I believe that the protest by SNC will put a hold on CCtCap payments until the dispute is resolved.
Quote from: yg1968 on 09/30/2014 10:16 pmI believe that the protest by SNC will put a hold on CCtCap payments until the dispute is resolved. Isn't it stronger than that? NASA cannot even enter into the awarded contracts, much less pay for work performed under them, until the dispute is resolved?
The next question is, does that prevent SpaceX and Boeing from doing work on their own? Presumably, one is more likely to do that than the other. How about paying for delayed milestones from CCiCap? Don't both have abort tests that moved right, not just SpaceX?
Its sounds like you're saying the protest should have no effect on SpaceX's pad abort test schedule, correct?
In filing its bid protest on Sept. 26, Sierra Nevada set a 10-day clock running for the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) to issue a stay of NASA’s decision. Even without a stay, the protest could place a question mark over future work by Boeing and SpaceX as they prepare their CST-100 and Dragon crew vehicles to meet NASA’s deadline of first flights in 2017. The GAO has until Jan. 5, 2015, to make its decision.
In short, there will be no work performed under the CCtCap contract until SNC's protest is resolved.
Quote from: joek on 10/01/2014 03:26 pmIn short, there will be no work performed under the CCtCap contract until SNC's protest is resolved.Thanks for this post joek. Just want to be sure, did you mean to say "no work performed" or no money paid out?
Garret Reisman said SpaceX was already starting the next steps beyond CCiCAP including "bending metal" even before the CCtCAP announcement, so I don't think they will stop now.
Quote from: oiorionsbelt on 10/01/2014 09:20 pmQuote from: joek on 10/01/2014 03:26 pmIn short, there will be no work performed under the CCtCap contract until SNC's protest is resolved.Thanks for this post joek. Just want to be sure, did you mean to say "no work performed" or no money paid out?No payment from NASA and NASA (CCP and ISS) cannot help either partner towards integration or certification. Both Boeing and SpaceX are continuing to work towards their tCAP milestones. SpaceX has money flowing in form NASA since they are behind on their milestones but probably have enough money in house anyway to keep pressing. But in my opinion it is the interaction with NASA that will put things behind. We will see in a short bit hopefully fi the courts will let them continue while the GAO occurs.
Quote from: erioladastra on 10/02/2014 12:42 amQuote from: oiorionsbelt on 10/01/2014 09:20 pmQuote from: joek on 10/01/2014 03:26 pmIn short, there will be no work performed under the CCtCap contract until SNC's protest is resolved.Thanks for this post joek. Just want to be sure, did you mean to say "no work performed" or no money paid out?No payment from NASA and NASA (CCP and ISS) cannot help either partner towards integration or certification. Both Boeing and SpaceX are continuing to work towards their tCAP milestones. SpaceX has money flowing in form NASA since they are behind on their milestones but probably have enough money in house anyway to keep pressing. But in my opinion it is the interaction with NASA that will put things behind. We will see in a short bit hopefully fi the courts will let them continue while the GAO occurs. I don't think "flowing in" is an accurate depiction - as a milestone-based FFP contract, they get paid when they accomplish an agreed-upon milestone. The other option would be a cost-reimbursable contract where they get paid as they spend money. While a cost-reimbursable contract would be issued a stop-work order (because spending money encumbers the government), Boeing and SpaceX are spending their own money anyway. What the SNC protest does is put them at risk, because if they get dropped due to the protest, they never get paid. Each company can stop work because of the risk inherent in the protest, but any money they spend will get paid back if they make the milestone and aren't dropped from the winning companies.
Looks like source selection document is leaked to an anti-SpaceX reporter in WSJ, I wonder how did that happen.http://online.wsj.com/articles/why-boeing-beat-spacex-in-nasas-space-taxi-contest-1412207046Nothing surprising, seems in terms of HSF NASA is still very much in the old ways, unlike COTS. Very little information on SNC, author is too busy gloating for Boeing.
Quote from: su27k on 10/02/2014 03:06 amLooks like source selection document is leaked to an anti-SpaceX reporter in WSJ, I wonder how did that happen.http://online.wsj.com/articles/why-boeing-beat-spacex-in-nasas-space-taxi-contest-1412207046Nothing surprising, seems in terms of HSF NASA is still very much in the old ways, unlike COTS. Very little information on SNC, author is too busy gloating for Boeing.I basically read it as NASA was too worried about SpaceX's innovation, their secrecy, independence of NASA and not using NASA/space related COTS hardware as the main negative or risks. I don't see NASA opinions a negative on SpaceX. A badge of honor IMO. It is labeled New Space for a reason.
Quote from: su27k on 10/02/2014 03:06 amLooks like source selection document is leaked to an anti-SpaceX reporter in WSJ, I wonder how did that happen.http://online.wsj.com/articles/why-boeing-beat-spacex-in-nasas-space-taxi-contest-1412207046Nothing surprising, seems in terms of HSF NASA is still very much in the old ways, unlike COTS. Very little information on SNC, author is too busy gloating for Boeing.And that article was effectively debunked here by Rand Simberg:http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/388477/boeing-isnt-getting-more-nasa-money-because-its-doing-better-job-spacex-rand-simberg