GAO affirms NASA's decision on Intuitive Machines' $719M lunar contract

Written by Copernical Team Saturday, 12 August 2023 09:15

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Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 11, 2023

In a recent move, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has corroborated NASA's evaluation of the OMES III proposals, which subsequently resulted in a significant award to Intuitive Machines. The nod from GAO further reinforces the confidence in the selection process. The contract, a hefty five-year deal valued at up to $719 million, was awarded to Space and Technology Solutions.

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GAO affirms NASA's decision on Intuitive Machines' $719M lunar contract
by Brad Bartz
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 11, 2023

In a recent move, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has corroborated NASA's evaluation of the OMES III proposals, which subsequently resulted in a significant award to Intuitive Machines. The nod from GAO further reinforces the confidence in the selection process.

The contract, a hefty five-year deal valued at up to $719 million, was awarded to Space and Technology Solutions. Notably, this is the Doing Business As (DBA) moniker for Space Network Solutions LLC. The venture is spearheaded by Houston-based Intuitive Machines in collaboration with KBR, a global provider of differentiated professional services.

Highlighting the significance of the selection, Steve Altemus, Intuitive Machines Chief Executive Officer, remarked, "NASA awarding Intuitive Machines its OMES III contract affirms the Company's experience in spacecraft development, autonomous systems, and near-space communications." Altemus further elaborated on the company's anticipation, stating, "We look forward to a well-orchestrated transition process and the Company's growth in the orbital services market."

For those within the space industry and enthusiasts, the OMES III Contract's intricacies provide an exciting landscape. The contract, defined as a cost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract, is tailored to bolster work associated with multiple space-related ventures. These include the Joint Polar Satellite System, NASA's Exploration initiatives, and its In-space Services.

Furthermore, the contract is pivotal for the NASA GSFC Engineering and Technology Directorate (ETD). The ETD stands as a comprehensive science mission operation. Its significance in the space community is underscored by its responsibilities that span a spectrum of mission-critical activities: from conceptualizing and designing missions, constructing satellites and their respective instruments, to the operation and control of these spacecraft. Additionally, the ETD takes the lead in collecting and distributing invaluable data to the global science fraternity.

In summarizing, the green light from GAO not only brings validation to NASA's discerning selection process but also marks a critical step forward for Intuitive Machines. As the firm commences its pivotal role in the orbital services market, the space community and its observers will keenly watch the developments that arise from this partnership.