QuoteOther Transaction Agreeements or OTAs represent a different approach, not subject to the oversight required by federal contracts. OTAs provide flexibility but also increase risk of reduced accountability and transparency. For this reason, the vast majority of them are relatively low value. Notable exceptions include Commercial Orbital Transportation System (COTS) and the Commercial Crew development program, both at NASA. During COTS, the government invested a substantial amount of the cost and left development in the hands of private enterprise. The resulting system were developed at much less cost to the government than a traditional cost plus contract would have achieved. The story is less clear with the crewed system however, where the balance between contractor descretion, government insight and the risk to human lives continue to be debated.
Other Transaction Agreeements or OTAs represent a different approach, not subject to the oversight required by federal contracts. OTAs provide flexibility but also increase risk of reduced accountability and transparency. For this reason, the vast majority of them are relatively low value. Notable exceptions include Commercial Orbital Transportation System (COTS) and the Commercial Crew development program, both at NASA. During COTS, the government invested a substantial amount of the cost and left development in the hands of private enterprise. The resulting system were developed at much less cost to the government than a traditional cost plus contract would have achieved. The story is less clear with the crewed system however, where the balance between contractor descretion, government insight and the risk to human lives continue to be debated.
Error: Commercial Crew is not using OTA in its current phase (CCtCAP), so using it as an example of OTA is wrong.
Omission: OTA was (and is) also used by Air Force in their EELV program, which is nothing but low value.
Semi-erroneous: My interpretation of her phrasing "The story is less clear" is that she thinks unlike COTS, Commercial Crew is not achieving low cost when compared to cost plus, if this interpretation is correct then this is also wrong given the huge cost difference between Orion and CC.
Twisted logic: The whole reason CC is delayed is because it's under FAR and NASA is imposing changes, now this delay is being used to prove OTA doesn't always work well and we should go back to FAR. Do you see how perverse this logic is?
AGENCY: National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationACTION:Notice of meeting.SUMMARY:In accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act, as amended, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) announces a meeting of the National Space Council Users' Advisory Group (UAG).DATES:Tuesday, June 19, 2018, 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m., Eastern Time.ADDRESSES:NASA Headquarters, Executive Conference Center, Room 8Q40B, 300 E Street SW, Washington, DC 20546. Please note that if the prior room is filled to maximum capacity, an overflow room will be provided in the James E. Webb Memorial Auditorium.FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:Mr. Brandon Eden, UAG Designated Federal Officer, NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC 20546, (202) 358-2470 or [email protected].SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:This meeting will be open to the public up to the capacity of the meeting room. This meeting is also available telephonically and by WebEx. You must use a touch-tone phone to participate in this meeting. Any interested person may dial the Toll Number 1-517-308-9154 or Toll Free Number 888-469-2059 and then the numeric passcode 7145407, followed by the # sign. Note: If dialing in, please “mute” your phone. To join via WebEx, the link is https://nasa.webex.com/. The meeting number on June 19 is 995 394 422 and the meeting password is JMgpT9A? (case sensitive).As noted above, this will be the first meeting of the UAG. Topics to be discussed will include:—Opening Remarks by National Space Council Executive Secretary and National Space Council UAG Chair—Discussion of Topics for the UAG by the National Space Council—Formation of Work Plan and UAG Subcommittees—Other Committee Business and Public InputAttendees will be requested to sign a register and to comply with NASA Headquarters security requirements, including the presentation of a valid picture ID to NASA Security before access to NASA Headquarters. Foreign nationals attending this meeting will be required to provide a copy of their passport and visa in addition to providing the following information no less than 10 days prior to the meeting: Full name; gender; date/place of birth; citizenship; passport information (number, country, telephone); visa information (number, type, expiration date); employer/affiliation information (name of institution, address, country, telephone); title/position of attendee. To expedite admittance, U.S. citizens and Permanent Residents (green card holders) are requested to provide full name and citizenship status no less than 3 working days prior to the meeting. Information should be sent to Mr. Brandon Eden via email at [email protected]. It is imperative that the meeting be held on these dates to the scheduling priorities of the key participants.Patricia Rausch,Advisory Committee Management Officer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration.[FR Doc. 2018-11993 Filed 6-4-18; 8:45 am]BILLING CODE 7510-13-P
USAF Col John Giles, detailed to National Space Council: space traffic management policy has been presented to the president but not yet been signed; look forward to it being approved. [Word is it may be signed next week at the National Space Council meeting next week.]
