NSF awards $1.99M for water system research to Delta Bravo Artificial Intelligence Inc

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $1,989,583 ($2.0M)

Contractor: Delta Bravo Artificial Intelligence Inc

Awarding Agency: National Science Foundation

Start Date: 2025-06-06

End Date: 2026-06-05

Contract Duration: 364 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.5K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 47

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: CONVERGENCE ACCELERATOR FUTURE WATER SYSTEMS

Place of Performance

Location: FORT MILL, YORK County, SOUTH CAROLINA, 29708

State: South Carolina Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

National Science Foundation obligated $2.0 million to DELTA BRAVO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INC for work described as: CONVERGENCE ACCELERATOR FUTURE WATER SYSTEMS Key points: 1. Contract awarded through full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. 2. The contract is for research and development, a critical area for technological advancement. 3. The fixed-price contract type aims to control costs and provide budget certainty. 4. The duration of one year provides a focused period for research objectives. 5. The small business set-aside flag is false, indicating no specific preference for small businesses in this award. 6. The contract is for a single award, suggesting a specific project focus.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of approximately $2 million for a one-year R&D project appears within a reasonable range for specialized research. Benchmarking against similar contracts for advanced research in physical, engineering, and life sciences is challenging without more specific project details. However, the firm fixed-price structure suggests an attempt to manage costs effectively. Further analysis would require comparing the scope of work and deliverables to other NSF-funded research initiatives.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

This contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that all responsible sources were permitted to submit a bid. The presence of 47 bids suggests a robust level of interest and a competitive marketplace for this type of research. A higher number of bidders generally leads to better price discovery and potentially more innovative solutions for the government.

Taxpayer Impact: The extensive competition for this contract is beneficial for taxpayers, as it likely drove down prices and ensured the government received competitive proposals for its research needs.

Public Impact

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is the primary beneficiary, funding critical research. The contract supports research and development in physical, engineering, and life sciences, specifically focusing on water systems. The geographic impact is centered in South Carolina, where the contractor is located. The workforce implications include employment for researchers and technical staff at Delta Bravo Artificial Intelligence Inc.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in R&D projects if not tightly managed.
Reliance on a single contractor for a specific research objective.
The specialized nature of the research may limit the pool of qualified contractors in future competitions.

Positive Signals

Awarded through full and open competition, indicating a competitive process.
Firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government.
The research focus on water systems addresses a critical societal need.
The contractor, Delta Bravo Artificial Intelligence Inc., has secured a significant federal award, indicating capability.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. The market for such specialized research is often driven by government funding and academic institutions. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically be found within NSF's broader portfolio of research grants and contracts, as well as similar R&D solicitations from other federal agencies. The nanotechnology and biotechnology sub-sectors are excluded, indicating a focus on broader engineering and physical sciences.

Small Business Impact

The contract was not set aside for small businesses, and the 'sb' flag is false. This suggests that the competition was open to all eligible businesses, regardless of size. While there's no direct subcontracting requirement explicitly stated, the nature of R&D may lead the prime contractor to engage specialized subcontractors. The impact on the small business ecosystem is neutral in this instance, as there was no specific set-aside provision.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract will primarily be managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF) program officers responsible for the Convergence Accelerator Future Water Systems initiative. Accountability measures are embedded in the contract's performance requirements and deliverables. Transparency is facilitated through public contract databases like FPDS. The NSF has its own Inspector General to investigate fraud, waste, and abuse, though specific IG involvement would depend on any reported issues.

Related Government Programs

National Science Foundation Research Grants
Environmental Research and Development
Water Infrastructure Research
Artificial Intelligence in Scientific Research

Risk Flags

Research and Development Uncertainty
Potential for Unforeseen Technical Challenges
Reliance on Contractor's Expertise

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

National Science Foundation awarded $2.0 million to DELTA BRAVO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INC. CONVERGENCE ACCELERATOR FUTURE WATER SYSTEMS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is DELTA BRAVO ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE INC.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: National Science Foundation (National Science Foundation).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $2.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2025-06-06. End: 2026-06-05.

What is the specific research objective of the 'CONVERGENCE ACCELERATOR FUTURE WATER SYSTEMS' project?

The 'CONVERGENCE ACCELERATOR FUTURE WATER SYSTEMS' project, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aims to accelerate the development and implementation of innovative solutions for water systems. While the provided data does not detail the specific research objectives, the NSF's Convergence Accelerator programs typically focus on high-impact societal challenges. Projects in this area often involve interdisciplinary research combining various scientific and engineering fields, potentially including AI, data analytics, sensor technologies, and advanced materials, to address issues such as water scarcity, water quality, and resilient water infrastructure. The goal is to move research from the lab to practical application more rapidly.

How does the $1.99 million award compare to other NSF R&D contracts in similar fields?

The $1.99 million award for the 'CONVERGENCE ACCELERATOR FUTURE WATER SYSTEMS' project is a substantial but not exceptionally large sum for a one-year research and development contract, especially within the NSF's Convergence Accelerator framework. NSF funds a wide range of R&D projects, with individual awards varying significantly based on scope, duration, and the number of participating institutions or companies. Larger, multi-year, or multi-disciplinary initiatives can easily exceed tens of millions of dollars. Conversely, smaller, more focused grants might be in the hundreds of thousands. This particular award appears to be a significant investment for a single-award, one-year project, suggesting a well-defined and critical research objective.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or deliverables expected from Delta Bravo Artificial Intelligence Inc. under this contract?

The specific Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) and deliverables for this contract are not detailed in the provided data. However, for a research and development contract of this nature, typical deliverables would likely include research reports, data analysis, prototype development (if applicable), scientific publications, presentations at conferences, and potentially a final project summary outlining findings and future research directions. The NSF program officers would establish specific milestones and metrics to track progress and ensure the research objectives are being met within the one-year timeframe. Performance would be evaluated against these defined criteria.

What is Delta Bravo Artificial Intelligence Inc.'s track record with federal contracts, particularly with the NSF?

The provided data indicates that Delta Bravo Artificial Intelligence Inc. is the recipient of this specific National Science Foundation (NSF) contract. To assess their broader track record, one would need to consult federal procurement databases (like FPDS or SAM.gov) to identify previous awards, contract types, agencies involved, and performance history. Without access to this broader data, it's difficult to ascertain their extensive track record. However, securing a contract of this size and nature from the NSF suggests they possess the necessary qualifications and capabilities to undertake advanced research and development projects.

What are the potential risks associated with this contract, and how are they being mitigated?

Potential risks associated with this R&D contract include the inherent uncertainty of research outcomes, the possibility of cost overruns (though mitigated by the firm fixed-price structure), and potential delays in achieving milestones. Technical risks might involve unforeseen challenges in developing or applying artificial intelligence to water systems. Mitigation strategies typically involve robust project management by both the contractor and the NSF, clear definition of deliverables and milestones, regular progress reporting, and contingency planning. The firm fixed-price nature itself is a risk mitigation tool for the government, capping the financial exposure.

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

Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE

Solicitation ID: NSFBAA-CA23-01

Offers Received: 47

Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1008 PERRIWINKLE LANE, FORT MILL, SC, 29708

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $4,986,559

Exercised Options: $1,989,583

Current Obligation: $1,989,583

Actual Outlays: $1,665,000

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline