Quikscat mission operations the contract is the sponsoring agreement between the national aeronautics and space administration (NASA) and the california institute of technology (contractor), a private…

The California Institute of Technology (Caltech), operating through its Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) division, was awarded a delivery order contract valued at $2.59 million by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for QuikSCAT Mission Operations. This contract, issued on October 1, 2018, with an ultimate completion date of September 30, 2023, represents a cost-plus-fixed-fee arrangement with no set-aside designation. The award was made under a broader sponsoring agreement establishing JPL as NASA's federally funded research and development center (FFRDC), wherein Caltech provides comprehensive scientific and technical capabilities to support NASA's Science Mission Directorate across four primary domains: Earth Science, Planetary Science, Heliophysics, and Astrophysics. Performance will take place at JPL's facility in Pasadena, California.

Under this contract, JPL was tasked with developing and maintaining spacecraft, instruments, and ground-based systems necessary for the QuikSCAT mission. The work encompasses JPL's core competencies in autonomous deep-space, inner-space, and Earth-orbiting spacecraft development; advanced scientific instrumentation design; and mission operations support. As a premier FFRDC, JPL's role extends beyond mission-specific deliverables to include fostering collaborative relationships with top-tier universities and research communities, thereby advancing NASA's broader institutional capabilities and scientific objectives. The contract represents the ongoing operational relationship between NASA and Caltech's JPL, which serves as a critical hub for NASA's space exploration and Earth observation initiatives.

Quikscat mission operations the contract is the sponsoring agreement between the national aeronautics and space administration (NASA) and the california institute of technology (contractor), a private nonprofit educational institution, which establishes the relationship for the operation of the federally funded research and development center (ffrdc) known as the jet propulsion laboratory. The contractor, JPL, is required to perform work that is designated in task orders issued by the NASA management office (NMO) contracting officers. NASA - sponsored work: JPL's primary mission is to support the NASA science mission directorate (SMD) in carrying out the specific objectives identified in the SMD science plan. The four broad scientific areas are: earth science, planetary science, heliophysics, and astrophysics. In performance of this contract, JPL shall: 1) supply a broad base of scientific and technical capabilities relevant to NASA program and project responsibilities and assignments. 2) foster its unique relationship with a top-tier university to facilitate the involvement of scientists, engineers, and students from the university and research communities in NASA mission and in supporting other government agencies. 3) support NASA in enabling program and institutional capabilities. 4) develop spacecraft and instruments that are sent to various destinations with our solar system, including earth orbit, planets, planetary satellites, asteroids, and comets. These missions may be orbiters, landers, or rovers, and typically include cutting-edge technologies required to meet scientific requirements. 5) perform project tasks involving: (i) autonomous deep-space, inner-space and earth-orbiting spacecraft or major subsystems, (II) experiments, instruments, or other devices which may be carried as payload on spacecrafts in missions managed by others, and/or (III) ground-based systems. 6) beyond its primary mission, JPL may perform work for other NASA mission directorates or offices. 7) JPL is also responsible for the operation, research, technology insertion, and management of NASA s deep space network to provide telecommunication and operation services, including data acquisition and data delivery required to meet established agency objectives. 8) JPL is also required to maintain and conduct an education program in close coordination with the NASA headquarters education office, the academic community at large, and in support to NASA strategic objectives to improve student retention in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (stem) disciplines. Work for non-NASA sponsors: JPL may perform work for non-NASA sponsors. This work will be designated in task orders issued by NMO contracting officers based on task plans initiated by the contractor.