DoD's Advana Edge AI DevSecOps contract awarded to Seed Innovations for $31.4M
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $31,397,869 ($31.4M)
Contractor: Seed Innovations, LLC
Awarding Agency: Department of Defense
Start Date: 2023-05-18
End Date: 2025-05-17
Contract Duration: 730 days
Daily Burn Rate: $43.0K/day
Competition Type: COMPETED UNDER SAP
Number of Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: IT
Official Description: ADVANA EDGE SUPPORT SERVICES. THE OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE OF THE ADVANA EDGE EFFORT IS TO AGGRESSIVELY GROW THE INITIAL AI DEVSECOPS CAPABILITIES TO A FULL-SCALE ENTERPRISE CAPABILITY, OPERATING IN BOTH CLOUD AND EDGE ENVIRONMENTS.
Place of Performance
Location: MONUMENT, EL PASO County, COLORADO, 80132
State: Colorado Government Spending
Plain-Language Summary
Department of Defense obligated $31.4 million to SEED INNOVATIONS, LLC for work described as: ADVANA EDGE SUPPORT SERVICES. THE OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE OF THE ADVANA EDGE EFFORT IS TO AGGRESSIVELY GROW THE INITIAL AI DEVSECOPS CAPABILITIES TO A FULL-SCALE ENTERPRISE CAPABILITY, OPERATING IN BOTH CLOUD AND EDGE ENVIRONMENTS. Key points: 1. Contract aims to scale AI DevSecOps capabilities across cloud and edge environments. 2. Focus on advancing AI and DevSecOps for the Department of Defense. 3. Potential for significant technological advancement in defense AI. 4. Competition method is 'COMPETED UNDER SAP', indicating a specific procurement pathway.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $31.4M over two years appears reasonable for developing and scaling advanced AI DevSecOps capabilities. Benchmarking against similar large-scale AI development contracts would provide further context.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: limited
The contract was competed under SAP (Small Business Procurement), suggesting a limited competition aimed at small businesses. This method can impact price discovery compared to full and open competition.
Taxpayer Impact: Taxpayer funds are being invested in critical AI and DevSecOps capabilities for national defense, with the aim of achieving technological superiority.
Public Impact
Enhances the Department of Defense's AI and DevSecOps capabilities. Supports the development of advanced technologies for national security. Potential for job creation in the tech sector, particularly for small businesses. Ensures the US maintains a technological edge in defense applications.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- Limited competition may not yield the best price.
- Scope creep potential in scaling AI capabilities.
- Reliance on a single vendor for critical AI infrastructure.
Positive Signals
- Focus on critical AI DevSecOps capabilities.
- Awarded to a small business.
- Clear objective to scale capabilities.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the custom computer programming services sector, specifically focusing on advanced AI and DevSecOps. Spending in this area is rapidly increasing across government as agencies adopt AI solutions.
Small Business Impact
The contract was competed under SAP, indicating an effort to support small businesses. Seed Innovations, LLC is the awardee, suggesting a focus on leveraging small business capabilities for this critical IT development.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight will be crucial to ensure the successful scaling of AI DevSecOps capabilities and manage the contract's performance effectively. The Department of the Army's contracting office is responsible for oversight.
Related Government Programs
- Custom Computer Programming Services
- Department of Defense Contracting
- Department of the Army Programs
Risk Flags
- Limited competition.
- Potential for vendor lock-in.
- Complexity of scaling AI/DevSecOps.
- Cybersecurity risks in edge environments.
- Ensuring AI model fairness and ethical use.
Tags
custom-computer-programming-services, department-of-defense, co, delivery-order, 10m-plus
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
Department of Defense awarded $31.4 million to SEED INNOVATIONS, LLC. ADVANA EDGE SUPPORT SERVICES. THE OVERARCHING OBJECTIVE OF THE ADVANA EDGE EFFORT IS TO AGGRESSIVELY GROW THE INITIAL AI DEVSECOPS CAPABILITIES TO A FULL-SCALE ENTERPRISE CAPABILITY, OPERATING IN BOTH CLOUD AND EDGE ENVIRONMENTS.
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is SEED INNOVATIONS, LLC.
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: Department of Defense (Department of the Army).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $31.4 million.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2023-05-18. End: 2025-05-17.
What is the specific definition of 'Advana Edge' and its intended operational impact within the DoD?
The Advana Edge initiative aims to extend the initial AI DevSecOps capabilities beyond traditional cloud environments to edge computing. This implies enabling AI processing and development closer to data sources or operational theaters, potentially improving real-time decision-making, reducing latency, and enhancing operational resilience in distributed or disconnected environments.
How will the success of scaling AI DevSecOps capabilities be measured, and what are the key performance indicators?
Success metrics likely include the successful deployment and operation of AI DevSecOps in both cloud and edge environments, demonstrable improvements in development cycle times, enhanced security posture of AI systems, and the successful integration of new AI models or features. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) might track deployment frequency, system uptime, security vulnerability resolution times, and user adoption rates.
What are the potential risks associated with rapidly scaling AI DevSecOps capabilities, and how are they being mitigated?
Risks include technical complexity, integration challenges, data security and privacy concerns, potential for bias in AI models, and the need for specialized personnel. Mitigation strategies may involve phased rollouts, rigorous testing and validation, robust cybersecurity protocols, continuous monitoring for bias, and investment in workforce training and development.
Industry Classification
NAICS: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services › Computer Systems Design and Related Services › Custom Computer Programming Services
Product/Service Code: IT AND TELECOM - INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS › IT AND TELECOM - APLLICATIONS
Competition & Pricing
Extent Competed: COMPETED UNDER SAP
Solicitation Procedures: SIMPLIFIED ACQUISITION
Solicitation ID: W519TC23R0026
Offers Received: 2
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 19960 CAPELLA DR, MONUMENT, CO, 80132
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Small Business, Sole Proprietorship, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business, Woman Owned Business, Women Owned Small Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $67,383,418
Exercised Options: $31,397,869
Current Obligation: $31,397,869
Contract Characteristics
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES
Parent Contract
Parent Award PIID: FA830720G0049
IDV Type: BOA
Timeline
Start Date: 2023-05-18
Current End Date: 2025-05-17
Potential End Date: 2025-05-17 12:05:00
Last Modified: 2025-08-19
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