{"id":8034,"date":"2014-06-05T23:52:05","date_gmt":"2014-06-06T03:52:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=8034"},"modified":"2014-06-05T23:52:05","modified_gmt":"2014-06-06T03:52:05","slug":"space-access-society-follow-up-to-latest-political-action-alert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=8034","title":{"rendered":"Space Access Society follow-up to latest political action alert"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Space Access Society<\/a> sends a follow-up to yesterday’s post<\/a> on Senator Shelby’s shenanigans:<\/p>\n

Space Access Society 6\/5\/14 Followup to<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Space Access Society Political Action Alert 6\/4\/14<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

The full Senate Appropriations Committee markup of the FY15 CJS Appropriations bill (funding among other agencies NASA) took place this morning, with no action on the destructive Commercial Crew & Cargo cost-accounting provisions yesterday’s alert was about.<\/p>\n

Those provisions are presumably still in the bill that will now go on to the full Senate for consideration in the coming weeks.\u00a0\u00a0(No bill text has yet been released as of this writing.)<\/p>\n

We thank everyone who took action based on our last-second alert, and we look forward to working with you all (and with the larger group you all can reach out to now given more warning) to correct these problems as the process moves forward.<\/p>\n

Our next opportunity to get this fixed will be on the Senate floor, where the bill will be subject to debate and amendment.\u00a0\u00a0This may or may not prove practical, depending on technical details of how the bill is handled, but in general the Senate prefers to do such things by “unanimous consent”, which means that even a small number of dissenting Senators can influence the process.<\/p>\n

In other words, whatever state you live in, contacting both of your Senators (contact info webpage<\/a>) and discussing this with their NASA staffers is a useful thing to do in the coming days.\u00a0\u00a0(See yesterday’s Alert plus “Deeper Background” below for issue details.)\u00a0\u00a0We don’t know when this bill will come to the floor, but the more Senators aware of the problem at that point, the better.<\/p>\n

The next (and final) chance after that would be in the House-Senate conference on the bill.\u00a0\u00a0The House has included no such provision in their version, but there are House CJS Subcommittee members who will sympathize with the goals, so removal of the problem provisions in conference is no sure thing.\u00a0\u00a0Start working your Senators.<\/p>\n

Deeper Background<\/strong><\/p>\n

Yesterday’s Alert was necessarily written in some haste, and left out a number of details that may not be completely obvious to those of us who don’t spend\u00a0way\u00a0too much time dealing with this stuff.\u00a0\u00a0In no particular order…<\/p>\n

Motives<\/strong><\/p>\n

A surprising amount of the feedback we’ve seen on this alert shows considerable anger at Senator Shelby.\u00a0\u00a0We’ve been at this a long time, and it’s been our experience that most politicians most of the time are trying to do the right thing.\u00a0\u00a0They are often doing so on incomplete or incorrect information, but in general they mean well.<\/p>\n

Anger and vilification can be fun, but we don’t recommend indulging them in public – they generally get in the way of reaching a sensible political accommodation.<\/p>\n

In this particular case, it made perfect sense that NASA was the main home of expertise on space exploration, and thus NASA needed to be given sole (and intensely detailed) control of developing space hardware –\u00a0in 1964<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

It was still largely so in 1974, by 1984 less so, and declining ever since.\u00a0\u00a0In 2014, what used to be the exclusive expertise of NASA is now covered in standard engineering texts, and many (if not most) of the people with actual recent successful rocket development experience work at the commercial rocket companies, not NASA.<\/p>\n

Rocket science ain’t rocket science anymore, and between bureaucratic ossification at NASA and the rest of the world catching up (and in some cases racing ahead) there are multiple organizations in the US that are faster and better and cheaper than NASA at the now-routine work of designing and building space launch vehicles.<\/p>\n

Senator Shelby is not evil, he (and the rest of his coalition) are just stuck in a 1974 NASA-is-the-only-game-in-town mindset.\u00a0\u00a0Getting angry isn’t the answer, education is.<\/p>\n

Numbers<\/strong><\/p>\n

We mentioned a NASA study showing their projected costs for a recent commercial booster done their way in-house-NASA were over ten times higher than the actual commercial costs – $300 million actual SpaceX cost for Falcon 9 through first flight (plus $90 million for its Falcon 1 precursor), versus a $4 billion estimate for the same project done the NASA way.<\/p>\n

