERING (OME). THESE TECHNICAL SERVICES INCLUDE: RESEARCH FACILITIES OPERATIONS (E.G., HIGHLY SPECIALIZED WIND TUNNELS, LABORATORIES, TEST STANDS, INSTRUMENTATION CALIBRATION/REPAIR) CENTRAL UTILITIES OPERATIONS (E.G., STEAM, COMPRESSED AIR, ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION, POTABLE WATER) TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT/ADMINISTRATION (E.G., FACILITY AUTOMATION SYSTEMS [FAS], DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS [DAS]) RESEARCH AND INSTITUTIONAL FACILITY MAINTENANCE (E.G., PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE, TROUBLE CALLS, RELIABILITY CENTERED MAINTENANCE [RCM], FACILITY CONDITION ASSESSMENT [FCA]) AND FACILITY ENGINEERING (E.G., DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION, CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT, TACTICAL ENGINEERING, PRESSURE SYSTEM RECERTIFICATION, PROJECT MANAGEMENT/PLANNING SUPPORT).
$271.2M · DELIVERY ORDER · National Aeronautics and Space Administration · VA
FEDERAL SPENDING · CITIZEN OPINION
Was this federal payment to AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC. worth it?
$271.2M · National Aeronautics and Space Administration to AMENTUM TECHNOLOGY, INC.
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What this award is
AI analysis
This is a long-term contract where NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) is paying Amentum Technology, Inc. to maintain and operate the facilities at Langley Research Center (LaRC) in Virginia. The company handles everything from keeping the lights on and water running to operating specialized wind tunnels and engineering labs.
DEEPER CONTEXTAnalysis · Risks · Arguments
WHY THIS MONEY IS BEING SPENT
WHY WAS THIS FUNDED?
NASA is required by law to maintain its research facilities in safe, working order to carry out its science and aerospace mission. This contract provides the core facility support that keeps LaRC operational and able to conduct research.
WHAT PUBLIC PROBLEM IS IT TRYING TO SOLVE?
NASA's Langley Research Center relies on highly specialized and aging facilities, including wind tunnels, laboratories, and complex utility systems, that require continuous professional maintenance and engineering to stay safe and functional for aerospace research.
WHO BENEFITS?
Workers employed by Amentum Technology benefit directly through jobs in engineering, operations, and maintenance. The broader public benefits because safe, well-maintained NASA facilities support aerospace research, which can lead to advances in aviation safety, space exploration, and national security.
Plain-language reading generated from the USASpending award record. Not legal or financial advice.
RISKS AND TRADEOFFS
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
A contract of this size and duration, running over 12 years and costing more than $271 million, carries risks of cost overruns, reduced competition, and difficulty monitoring contractor performance across many complex technical tasks. The note that this was created for funding purposes only, rather than as a standard task order with a formal statement of work, may also reduce transparency.
WHAT HAPPENS IF FUNDING IS REMOVED?
Without this contract, Langley Research Center could lose the staff and services needed to keep its facilities running safely, potentially shutting down critical wind tunnels, labs, and utilities. This would halt or delay NASA research programs that depend on those facilities.
FOR AND AGAINST
ARGUMENTS FOR
- •Maintaining world-class research facilities like wind tunnels and specialized labs is essential for NASA to carry out its mission in aviation and space science.
- •Consolidating facility operations under one contract can improve coordination and reduce the administrative burden of managing many separate service providers.
- •Continuous, professional maintenance protects billions of dollars in existing federal infrastructure investment at Langley Research Center.
ARGUMENTS AGAINST
- •A single contract running more than 12 years and worth over $271 million limits competition and may reduce the government's ability to get the best value for taxpayers.
- •The award description notes it was created for 'funding purposes only' without a standard statement of work, which raises questions about oversight and accountability.
- •Long-term, sole-provider contracts for broad facility services can make it harder for the government to switch contractors or push for cost savings if performance falls short.
SPENDING TIMELINE
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