DoD's $12.7M FASTNICS Program Aims for 100x ML Speedup via RTX BBN Technologies
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $12,783,156 ($12.8M)
Contractor: RTX BBN Technologies, Inc.
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2020-06-11
End Date: 2025-06-30
Contract Duration: 1,845 days
Daily Burn Rate: $6.9K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 8
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: FAST NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS (FASTNICS) PROGRAM WILL SPEED UP APPLICATIONS LIKE DISTRIBUTED TRAINING OF MACHINE LEARNING CLASSIFIERS BY100X THROUGH DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION
Place of Performance
Location: CAMBRIDGE, MIDDLESEX County, MASSACHUSETTS, 02138
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $12.8 million to RTX BBN TECHNOLOGIES, INC. for work described as: FAST NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS (FASTNICS) PROGRAM WILL SPEED UP APPLICATIONS LIKE DISTRIBUTED TRAINING OF MACHINE LEARNING CLASSIFIERS BY100X THROUGH DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION Key points: 1. Significant potential for AI/ML acceleration, particularly in distributed training. 2. RTX BBN Technologies is the sole contractor, raising questions about competition. 3. High risk associated with novel technology development and ambitious performance goals. 4. Spending falls within the R&D sector, characterized by innovation and uncertainty.
Value Assessment
Rating: questionable
The contract type (Cost Plus Fixed Fee) is common for R&D but offers less price certainty. Benchmarking is difficult due to the novel nature of the technology.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
While advertised as full and open, the award to a single entity suggests limited actual competition or a specific focus on unique capabilities. Price discovery may be impacted by the R&D nature.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are invested in potentially transformative technology, with the ultimate value dependent on successful development and adoption.
Public Impact
Accelerates critical AI/ML research and development capabilities for the Department of Defense. Potential for broader applications in scientific computing and data-intensive fields. Invests in advanced hardware solutions to overcome current computational bottlenecks.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Sole awardee raises competition concerns.
- Ambitious performance targets increase development risk.
- Cost-plus contract offers limited price predictability.
Positive Signals
- Addresses a critical need for faster AI/ML processing.
- Potential for significant technological advancement.
- Contract awarded to a reputable defense contractor.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls under Research and Development in Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences. Spending in this sector is inherently high-risk, high-reward, focusing on innovation rather than immediate, predictable returns.
Small Business Impact
No direct indication of small business involvement in this specific contract award. Future subcontracting opportunities may exist but are not detailed here.
Oversight & Accountability
The contract is managed by the Defense Contract Management Agency, indicating standard oversight for defense contracts. Accountability will focus on meeting R&D milestones and performance objectives.
Related Government Programs
- Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology)
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Defense Contract Management Agency Programs
Risk Flags
- High technical risk associated with ambitious performance goals.
- Sole awardee raises questions about the extent of actual competition.
- Cost-plus contract type offers less price certainty.
- Novel technology development is inherently unpredictable.
- Potential for cost overruns due to R&D complexity.
Tags
research-and-development-in-the-physical, department-of-defense, ma, definitive-contract, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $12.8 million to RTX BBN TECHNOLOGIES, INC.. FAST NETWORK INTERFACE CARDS (FASTNICS) PROGRAM WILL SPEED UP APPLICATIONS LIKE DISTRIBUTED TRAINING OF MACHINE LEARNING CLASSIFIERS BY100X THROUGH DEVELOPMENT, IMPLEMENTATION
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is RTX BBN TECHNOLOGIES, INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Defense Contract Management Agency).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $12.8 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2020-06-11. End: 2025-06-30.
What is the specific technical approach to achieve the 100x speedup, and what are the key technical risks?
The specific technical approach is not detailed in the provided data. However, achieving a 100x speedup likely involves novel hardware architectures, specialized interconnects, and optimized data handling. Key technical risks include the feasibility of these novel designs, integration challenges, power consumption, heat dissipation, and the ability to scale the solution effectively. Validation of such a significant performance leap also presents a considerable risk.
How will the success of the FASTNICS program be measured, and what are the key performance indicators (KPIs)?
Success will likely be measured against the program's primary objective: achieving a 100x speedup in applications like distributed training of machine learning classifiers. Key performance indicators (KPIs) would probably include benchmark results demonstrating this speed increase on specific, representative workloads. Other KPIs might involve latency reduction, throughput improvements, power efficiency, and the successful integration of the FASTNICS hardware into existing DoD systems.
Given the 'full and open competition' designation, why was the award made to a single contractor, and what is the potential impact on future innovation?
The 'full and open competition' designation might refer to the initial solicitation process, allowing any qualified vendor to bid. However, the award to a single entity suggests that only RTX BBN Technologies met the specific, potentially unique, technical requirements or offered the best value proposition for this particular R&D effort. This could indicate a highly specialized need or that other bidders lacked the necessary expertise or proposed solutions.
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 › DEFENSE (OTHER) R&D
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: BASIC RESEARCH
Solicitation ID: HR001118S0082
Offers Received: 8
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Parent Company: Rockwell Collins Australia PTY Limited
Address: 10 MOULTON ST, CAMBRIDGE, MA, 02138
Business Categories: Category Business, Corporate Entity Not Tax Exempt, Not Designated a Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $12,783,156
Exercised Options: $12,783,156
Current Obligation: $12,783,156
Actual Outlays: $590,790
Subaward Activity
Number of Subawards: 2
Total Subaward Amount: $270,300
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2020-06-11
Current End Date: 2025-06-30
Potential End Date: 2025-06-30 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2025-10-02
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