The story on that is at\u00a0parabolicarc.com<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0(The full 40-page paper they quote the final page of is\u00a0here.<\/a>)\u00a0\u00a0A later report on that study that redid the numbers to try to improve the estimates and narrow the gap is\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0It’s noteworthy that even then, NASA’s estimate for the version done via their standard “cost-plus” (open-ended till the funding runs out) contract came in over three times more expensive than the “fixed-price” (typical commercial practice; the contract describes the product and names the price) equivalent.<\/p>\n

Certified Cost And Pricing Data<\/strong><\/p>\n

Senator Shelby is on record (here<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0here<\/a>) that he’s not happy with the available data on how much of their own money the Commercial Cargo and Commercial Crew companies have put into the jointly-financed projects.\u00a0\u00a0Given that the overall results have been a huge bargain by NASA standards – two operational cargo vehicles, plus three crew vehicles positioned to fly by 2017, for considerably less NASA money than spent so far on SLS which still hasn’t yet reached Critical Design Review – his concern for protecting the taxpayers seems questionable.<\/p>\n

And given the method he proposes to collect financial data (described in a\u00a0press release<\/a>\u00a0as “Certified Cost And Pricing Data”, albeit the actual bill language is not yet available) the likely result looks more like raping the companies involved at (considerable) expense to the taxpayers.<\/p>\n

“Certified Cost And Pricing Data” sounds harmless, but it is in fact a term of art in the Federal Acquisition Regulations (the\u00a0FARs) with a very specific meaning.\u00a0\u00a0It is an extremely detailed and quite onerous (and expensive) accounting method generally used only for “cost-plus” contracts.<\/p>\n

“Cost-Plus” contracts tend to be used for by the government for open-ended R&D projects.\u00a0\u00a0In exchange for extremely strict cost-accounting, the contractor gets reimbursed for all costs plus a set profit on top.\u00a0\u00a0It’s a way of making sure contractors don’t go broke on projects where the government customer insists on a lot of changes.\u00a0\u00a0It’s far more expensive than normal commercial “fixed-price” contracting, and it’s become a way of life at NASA in many long drawn-out endlessly-revised incredibly-expensive development projects.<\/p>\n

“Certified Cost And Pricing Data” is a totally inappropriate requirement for commercial fixed-price vendors, such as the Cargo\u00a0ResupplyServices companies and the Commercial Crew bidders.\u00a0\u00a0As mentioned yesterday, industry rule-of-thumb is that it can increase costs from 1.5 to 3 times over normal commercial practice.\u00a0\u00a0(NASA’s own analysis mentioned in “Numbers” above showed Cost-Plus coming in slightly more than 3x Fixed-Price.)<\/p>\n

Still doubt us?\u00a0\u00a0Look at the actual\u00a0FARs\u00a0section that Shelby’s “certified cost and pricing data” language refers to.\u00a0\u00a0See\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for\u00a0FARssubpart 15.4 “Contract Pricing”, and especially\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for the actual “Certified Cost And Pricing Data” instructions.<\/p>\n

A small sample:<\/p>\n

Depending on your system, you must provide breakdowns for the following basic cost elements, as applicable:<\/p>\n

A. Materials and services. Provide a consolidated priced summary of individual material quantities included in the various tasks, orders, or contract line items being proposed and the basis for pricing (vendor quotes, invoice prices, etc.). Include raw materials, parts, components, assemblies, and services to be produced or performed by others. For all items proposed, identify the item and show the source, quantity, and price. Conduct price analyses of all subcontractor proposals. Conduct cost analyses for all subcontracts when certified cost or pricing data are submitted by the subcontractor. Include these analyses as part of your own certified cost or pricing data submissions for subcontracts expected to exceed the appropriate threshold in FAR 15.403-4. Submit the subcontractor certified cost or pricing data and data other than certified cost or pricing data as part of your own certified cost or pricing data as required in paragraph IIA(2) of this table. These requirements also apply to all subcontractors if required to submit certified cost or pricing data.<\/p>\n

In other words, you not only have to account for every rivet, you have to separately account for every subsystem’s rivets, and separately for the rivets used in every subsystem by your subcontractors.\u00a0\u00a0For a normal commercial operation that has to make money, this is massively intrusive and massively expensive.\u00a0\u00a0And as long as the government customer is getting a good deal – and they are – this data is none of the customer’s business.\u00a0\u00a0(EG, imagine the response you’d get, handing the above paragraph to a car dealer while you’re haggling over price.)<\/p>\n

