NASA taps incumbent KBR for $400M research support contract
By
Ross Wilkers
NASA has chosen incumbent KBR for a $400 million contract to support the agency's scientific and technology development initiatives.
NASA has awarded a potential nine-year, $400 million contract to KBR for research-and-development work in support of various scientific and technology development efforts.
The contract covers a two-year base period followed by three two-year options and begins on March 15 with a 60-day phase-in period, NASA said Wednesday.
Work supports the Ames Research Center in its scientific research, technology and application development initiatives, plus infusion of new information systems technologies for NASA missions and other federal government programs.
Technology domains NASA sought research help for include artificial intelligence, knowledge-based systems, automation, autonomy and quantum computing.
Deltek data indicates this is the third iteration of the Intelligent Systems Research and Development Support contract, which was first won by Stinger Ghaffarian Technologies in 2008 and retained through a recompete in 2014. The incumbent contract expires on March 31.
KBR then acquired SGT in 2018 to deepen the buyer’s footprint with NASA. One of SGT’s other major NASA contracts it brought to KBR include the potential $1.2 billion Mission Systems Operations Contract that was secured in January 2018 after a brief protest battle.