WASHINGTON — NASA is reconsidering a $1.09 billion weather satellite contract it awarded to Lockheed Martin Space Systems in December.
Boeing Satellite Systems of El Segundo, Calif., one of two other companies to bid for the contract to build the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite R-series (GOES-R), protested NASA’s choice to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Dec. 15.
The GAO formally dismissed Boeing’s protest Feb. 19 after being informed by NASA that it intends to re-evaluate Lockheed Martin’s and Boeing’s proposals and make a new award.
“NASA will reevaluate as necessary the proposals of Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company and Boeing Satellite Systems and will make a new selection decision,” NASA told the GAO in a Feb. 17 letter, according to a government official familiar with the correspondence.
The contract NASA awarded to Denver.-based Lockheed Martin Space Systems Dec. 2 was worth up to $1.09 billion and called for at least two satellites with options for as many as two more. NASA procures GOES satellites on behalf of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Boeing, the incumbent manufacturer of the current generation of GOES satellites, said in a mid-December statement that its decision to protest the award “was based on our belief, in light of the information that has been provided to this point, that we offered a superior proposal under the disclosed evaluation criteria. The GAO has the authority to review government acquisition actions and recommend corrective actions, including termination of improper awards.
“Boeing spokeswoman Diana Ball did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Northrop Grumman’s Aerospace Systems Sector also bid for the GOES-R contract.
