DoD's $3.2M contract with Keyspকে Software LLC for advanced radar system development
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $3,200,000 ($3.2M)
Contractor: Keyspoke Software LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2025-09-11
End Date: 2029-09-10
Contract Duration: 1,460 days
Daily Burn Rate: $2.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Number of Offers Received: 99
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: WE PROPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SIDE-LOOKING APERTURE RADAR SYSTEM THAT OPTIMIZES COHERENT GAIN BY SACRIFICING COVERAGE AREA. CONFIGURING THE RADAR TO STARE PERPENDICULAR TO THE AIRCRAFTS TRAJECTORY ALLOWS FOR THE COHERENT COMBINATION OF DATA.
Place of Performance
Location: ROCHESTER, MONROE County, NEW YORK, 14607
State: New York Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $3.2 million to KEYSPOKE SOFTWARE LLC for work described as: WE PROPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SIDE-LOOKING APERTURE RADAR SYSTEM THAT OPTIMIZES COHERENT GAIN BY SACRIFICING COVERAGE AREA. CONFIGURING THE RADAR TO STARE PERPENDICULAR TO THE AIRCRAFTS TRAJECTORY ALLOWS FOR THE COHERENT COMBINATION OF DATA. Key points: 1. Focus on optimizing radar system performance through specific configuration choices. 2. Contract aims to enhance coherent gain by adjusting coverage area. 3. Utilizes a Cost Plus Fixed Fee payment structure. 4. Long-term development effort spanning over four years. 5. Contract awarded under full and open competition. 6. Research and Development focus within physical and engineering sciences.
Value Assessment
Rating: fair
The contract value of $3.2 million for the development of a specialized radar system appears to be within a reasonable range for advanced R&D projects. However, without specific benchmarks for similar side-looking aperture radar system developments, a precise value-for-money assessment is challenging. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure necessitates careful monitoring of costs to ensure efficiency.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple vendors had the opportunity to bid. This competitive process is generally expected to yield fair pricing and innovative solutions. The number of bidders is not specified, but the open nature of the competition suggests a healthy market engagement.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayers benefit from a competitive process that aims to secure the best possible technology and pricing for this advanced radar system development.
Public Impact
The Department of Defense, specifically the Department of the Navy, will benefit from advancements in radar technology. The project aims to deliver an optimized side-looking aperture radar system. The development is expected to enhance national security capabilities. The contract supports specialized R&D work, potentially fostering innovation in the defense technology sector.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contracts can lead to cost overruns if not managed diligently.
- The specific trade-off between coherent gain and coverage area needs careful technical validation.
- Long-term R&D projects carry inherent risks of technical feasibility and schedule delays.
Positive Signals
- Awarded under full and open competition, suggesting a robust bidding process.
- Focus on a specific, advanced technological capability (optimized radar system).
- Clear definition of the research and development objective.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on advanced sensor technology for defense applications. The market for specialized radar systems is highly technical and often driven by government procurement. Comparable spending benchmarks would typically involve other advanced sensor development contracts within the defense industrial base, which are often classified or highly specific.
Small Business Impact
There is no indication that this contract includes a small business set-aside. As a research and development contract for a specialized system, it is likely that the prime contractor, Keyspকে Software LLC, possesses unique capabilities. Subcontracting opportunities for small businesses may arise if Keyspকে Software LLC requires specialized support services or components.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight for this contract will likely be managed by the Department of the Navy's contracting and program management offices. Accountability measures will be tied to the Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure, requiring detailed cost reporting and performance reviews. Transparency will depend on the level of classification associated with the radar system's capabilities and the reporting requirements outlined in the contract.
Related Government Programs
- Advanced Sensor Development Programs
- Department of Defense Research and Development
- Naval Technology Modernization
- Electronic Warfare Systems
Risk Flags
- Cost Plus Fixed Fee contract requires diligent oversight to manage costs.
- Technical risks associated with optimizing radar performance trade-offs.
- Long-term R&D nature introduces potential for schedule delays or feasibility issues.
Tags
department-of-defense, department-of-the-navy, research-and-development, radar-technology, advanced-systems, cost-plus-fixed-fee, full-and-open-competition, keyspকে-software-llc, new-york, definitive-contract
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $3.2 million to KEYSPOKE SOFTWARE LLC. WE PROPOSE THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SIDE-LOOKING APERTURE RADAR SYSTEM THAT OPTIMIZES COHERENT GAIN BY SACRIFICING COVERAGE AREA. CONFIGURING THE RADAR TO STARE PERPENDICULAR TO THE AIRCRAFTS TRAJECTORY ALLOWS FOR THE COHERENT COMBINATION OF DATA.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is KEYSPOKE SOFTWARE LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Navy).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $3.2 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-09-11. End: 2029-09-10.
What is Keyspকে Software LLC's track record with similar advanced radar system development contracts?
Information regarding Keyspকে Software LLC's specific track record with advanced radar system development contracts is not readily available in the provided data. As a specialized R&D project, the company's expertise in this niche area is critical. Further investigation into their past performance, previous government contracts, and technical publications would be necessary to fully assess their capabilities and reliability for this specific undertaking. The nature of R&D often involves unique challenges and innovations, making direct comparisons difficult without detailed project histories.
How does the $3.2 million cost compare to similar radar system development projects?
A direct cost comparison for this $3.2 million contract is challenging without access to specific, comparable projects. The development of a side-looking aperture radar system with optimized coherent gain involves specialized technology and significant R&D investment. Factors such as system complexity, required performance specifications, technological maturity, and the duration of the development effort heavily influence costs. Generally, advanced defense R&D projects can range widely in price, and this figure appears to be within a plausible range for a focused, multi-year development effort, assuming it addresses a specific, advanced capability.
What are the primary technical risks associated with this contract?
The primary technical risks associated with this contract likely revolve around achieving the specified optimization of coherent gain while potentially sacrificing coverage area. This involves complex signal processing and hardware design. Ensuring the system meets performance requirements under various operational conditions, integrating it with existing platforms, and managing the inherent uncertainties of R&D are also significant risks. The trade-off between gain and coverage necessitates careful engineering and validation to ensure the final system is effective for its intended purpose.
What is the expected effectiveness of the developed radar system for the Department of the Navy?
The expected effectiveness of the developed radar system is to provide enhanced capabilities for the Department of the Navy, specifically through optimized coherent gain. This suggests improvements in target detection, identification, or tracking accuracy, potentially at longer ranges or with greater clarity, even if the overall coverage area is adjusted. The system's effectiveness will be measured by its ability to meet the performance specifications outlined in the contract and its successful integration into naval operations, ultimately contributing to improved situational awareness and mission success.
What are the historical spending patterns for similar radar technology R&D within the Department of Defense?
Historical spending patterns for similar radar technology R&D within the Department of Defense are typically substantial and vary significantly based on technological advancements, strategic priorities, and specific platform requirements. The DoD consistently invests in advanced sensor technologies, including radar, to maintain a technological edge. While specific figures for comparable projects are often classified or proprietary, annual budgets for defense R&D run into billions of dollars, with significant portions allocated to areas like electronic warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), which heavily rely on advanced radar capabilities.
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 › C – National Defense R&D Services
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 99
Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 21 EDGERTON ST, ROCHESTER, NY, 14607
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $9,962,573
Exercised Options: $9,962,573
Current Obligation: $3,200,000
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: YES
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-09-11
Current End Date: 2029-09-10
Potential End Date: 2029-09-10 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-01-07
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