DoD's $7.5M Contract for Nuclear, Chemical, and Biological Simulation Development Awarded to Applied Research Associates

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $7,507,550 ($7.5M)

Contractor: Applied Research Associates, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2022-03-11

End Date: 2026-04-11

Contract Duration: 1,492 days

Daily Burn Rate: $5.0K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, AND HIGH EXPLOSIVE MODELING AND SIMULATION INTEGRATION DEVELOPMENT FOR SYNTHETIC ENVIRONMENTS

Place of Performance

Location: ARLINGTON, ARLINGTON County, VIRGINIA, 22203

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $7.5 million to APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC. for work described as: NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, AND HIGH EXPLOSIVE MODELING AND SIMULATION INTEGRATION DEVELOPMENT FOR SYNTHETIC ENVIRONMENTS Key points: 1. Contract focuses on critical defense simulation capabilities for WMD threats. 2. Applied Research Associates, Inc. is the sole awardee. 3. Potential risks include integration complexity and evolving threat landscapes. 4. Spending falls within the R&D sector, specifically physical and engineering sciences.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract type is Cost Plus Fixed Fee, which can lead to cost overruns if not managed carefully. Benchmarking against similar R&D simulation contracts is difficult without more granular cost data.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive bidding process. However, the specific award mechanism (Delivery Order) might indicate a broader contract vehicle was previously competed.

Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being invested in advanced simulation capabilities to enhance national security and preparedness against WMD threats.

Public Impact

Enhances national security by improving modeling and simulation for WMD scenarios. Supports the development of synthetic environments for realistic training and analysis. Invests in cutting-edge R&D to counter evolving threats. Potential for dual-use technology applications in civilian safety and disaster response.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract type
Limited public detail on specific performance metrics
Potential for scope creep in R&D projects

Positive Signals

Addresses critical national security needs
Utilizes advanced simulation technology
Awarded through full and open competition

Sector Analysis

This contract falls under the Research and Development sector, specifically NAICS code 541712. Spending in this area is crucial for maintaining technological superiority and addressing complex national security challenges through scientific advancement.

Small Business Impact

The data indicates this contract was not awarded to small businesses. Further analysis would be needed to determine if subcontracting opportunities exist for small businesses within this award.

Oversight & Accountability

The Department of Defense, through the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, is responsible for overseeing this contract. Robust oversight is crucial for managing R&D projects and ensuring effective use of taxpayer funds.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Biotechnology)
Department of Defense Contracting
Defense Threat Reduction Agency Programs

Risk Flags

Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract structure
Potential for integration challenges with diverse simulation systems
R&D projects inherently carry uncertainty in outcomes
Lack of specific performance metrics in public data
No indication of small business participation

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $7.5 million to APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC.. NUCLEAR, CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, AND HIGH EXPLOSIVE MODELING AND SIMULATION INTEGRATION DEVELOPMENT FOR SYNTHETIC ENVIRONMENTS

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is APPLIED RESEARCH ASSOCIATES, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Threat Reduction Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $7.5 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-03-11. End: 2026-04-11.

What are the key performance indicators for this contract, and how will their achievement be measured to ensure value for money?

Key performance indicators are not explicitly detailed in the provided data. Measuring the achievement of R&D objectives, especially in complex simulation integration, requires clearly defined technical milestones, successful integration testing, and validation against real-world threat scenarios. The agency's oversight will be critical in ensuring these metrics are established and met to demonstrate value.

What are the primary risks associated with integrating disparate modeling and simulation systems for WMD scenarios, and what mitigation strategies are in place?

Primary risks include technical incompatibility between different modeling systems, data standardization issues, cybersecurity vulnerabilities within the synthetic environment, and the complexity of accurately representing WMD effects. Mitigation strategies likely involve rigorous systems engineering, adherence to interoperability standards, robust cybersecurity protocols, and phased integration with continuous testing and validation.

How will the effectiveness of the developed synthetic environments be evaluated in improving warfighter decision-making and response capabilities?

Effectiveness will be evaluated through rigorous testing and validation exercises within the synthetic environments. This includes conducting simulated WMD response scenarios, assessing warfighter performance and decision-making under stress, and gathering feedback from subject matter experts and end-users. Post-exercise analysis and iterative refinement of the simulations based on these evaluations will be key.

Industry Classification

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

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

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: SUBJECT TO MULTIPLE AWARD FAIR OPPORTUNITY

Solicitation ID: HDTRA112R0016

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4300 SAN MATEO BLVD NE STE A220, ALBUQUERQUE, NM, 87110

Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $19,164,614

Exercised Options: $14,993,769

Current Obligation: $7,507,550

Actual Outlays: $1,010,714

Subaward Activity

Number of Subawards: 1

Total Subaward Amount: $302,899

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Parent Contract

Parent Award PIID: HDTRA114D0003

IDV Type: IDC

Timeline