National Aeronautics and Space Administration Awarded a Contract to CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY for $1,628,846.00

Summary of Award

The US federal government awarded a contract to the California Institute of Technology for "THE EARTH SYSTEM EXPLORERS PROGRAM (ESEP) THE CARBON INVESTIGATION (CARBON-I) MISSION PHASE A CONCEPT STUDY." The total obligation for the contract is $1,500,000, with a total outlay of $1,200,000. The contract was signed on September 6, 2024, and the period of performance is from September 6, 2024, to January 5, 2026, with a potential end date of June 30, 2026.

The contract falls under the category of a definitive contract and was awarded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. The contract involves research and development in the physical, engineering, and life sciences, specifically in the field of aeronautical/space special studies and analysis.

The recipient, California Institute of Technology, is a non-profit educational institution located in Pasadena, California. They are categorized as a corporate entity tax-exempt, higher education institution, and are not designated as a small business. The recipient's location is in Los Angeles County, with the specific address being 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125. The contract includes one subaward with a total amount of $1,241,534. The contract was competitively awarded, with seven offers received and full and open competition. The contract pricing is firm fixed price, and there is no preference or set-aside used in the award. The contract transactions include two entries. The first transaction, dated September 6, 2024, involved the initial award of $1,500,000 to the California Institute of Technology. The second transaction, dated March 28, 2025, was a modification (P00001) to the contract with no transaction amount specified. Overall, the contract between the US federal government and the California Institute of Technology for the EARTH SYSTEM EXPLORERS PROGRAM (ESEP) THE CARBON INVESTIGATION (CARBON-I) MISSION PHASE A CONCEPT STUDY involves a significant amount of funding for research and development in the aeronautical/space special studies and analysis field. The contract is part of NASA's efforts in exploring and understanding the Earth's carbon cycle.