Brett Alexander, Blue Origin: I was not originally a believer in the space council, but impressed by what it’s done. Success due to leadership of vice president, cabinet secretaries taking it seriously, and work by council’s exec. secretary, Scott Pace. #FutureSpace2018
I’ll be chairing the 6th meeting of the National Space Council on Aug 20 @ Udvar-Hazy Center in VA. Under President @realDonaldTrump, America is leading again in space. Our Administration is reviving exploration, fostering private enterprise, & securing the strategic high ground.
Interview with Vice President Pence following the National Space Council Meeting:https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pence-says-upcoming-spacex-launch-will-show-america-still-moves-forward-during-the-most-challenging-timeshttps://video.foxnews.com/v/6158020720001#sp=show-clips
Quote from: yg1968 on 05/20/2020 07:10 pmInterview with Vice President Pence following the National Space Council Meeting:https://www.foxnews.com/politics/pence-says-upcoming-spacex-launch-will-show-america-still-moves-forward-during-the-most-challenging-timeshttps://video.foxnews.com/v/6158020720001#sp=show-clipsPence said that "president Trump was responsible for commercial crew" !!!!!!Edit: then he more or less repeats it again further on
I hear you but to his credit 1) he didn't cancel the program...
2) his budgets fully funded the program...
3) he has actively advocated for the program.
Since Trump didn't put the brakes on the program, like many in Congress have tried to do over the years on both sides of the aisle, as a US citizen I am more than happy to allow him to be given credit for being responsible for making this happen.
Quote from: getitdoneinspace on 05/20/2020 08:01 pmI hear you but to his credit 1) he didn't cancel the program...Presidents can't cancel programs, only Congress can. They can request that they be cancelled, but Congress writes the funding laws.Quote2) his budgets fully funded the program...There are lots of government agencies and departments, and Trump himself gets involved in few of them. So describing a lack of interest in a program is not the same as being responsible for its continued existence.Quote3) he has actively advocated for the program.Only in the context of other space initiatives.QuoteSince Trump didn't put the brakes on the program, like many in Congress have tried to do over the years on both sides of the aisle, as a US citizen I am more than happy to allow him to be given credit for being responsible for making this happen.You can give him credit for whatever you want, but that doesn't mean its true.The fact remains that President Obama proposed the Commercial Crew program, got it funded, and then fought for it to continue to be funded. When Trump came into office the program was in its final phase, the contractors had already been chosen, and all they had to do was stay out of the way.So credit to Trump/Pence for staying out of NASA's way. That's about as much credit as they deserve. Same for the SLS and Orion too, since they were all funded at the same time.Oh, and I say that Bush 43 is responsible for the Commercial Cargo program, since even though it started flying during Obama's presidency, it was Bush that proposed it, got it funded, and made the contract awards. Just so you know I'm being consistent in how I view who is responsible.
As President Obama came into office in January, 2009, he was inclined to further the commercial efforts begun under the Bush administration. He and his vice presidential candidate, Joe Biden, had even campaigned on it.“We want to reinvigorate our national space program and that includes creating an environment for a vibrant commercial space program,” Biden had said at an October campaign stop in Florida.
Quote from: getitdoneinspace on 05/20/2020 08:01 pmI hear you but to his credit 1) he didn't cancel the program...Presidents can't cancel programs, only Congress can. They can request that they be cancelled, but Congress writes the funding laws.