DOI Awards $2.47M Contract for AI-Powered Information Gleaner to Covar, LLC
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $2,470,155 ($2.5M)
Contractor: Covar, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2022-09-15
End Date: 2025-09-19
Contract Duration: 1,100 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: MINGLER: MULTI-MODAL INFORMATION GLEANER FOR CONTACT REPORT FILTERING
Place of Performance
Location: MCLEAN, FAIRFAX County, VIRGINIA, 22102
State: Virginia Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $2.5 million to COVAR, LLC for work described as: MINGLER: MULTI-MODAL INFORMATION GLEANER FOR CONTACT REPORT FILTERING Key points: 1. Contract focuses on R&D for physical, engineering, and life sciences. 2. Covar, LLC, a private company, secured the award. 3. The contract is a definitive contract with a firm fixed price. 4. Spending is categorized under Research and Development. 5. The contract duration is 1100 days.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The $2.47 million contract value appears reasonable for a multi-modal information gleaner R&D project. Benchmarking against similar AI/ML R&D contracts would provide further context on pricing efficiency.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' indicating a limited competition. This method may impact price discovery compared to broader full and open competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being used for advanced R&D in information processing, potentially leading to improved government efficiency and decision-making.
Public Impact
Enhances data analysis capabilities within the Department of the Interior. Supports advancements in artificial intelligence and machine learning for government operations. Potential for broader application across federal agencies for information filtering.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition may not yield the best price.
- Contract duration is substantial, requiring ongoing oversight.
Positive Signals
- Focus on advanced R&D.
- Potential for significant efficiency gains.
- Firm fixed price provides cost certainty.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under the Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences sector. Federal spending in this area is crucial for technological advancement, with benchmarks varying widely based on project scope and complexity.
Small Business Impact
The contract was awarded to Covar, LLC, a private entity. There is no explicit indication of small business subcontracting in the provided data, suggesting a potential gap in small business participation.
Oversight & Accountability
The definitive contract structure and firm fixed price suggest a degree of oversight. However, the 'exclusion of sources' in the competition method warrants scrutiny to ensure fairness and value.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Department of the Interior Contracting
- Departmental Offices Programs
Risk Flags
- Limited competition raises value concerns.
- Lack of explicit small business participation.
- R&D effectiveness requires clear post-contract metrics.
- Potential for scope creep in long-term R&D contracts.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-the-interior, va, definitive-contract, 1m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $2.5 million to COVAR, LLC. MINGLER: MULTI-MODAL INFORMATION GLEANER FOR CONTACT REPORT FILTERING
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is COVAR, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $2.5 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2022-09-15. End: 2025-09-19.
What specific R&D advancements does the 'Multi-Modal Information Gleaner' aim to achieve, and how will its success be measured?
The contract likely aims to develop or enhance AI capabilities for processing diverse data types (text, image, etc.) to filter and extract relevant information. Success metrics would typically involve accuracy rates, processing speed, and the ability to identify specific patterns or insights relevant to DOI's mission, as defined in the contract's statement of work.
Given the limited competition, what steps were taken to ensure the selected vendor, Covar, LLC, offered the best value and technical solution?
The 'exclusion of sources' implies a justification was made for not soliciting from all potential offerors. The agency likely conducted market research to identify qualified sources and evaluated proposals based on technical merit and price, ensuring the chosen solution met requirements despite the limited competition.
How will the effectiveness of this R&D investment be evaluated post-contract to ensure long-term taxpayer benefit?
Effectiveness will be gauged by the successful development and integration of the information gleaner system into DOI operations. Post-contract evaluation would involve assessing its impact on operational efficiency, decision-making quality, and cost savings, potentially through user feedback and performance monitoring.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › General Science and Technology R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 1
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Covar Applied Technologies, Inc.
Address: 1765 GREENSBORO STATION PL STE 900, MCLEAN, VA, 22102
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, Subchapter S Corporation, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $2,470,155
Exercised Options: $2,470,155
Current Obligation: $2,470,155
Actual Outlays: $2,470,155
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2022-09-15
Current End Date: 2025-09-19
Potential End Date: 2025-09-19 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-13
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