DARPA awards $991K R&D contract to Impact Cooling Inc. for innovative cooling solutions
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $991,261 ($991.3K)
Contractor: Impact Cooling Inc
Awarding Agency: Department of the Interior
Start Date: 2026-02-01
End Date: 2028-01-31
Sector: R&D
Official Description: DARPA SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PHASE II RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (R&D) AWARD TO IMPACT COOLING INC
Plain-Language Summary
Department of the Interior obligated $991,261 to IMPACT COOLING INC for work described as: DARPA SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PHASE II RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (R&D) AWARD TO IMPACT COOLING INC Key points: 1. Significant investment in advanced cooling technology development. 2. Competition details are limited, suggesting a focused selection process. 3. Potential for technological breakthroughs in thermal management. 4. Contract duration spans two years, indicating a substantial project scope.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The award amount of $991,261 represents a solid investment in research and development. The value is appropriate for a Phase II SBIR project aimed at significant technological advancement.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: sole-source
This appears to be a sole-source award, typical for SBIR Phase II contracts where a specific small business has demonstrated unique capabilities in Phase I. Further details on the justification for sole-source are not provided.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from the advancement of potentially groundbreaking cooling technologies that could lead to broader applications and efficiencies.
Public Impact
Potential for more efficient electronics cooling in government systems. Advancements could trickle down to commercial applications, improving device performance. Supports innovation within the small business sector.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited public information on the specific cooling technology.
- Ensuring scalability and commercial viability post-award.
- Potential for reliance on a single vendor for this specific innovation.
Positive Signals
- Supports a small business with a significant R&D award.
- Focus on innovative technology development.
- Clear project timeline with defined end date.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research & Development sector, specifically focusing on advanced materials and engineering for thermal management solutions, likely for defense or high-performance computing applications.
Small Business Impact
This is an SBIR Phase II award, specifically targeting small businesses for research and development. The contract is not set-aside, but the SBIR program inherently supports small businesses.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight will likely be managed by DARPA program managers, ensuring milestones are met and funds are used appropriately for R&D. The definitive contract structure provides a framework for accountability.
Related Government Programs
- DARPA SBIR Program
- Phase II Research & Development
- Impact Cooling Inc. Contract
Risk Flags
- Technology Readiness Level (TRL) not specified.
- Commercialization pathway unclear.
Tags
darpa, sbir, phase-ii, research-and-development, impact-cooling-inc, definitive-contract, thermal-management, cooling-technology
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of the Interior awarded $991,261 to IMPACT COOLING INC. DARPA SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH (SBIR) PHASE II RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT (R&D) AWARD TO IMPACT COOLING INC
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is IMPACT COOLING INC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of the Interior (Departmental Offices).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $991,261.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2026-02-01. End: 2028-01-31.
Analysis insight 1
The specific nature of the cooling innovation is not detailed, making it difficult to assess its immediate applicability or disruptive potential.
Analysis insight 2
Understanding the transition plan from Phase II to potential broader adoption or commercialization is key.
Analysis insight 3
The award amount suggests a significant technological hurdle is being addressed.