IARPA awards $11.7M for advanced memory system research to Intel Federal LLC

Contract Overview

Contract Amount: $11,681,982 ($11.7M)

Contractor: Intel Federal LLC

Awarding Agency: Department of Defense

Start Date: 2022-09-26

End Date: 2024-06-14

Contract Duration: 627 days

Daily Burn Rate: $18.6K/day

Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Number of Offers Received: 10

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE

Sector: R&D

Official Description: IARPA AGILE PROGRAM BAA AWARD - PROPOSAL ENTITLED TIGRE: A TRANSACTIONAL INTEGRATED GLOBAL MEMORY SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC ROUTING AND END-TO-END FLOW CONTROL

Place of Performance

Location: FAIRFAX, FAIRFAX CITY County, VIRGINIA, 22030

State: Virginia Government Spending

Plain-Language Summary

Department of Defense obligated $11.7 million to INTEL FEDERAL LLC for work described as: IARPA AGILE PROGRAM BAA AWARD - PROPOSAL ENTITLED TIGRE: A TRANSACTIONAL INTEGRATED GLOBAL MEMORY SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC ROUTING AND END-TO-END FLOW CONTROL Key points: 1. Contract focuses on developing a transactional integrated global memory system. 2. Research aims to improve dynamic routing and end-to-end flow control. 3. Awardee, Intel Federal LLC, has a significant presence in the technology sector. 4. The contract is a definitive contract with a Cost Plus Fixed Fee pricing structure. 5. This award falls under the 'Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences' NAICS code. 6. The contract duration is approximately 627 days, ending in mid-2024. 7. The award was made under full and open competition, suggesting a competitive process.

Value Assessment

Rating: good

The contract value of $11.7 million for a research and development project of this scope appears reasonable. Benchmarking against similar advanced research initiatives funded by agencies like IARPA suggests that this award is within expected parameters for cutting-edge technological development. The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure allows for flexibility in research while maintaining cost control through a fixed fee component.

Cost Per Unit: N/A

Competition Analysis

Competition Level: full-and-open

The contract was awarded under full and open competition, indicating that multiple offerors had the opportunity to bid. The presence of 10 proposals suggests a healthy level of interest and competition for this advanced research opportunity. This competitive process is expected to drive innovation and ensure that the most capable solution was selected.

Taxpayer Impact: A competitive award process helps ensure that taxpayer funds are used efficiently by selecting the best value proposal, rather than simply the first one submitted.

Public Impact

The primary beneficiaries are the intelligence community and national security, through advancements in data management and processing. The project will deliver a novel memory system with enhanced routing and flow control capabilities. The geographic impact is primarily national, supporting federal research initiatives. Workforce implications include specialized roles for researchers, engineers, and project managers in advanced computing.

Waste & Efficiency Indicators

Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10

Warning Flags

The complexity of developing a 'transactional integrated global memory system' presents inherent technical risks.
Reliance on a single contractor, even with competitive initial bidding, can concentrate risk.
The Cost Plus Fixed Fee structure, while common in R&D, can sometimes lead to cost overruns if not closely managed.

Positive Signals

Award to Intel Federal LLC leverages established expertise in semiconductor and computing technologies.
The project's focus on dynamic routing and flow control addresses critical needs in data processing.
IARPA's rigorous oversight is expected to mitigate research and development risks.

Sector Analysis

This contract falls within the Information Technology and Research & Development sectors, specifically focusing on advanced computing and data management. The market for such specialized research is dominated by a few large technology firms and research institutions capable of undertaking high-risk, high-reward projects. Spending in this area is driven by national security imperatives and the need for technological superiority.

Small Business Impact

This contract was not set aside for small businesses, and there is no indication of subcontracting requirements for small businesses in the provided data. The nature of the research likely requires specialized expertise and resources typically found in larger technology firms or established research organizations.

Oversight & Accountability

IARPA (Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity) is known for its rigorous program management and oversight of research projects. The agency employs a phased approach to funding and requires regular reporting and milestone achievement. Accountability is maintained through performance metrics and adherence to research objectives. Transparency is generally limited due to the sensitive nature of the research, but project progress is tracked internally.

Related Government Programs

DARPA Advanced Computing Programs
National Science Foundation Computer and Information Science and Engineering
Department of Energy Advanced Scientific Computing Research

Risk Flags

Technical complexity of the research objective.
Potential for cost overruns in CPFF contracts.
Reliance on advanced, potentially unproven, technologies.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this federal contract paying for?