We rest our case.<\/p>\n

Space Access Society
\nhttp:\/\/www.space-access.org
\n<\/a>space.access@mindspring.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Space Access Society sends a follow-up to yesterday’s post on Senator Shelby’s shenanigans: Space Access Society 6\/5\/14 Followup to Space Access Society Political Action Alert 6\/4\/14 The full Senate Appropriations Committee markup of the FY15 CJS Appropriations bill (funding among other agencies NASA) took place this morning, with no action on the destructive Commercial … Continue reading Space Access Society follow-up to latest political action alert<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,94,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8034","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-activism","category-space-industry","category-space-policy"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-25A","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":8026,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=8026","url_meta":{"origin":8034,"position":0},"title":"Sen. Shelby tries to cripple NASA commercial crew and cargo programs","author":"TopSpacer","date":"June 4, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Shameless Shelby is up to his usual tricks. Here's the latest from the Space Access Society: \u00a0Space Access Society Political Action Alert 6\/4\/14 Short Fuse - Action Required By 9 am EDT Thursday 6\/5\/14 In a subcommittee markup Tuesday, Senator Richard Shelby (R AL) inserted a requirement in the Senate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Activism"","block_context":{"text":"Activism","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=3"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7587,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=7587","url_meta":{"origin":8034,"position":1},"title":"Space policy roundup – May.1.14 [Update]","author":"TopSpacer","date":"May 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Today's selection of space policy\/politics related posts. NASA: Senate Appropriations chairwoman \u201cdeeply troubled\u201d by proposed NASA budget - Space Politics CJS Hearing: FY15 NASA Budget -\u00a0Senate Appropriations Committee\u00a0- video U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby rips NASA over Space Launch System funding - Huntsville Times\u00a0- With no US vehicle available\u00a0to get astronauts\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space Policy"","block_context":{"text":"Space Policy","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":8091,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=8091","url_meta":{"origin":8034,"position":2},"title":"Space Access Society: Update on Shelby’s commercial cargo\/crew poison pill","author":"TopSpacer","date":"June 12, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"The latest alert from the Space Access Society concerning Sen. Shelby's attempt to undermine NASA's commercial crew and cargo programs: Space Access Society 6\/11\/14 Followup to Space Access Society Political Action Alert 6\/4\/14 and Space Access Society 6\/5\/14 Followup There's been some additional action in the fight over the future\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space Policy"","block_context":{"text":"Space Policy","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/v6RiFxucJn8\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":3373,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=3373","url_meta":{"origin":8034,"position":3},"title":"Space policy roundup – July.13.13","author":"TopSpacer","date":"July 13, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Some space policy items from today and yesterday: House subcommittee approves authorization bill, but its fate beyond the House remains unclear - Space Politics House Committee Approves Smallest NASA Budget Since 1986 -The Planetary Society More Appropriations Action on FY2014 NASA, NOAA Bill Next Week - spacepolicyonline.com Moon landings, space\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space Policy"","block_context":{"text":"Space Policy","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3447,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=3447","url_meta":{"origin":8034,"position":4},"title":"Space policy roundup – July.16.13","author":"TopSpacer","date":"July 16, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"Recent space policy items (check back for additions throughout the day and evening): Mikulski Includes $18 Billion for NASA in 2014 Appropriations Bill - SpaceNews.com Senate Appropriations Subcommittee Approves $18 Billion for NASA in FY2014 This week: appropriations and authorization markups -\u00a0 Space Politics NASA goes back to the drawing\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space Policy"","block_context":{"text":"Space Policy","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":7266,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=7266","url_meta":{"origin":8034,"position":5},"title":"Space policy roundup – April.9.14 [Update]","author":"TopSpacer","date":"April 9, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"A selection of space policy\/politics related posts: Budgets: Like Last Year, New House NASA Bill Prohibits Development of Asteroid Redirect Mission - SpacePolicyOnline.com Mikulski wants to up the new budget to flat - Space Politics For Space Projects, Zero Gravity - NYTimes.com House appropriations hearing \u00a0April.8.14: Bolden and House appropriators\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Space Policy"","block_context":{"text":"Space Policy","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=7"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/img.youtube.com\/vi\/ctJnOHwBmU8\/0.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8034","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=8034"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8034\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8035,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8034\/revisions\/8035"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=8034"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=8034"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=8034"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}