Descriptive Entry

These records primarily document the administration of contracts and grants supporting the Satellite Tracking Program, Project Celescope, the Meteor Research Program, and the Gravitational Redshift Space Probe Experiment. Also included are files documenting other contracts and grants, mostly with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Army, and the United States Air Force. The records include correspondence with contracting and granting agencies, Smithsonian Institution officials, and project personnel; budgets, financial reports, and other fiscal information; progress and final reports; meeting minutes; property inventories; audits; contracts, amendments, and revisions; technical reports, drawings of instruments, and other information on project equipment; and correspondence with project subcontractors.

Historical Note

The Contracts and Procurement Office is authorized to negotiate and administer federal and private contracts and grants for the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO). The Office is also responsible for providing and ensuring sufficient supplies, services, materials, and equipment in response to requests from the SAO's scientific and administrative staffs. Records maintained by the Office contain information on the formulation and administration of contracts and grants which is especially useful for documenting SAO research projects.