Department of Defense awarded $11.7 million to INTEL FEDERAL LLC. IARPA AGILE PROGRAM BAA AWARD - PROPOSAL ENTITLED TIGRE: A TRANSACTIONAL INTEGRATED GLOBAL MEMORY SYSTEM WITH DYNAMIC ROUTING AND END-TO-END FLOW CONTROL

Who is the contractor on this award?

The obligated recipient is INTEL FEDERAL 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 $11.7 million.

What is the period of performance?

Start: 2022-09-26. End: 2024-06-14.

What is the specific technological innovation expected from the TIGRE system?

The TIGRE (Transactional Integrated Global Memory System) system aims to develop a novel memory architecture that integrates transactional capabilities with global memory access and dynamic routing. This means the system will not only store and retrieve data efficiently but will also manage data consistency and integrity across distributed components, similar to how database transactions work. The dynamic routing and end-to-end flow control aspects are intended to optimize data movement and processing, ensuring that information reaches its destination quickly and reliably, even in complex and rapidly changing network environments. The ultimate goal is to create a more robust, scalable, and performant memory system for advanced computing applications, potentially impacting areas like artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and high-performance computing.

How does the Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) pricing structure work for this R&D contract?

The Cost Plus Fixed Fee (CPFF) pricing structure is common for research and development contracts where the final costs are difficult to predict precisely. Under CPFF, the contractor (Intel Federal LLC) is reimbursed for all allowable costs incurred during the performance of the contract. In addition to cost reimbursement, the contractor receives a predetermined fixed fee, which represents their profit. This fixed fee is negotiated at the outset and does not change regardless of the final cost of the contract. This structure incentivizes the contractor to control costs, as any savings below the estimated cost do not reduce their fee, while cost overruns do not increase it. However, it requires careful monitoring by the government to ensure that costs are reasonable and allocable to the contract.

What are the potential risks associated with developing a 'global memory system'?

Developing a 'global memory system' presents several significant risks. Firstly, achieving true global memory access across potentially vast and distributed systems introduces immense complexity in terms of synchronization, consistency, and latency. Ensuring data integrity and avoiding race conditions in a globally accessible memory space is a formidable challenge. Secondly, the 'transactional' aspect adds another layer of complexity, requiring robust mechanisms to manage concurrent operations and maintain ACID (Atomicity, Consistency, Isolation, Durability) properties, which are traditionally associated with databases rather than memory systems. Thirdly, dynamic routing and flow control in such a system must be highly adaptive and efficient to handle varying network conditions and workloads without becoming a bottleneck. Finally, the integration of these advanced concepts into a cohesive and functional system requires significant breakthroughs in hardware, software, and distributed systems design, carrying a high risk of technical failure or underperformance.

What is IARPA's role in overseeing this type of advanced research?

IARPA (Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity) plays a crucial role in overseeing advanced research projects like the TIGRE program. IARPA functions similarly to DARPA but focuses specifically on research relevant to the U.S. intelligence community. Their oversight typically involves defining ambitious research goals, selecting promising research teams through competitive processes, and providing programmatic guidance. IARPA program managers actively engage with the research teams, monitoring progress, providing technical direction, and ensuring that the research stays aligned with strategic objectives. They often employ a phased approach, with go/no-go decision points based on achieving specific milestones. This hands-on management style is designed to accelerate the development of groundbreaking technologies and mitigate the inherent risks associated with cutting-edge research.

How does this contract compare to other federal spending in advanced computing research?

This $11.7 million award to Intel Federal LLC for the TIGRE program is a significant investment, but it is one among many in advanced computing research across the federal government. Agencies like DARPA, NSF, and DOE also fund substantial research in areas such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, high-performance computing, and novel memory technologies. While the exact dollar amounts vary widely depending on the specific research area and the maturity of the technology, awards in the multi-million dollar range are typical for ambitious, multi-year R&D projects. IARPA's focus on intelligence applications means its projects often push the boundaries of what is currently feasible, potentially leading to unique technological advancements compared to broader academic or commercial research efforts.

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 › General Science and Technology R&D Services

Competition & Pricing

Extent Competed: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION

Solicitation Procedures: BASIC RESEARCH

Solicitation ID: W911NF22S0001

Offers Received: 10

Pricing Type: COST PLUS FIXED FEE (U)

Evaluated Preference: NONE

Contractor Details

Address: 4100 MONUMENT CORNER DR STE 540, FAIRFAX, VA, 22030

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

Financial Breakdown

Contract Ceiling: $21,573,710

Exercised Options: $21,573,710

Current Obligation: $11,681,982

Contract Characteristics

Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED

Cost or Pricing Data: YES

Timeline