Air Force awards $11.98M for sensor application R&D to University of Texas at Austin

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,978,719 ($12.0M)

Contractor: University of Texas AT Austin

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2003-04-25

End Date: 2008-12-31

Contract Duration: 2,077 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.8K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: 200307!000249!5700!GR09 !AFRL/SNKD INFORMATION/SENSOR APP!F3361503C4106 !A!N! !N! !20030425!20060228!170230239!170230239!042000273!N!THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUS!101 E 27TH ST ROOM 4 308!AUSTIN !TX!78712!05000!453!48!AUSTIN !TRAVIS !TEXAS !+000001326616!N!N!000007617912!AC62!RDTE/ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION EQ-APPLIED RESEA !A7 !ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION !3000!NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B!C!N!A! !A!N!S!2!009!E! !Z!Y!Z! ! !N!V!N! ! ! ! ! !A!A!000!A!C!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! !

Place of Performance

Location: AUSTIN, TRAVIS County, TEXAS, 78712

State: Texas Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $12.0 million to UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN for work described as: 200307!000249!5700!GR09 !AFRL/SNKD INFORMATION/SENSOR APP!F3361503C4106 !A!N! !N! !20030425!20060228!170230239!170230239!042000273!N!THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUS!101 E 27TH ST ROOM 4 308!AUSTIN !TX!78712!05000!453!48!AUSTIN !TRAVI… Key points: 1. The contract focuses on Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 2. Competition was full and open after exclusion of sources, suggesting a deliberate selection process. 3. The primary risk appears to be the successful delivery of advanced sensor applications. 4. This falls within the broader IT and Defense sectors, with a strong R&D component.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $11.98M for a duration of over 6 years (2077 days) suggests a moderate annual spend. Without specific unit costs or deliverables, a precise value assessment is difficult, but it appears reasonable for specialized R&D.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The 'full and open competition after exclusion of sources' indicates that while the competition was open, specific criteria or prior exclusions may have narrowed the field. This method aims for competitive pricing but might limit the pool of potential offerors.

Taxpayer Impact: The competitive nature of the award, even with exclusions, should lead to a fair price. Taxpayers benefit from research that could lead to technological advancements.

Public Impact

Advancement in sensor technology could have dual-use applications in defense and civilian sectors. Investment in university research fosters innovation and strengthens the scientific workforce. Potential for new intellectual property and commercialization opportunities arising from the research.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Potential for scope creep in R&D projects.
Ensuring effective technology transfer from research to application.
Long project duration may introduce unforeseen challenges.

Positive Signals

Investment in cutting-edge research.
Partnership with a reputable academic institution.
Focus on critical sensor technology development.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under Research and Development, specifically in electronics and communication. The spending benchmark for R&D in this area can vary widely based on the specific technology and project scope. The $11.98M award over approximately 6 years is a significant investment for a specialized research effort.

Small Business Impact

The awardee is a university, not a small business. There is no indication that small businesses were subcontracted or involved in this specific award.

Oversight & Accountability

The contract is managed by the Department of the Air Force, likely involving program managers and technical experts to oversee research progress and financial expenditures. Oversight would focus on milestones, deliverables, and adherence to research objectives.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
Department of Defense Contracting
Department of the Air Force Programs

Risk Flags

R&D project complexity and potential for delays.
Ensuring the research translates into practical, deployable technology.
Dependency on specific scientific expertise at the university.
Long-term relevance of the developed technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $12.0 million to UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN. 200307!000249!5700!GR09 !AFRL/SNKD INFORMATION/SENSOR APP!F3361503C4106 !A!N! !N! !20030425!20060228!170230239!170230239!042000273!N!THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUS!101 E 27TH ST ROOM 4 308!AUSTIN !TX!78712!05000!453!48!AUSTIN !TRAVIS !TEXAS !+000001326616!N!N!000007617912!AC62!RDTE/ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION EQ-APPLIED RESEA !A7 !ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION !3000!NOT DISCERNABLE OR CLASSIFIED !541710!E! !3! ! ! ! ! !99990909!B

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN.

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Air Force).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $12.0 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2003-04-25. End: 2008-12-31.

What specific sensor technologies are being researched, and what are the expected advancements?

The data indicates the contract is for 'INFORMATION/SENSOR APP' within 'ELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATION EQ-APPLIED RESEA'. While specific details are not provided, the focus is likely on developing novel sensor capabilities, improving data processing, or creating new applications for existing sensor technology. The goal is to push the boundaries of current sensor performance and utility.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this research contract, and how will success be measured?

Success measurement for R&D contracts typically involves achieving specific technical milestones, demonstrating proof-of-concept, developing prototypes, and potentially publishing research findings. KPIs might include sensor sensitivity, data accuracy, processing speed, or the successful integration of the sensor application into a test environment. The contract's 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences' designation implies a focus on scientific and technical achievement.

How does this investment align with broader Air Force modernization goals or strategic priorities?

This contract likely supports the Air Force's strategic priorities in areas such as intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR), command and control, or electronic warfare, where advanced sensor technology is crucial. Modernizing sensor capabilities can enhance situational awareness, improve targeting accuracy, and provide a decisive technological advantage in contested environments.

Industry Classification

NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Scientific Research and Development Services › Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences

Product/Service Code: RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT › C – National Defense R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: BASIC RESEARCH

Offers Received: 9

Pricing Type: COST NO FEE (S)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Parent Company: University of Texas System (UEI: 042000273)

Address: 101 E 27TH ST ROOM 4 308, AUSTIN, TX, 90

Business Categories: Category Business, Educational Institution, Higher Education, Not Designated a Small Business

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline