A $621m Nasa-wide specialised engineering, evaluation and test services (NSEETS) contract has been awarded to US-based company Aerospace Corporation.

The indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract will give Nasa the right to use Aerospace’s resources and personnel.

The cost-plus-fixed-fee contract comes with a base period of five years that will commence on 1 October. It comes with a four-year extension option.

Under the contract, Aerospace will provide services such as on-site and off-site project, independent multidisciplinary engineering, consulting, monitoring, testing and evaluation.

It will also be responsible for analyses related to safety, mission assurance, cost and schedule.

Aerospace Civil Systems Group senior vice-president Edward Swallow said: “We’re delighted to continue delivering critical engineering, evaluation, and test services to Nasa that will advance and shape the future of our nation’s space exploration, science, and technology over the next decade.

“As the leading federally funded research and development centre operator for space, our unique technical expertise and objective analysis align well with Nasa’s needs as it opens an exciting era of vital missions.”

The company will also assist Nasa’s scientific studies’ requirements, including analysing systems for handling and extra-terrestrial samples, define payloads to meet scientific goals as part of the contract. Further works will involve reviewing possible science goals for small, low-cost missions and also examine the relevance of science concepts to specific missions.

Aerospace will also perform technical studies such as analyse the possibility of instrument, spacecraft, mission designs, propulsion and mission operations capabilities.

The company will provide advanced laboratories to test and assess Nasa’s engineering prototypes and space flight hardware.