SpaceX's $20M General Services Administration (GSA) contract

[su27k]

Not sure what this is about, contract # is 47QRAA21D007N, solicitation ID is 47QSMD20R0001. Contracting agency is GSA/FAS/PSHC/PROF SRVCS SCHED-PSS (General Services Administration - Federal Acquisition Service - Professional Services Scheduled?).

Description of the contract is "Federal Supply Schedule Contract"

[TorenAltair]

A GSA Schedule contract enables you to sell your products or services to ANY agency of the federal government, certain other organizations, and state and local governments

I would assume supplying Starlink to rural government buildings.

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

A GSA Schedule contract enables you to sell your products or services to ANY agency of the federal government, certain other organizations, and state and local governments

I would assume supplying Starlink to rural government buildings.

If it is then it is for an equivalent of up to 10,000 Dishy's UT's and 1 year data service on each. Remember the UT upfront cost of $500+ plus $1200 for the data service over 1 year.

[Robotbeat]

A GSA Schedule contract enables you to sell your products or services to ANY agency of the federal government, certain other organizations, and state and local governments

I would assume supplying Starlink to rural government buildings.

If it is then it is for an equivalent of up to 10,000 Dishy's UT's and 1 year data service on each. Remember the UT upfront cost of $500+ plus $1200 for the data service over 1 year.

it’s likely that SpaceX is charging government more than their to beta residential customers. SpaceX publicly said the terminals cost more than $500.

[gongora]

There's absolutely no information tying that contract to Starlink.

[oldAtlas_Eguy]

There's absolutely no information tying that contract to Starlink.

There is a definite possibility for several other things:

Engineering consultation for early sat/launch planning by government agencies. More than just NASA and DOD build sats.

Also could be a budgeted support for launch costs of government agency cubesats. Complete with standard prices across all government agencies. No contracts and no negotiations. Just order the launch.

Imagine such showing up in the GSA catalog. In fact may be a good place to look to see if you can find a SpaceX like service or product listed. If you do please share what it is that this contract is likely to be about. An entry in the catalog does not necessarily mean it is this contract but it is highly likely to be so though.

[SpaceDave]

Absolutely nothing to do with Starlink. GSA catalog says the contract is for the following:

"Engineering Services Services include: applying physical laws and principles of engineering in the design, development, and utilization of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and systems. Services may involve any of the following activities: provision of advice, concept development, requirements analysis, preparation of feasibility studies, preparation of preliminary and final plans and designs, provision of technical services during the construction or installation phase, inspection and evaluation of engineering projects, and related services"

[Lar]

Absolutely nothing to do with Starlink. GSA catalog says the contract is for the following:

"Engineering Services Services include: applying physical laws and principles of engineering in the design, development, and utilization of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and systems. Services may involve any of the following activities: provision of advice, concept development, requirements analysis, preparation of feasibility studies, preparation of preliminary and final plans and designs, provision of technical services during the construction or installation phase, inspection and evaluation of engineering projects, and related services"

that could be stretched to cover all sorts of interesting things.

[RotoSequence]

Absolutely nothing to do with Starlink. GSA catalog says the contract is for the following:

"Engineering Services Services include: applying physical laws and principles of engineering in the design, development, and utilization of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and systems. Services may involve any of the following activities: provision of advice, concept development, requirements analysis, preparation of feasibility studies, preparation of preliminary and final plans and designs, provision of technical services during the construction or installation phase, inspection and evaluation of engineering projects, and related services"

that could be stretched to cover all sorts of interesting things.

I'm fascinated, and confused, by this contract. The General Services Administration is a facilitator of Government, for the Government; what capabilities, expertise, and services do SpaceX offer that helps this mission?

[joek]

For a bit more detail on what this covers, see here; excerpt below. My guess bolded. Maybe for smallsats, transporter missions of some-such?

541330ENG   Engineering Services - Services include: applying physical laws and principles of engineering in the design, development, and utilization of machines, materials, instruments, processes, and systems. Services may involve any of the following activities: provision of advice, concept development, requirements analysis, preparation of feasibility studies, preparation of preliminary and final plans and designs, provision of technical services during the construction or installation phase, inspection and evaluation of engineering projects, and related services.

NOTE: Services under this SIN cannot include architect-engineer services as defined in the Brooks Act and FAR Part 2, or construction services as defined in FAR Parts 2 and 36.
    
Subgroups (Subgroups are provided for market research purposes only. Buyers should confirm specific contract offerings are available by verifying awarded products and services on the contractor's GSA pricelist.)
    Chemical Engineering Services
    Civil Engineering
    Construction Management Services
    Electrical Engineering Services
    Engineering Consulting Services Relating to Real Property
    Fire Protection Engineering Services
    Mechanical Engineering Services
    Space Launch Integrated Services (SLIS)
    Systems Engineering

[JustIncidentals]

Based on my experience with engineering services contract with USG, it appears to be a kind of retainer fee. Suppose a program has, or expects to have, recurring needs to seek out engineering expertise on a SpaceX product or service (the way this is worded, it could be any or all of them). This contract allows quick activation of funds for those events. Other agencies can also access this contract when needed by simply transferring funds to the contract. The contract could also be expanded in scope or funding as needed.

[joek]

Based on my experience with engineering services contract with USG, it appears to be a kind of retainer fee.
...

Don't think there is need to over-think this. In the GSA catalog services are pretty well defined (although not definitive). The "Space Launch Integrated Services (SLIS)" would fit well with SpaceX Transporter or other co-manifest missions, and with USG agencies wanting to launch smallsats without jumping through a bunch of other hoops. Doubt that would cover generic "retainer fee".

See, e.g., Spaceflight offers smallsat launch services on government contract schedule. Looks like SpaceX is simply bringing this in-house.

Simple and more definitive answer would be to find someone with access to SpaceX's GSA price list.