DARPA awards $11.2M for R&D, highlighting advanced tech development with potential for electronics and communication equipment

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,231,686 ($11.2M)

Contractor: Pranalytica, Inc.

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2005-01-25

End Date: 2008-08-08

Contract Duration: 1,291 days

Daily Burn Rate: $8.7K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Number of Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: 200509!500295!9700!HR0011!DARPA CONTRACT MANAGEMENT DIR. !HR001104C0102 !A!N! !N! !P00001!20050125!20050810!066502142!066502142!066502142!N!PRANALYTICA INC !1101 COLORADO AVE !SANTA MONICA !CA!90401!70000!037!06!SANTA MONICA !LOS ANGELES !CALIFORNIA!+000001762500!N!N!000000000000!AZ13!RDTE/OTHER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT-ADV TECH DEV !A7 !ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION EQUIP !000 !* !541710!E! !3! ! !C! ! !20200930!B! ! !A! !A!N!U!2!002!E! !Z!Y!Z! ! !N!B!N!N! ! !A! !A!A!000!A!B!N! ! ! ! ! ! !0001! !

Place of Performance

Location: SANTA MONICA, LOS ANGELES County, CALIFORNIA, 90401

State: California Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $11.2 million to PRANALYTICA, INC. for work described as: 200509!500295!9700!HR0011!DARPA CONTRACT MANAGEMENT DIR. !HR001104C0102 !A!N! !N! !P00001!20050125!20050810!066502142!066502142!066502142!N!PRANALYTICA INC !1101 COLORADO AVE !SANTA MONICA !CA!90401!70000!037!06!SANTA MONICA !LOS … Key points: 1. Contract awarded for Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. 2. Focus on advanced technology development, specifically electronics and communication equipment. 3. Competition method was 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources', suggesting a specific justification. 4. The sector is Defense, with DARPA as the awarding agency, indicating a focus on national security innovation.

Value Assessment

Rating: fair

The contract value of $11.2M for a duration of 1291 days (approx. 3.5 years) suggests a moderate investment in R&D. Without specific benchmarks for similar advanced technology development contracts, a precise pricing assessment is difficult.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: limited

The contract was awarded under 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources'. This method implies that while competition was sought, specific criteria or circumstances led to excluding some potential sources, which could impact price discovery.

Taxpayer Impact: The taxpayer impact is tied to the effectiveness of the R&D in producing valuable technological advancements for national security and defense.

Public Impact

Advancements in electronics and communication equipment could lead to improved defense capabilities. Investment in R&D by DARPA aims to maintain technological superiority for the nation. The specific nature of the R&D may have dual-use applications, benefiting both defense and civilian sectors. Contracting processes, even with limited competition, are designed to ensure responsible use of taxpayer funds.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

Limited competition justification needs scrutiny.
Potential for cost overruns in R&D projects.
Ensuring clear deliverables and milestones for advanced R&D.

Positive Signals

Focus on cutting-edge technology development.
Awarded by a reputable agency (DARPA) known for innovation.
Potential for significant technological breakthroughs.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on advanced technology development. Spending in this area by agencies like DARPA is crucial for maintaining a technological edge, with benchmarks varying widely based on the specific research area and project scope.

Small Business Impact

The data does not indicate whether small businesses were involved in this contract, either as prime contractors or subcontractors. Further analysis would be needed to determine the extent of small business participation.

Oversight & Accountability

Oversight for this contract would typically be managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency (DCMA) and the awarding agency, DARPA. Ensuring accountability involves monitoring project progress, adherence to cost controls, and achievement of research objectives.

Related Government Programs

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences
Department of Defense Contracting
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Programs

Risk Flags

Limited competition raises questions about potential price fairness.
R&D projects inherently carry risks of technical failure or unmet objectives.
The 'Cost Plus Fixed Fee' contract type can sometimes lead to less cost-consciousness if not managed tightly.
Ensuring clear intellectual property rights and technology transfer pathways.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $11.2 million to PRANALYTICA, INC.. 200509!500295!9700!HR0011!DARPA CONTRACT MANAGEMENT DIR. !HR001104C0102 !A!N! !N! !P00001!20050125!20050810!066502142!066502142!066502142!N!PRANALYTICA INC !1101 COLORADO AVE !SANTA MONICA !CA!90401!70000!037!06!SANTA MONICA !LOS ANGELES !CALIFORNIA!+000001762500!N!N!000000000000!AZ13!RDTE/OTHER RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT-ADV TECH DEV !A7 !ELECTRONICS AND COMMUNICATION EQUIP !000 !* !541710!E! !3! ! !C! ! !202

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is PRANALYTICA, INC..

Which agency awarded this contract?

Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency).

What is the total obligated amount?

The obligated amount is $11.2 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2005-01-25. End: 2008-08-08.

What specific technological advancements are expected from this contract, and how do they align with DARPA's strategic goals?

This contract focuses on 'Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences' with a product service code related to 'Electronics and Communication Equipment'. While specific details are not provided, DARPA's mission is to create breakthrough technologies for national security. Therefore, advancements are likely aimed at enhancing communication systems, sensor technology, or other electronic capabilities critical for defense applications, aligning with DARPA's objective to prevent technological surprise.

How was the 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' justified, and what was the rationale for excluding other potential bidders?

The justification for 'Full and Open Competition After Exclusion of Sources' typically involves demonstrating that only a limited number of sources possess the unique capabilities, technology, or proprietary information required for the specific research. This could be due to specialized expertise, prior development, or unique facilities. A thorough review of the contract's justification document would be necessary to understand the specific reasons for excluding other bidders and ensure fair competition principles were upheld.

What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) for this R&D contract, and how will their achievement be measured to assess effectiveness?

For R&D contracts, KPIs often focus on technical milestones, prototype development, successful testing of new technologies, and timely delivery of research findings. Effectiveness is measured by DARPA's assessment of whether the developed technologies meet the intended performance specifications and contribute to the agency's strategic objectives. The contract type (Cost Plus Fixed Fee) suggests that while costs are reimbursed, the profit is fixed, incentivizing efficient performance within the defined scope.

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 › OTHER RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES

Solicitation Procedures: BASIC RESEARCH

Offers Received: 2

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 1101 COLORADO AVE, SANTA MONICA, CA, 36

Business Categories: Category Business, Small Business

Contract Characteristics

Cost or Pricing Data: NO

Timeline