NASA has chosen the University of Hawaii in Honolulu to manage and operate the Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) on Mauna Kea in Hilo, Hawaii.
NASA’s IRTF will be managed and operated under a hybrid firm-fixed-price contract with an indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity provision. The contract’s maximum potential value is around $85.5 million, and its performance period is from Monday, July 1, to June 30, 2025. If exercised, nine optional periods could extend the contract through Dec. 31, 2033.
As part of the contract, the University of Hawaii will provide maintenance and operation services for NASA at the telescope facility. The university will also develop and implement an operations strategy, allowing the facility to be used by the scientific community through peer-reviewed competition. Thus, the university will assist NASA in achieving its goals in scientific discovery, mission support, and planetary defense.
