NASA awards $899,787 contract to Encapsulate Inc. for AI-driven metastasis prediction research
Contract Overview
Contract Amount: $899,787 ($899.8K)
Contractor: Encapsulate Inc.
Awarding Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Start Date: 2025-07-16
End Date: 2027-07-15
Contract Duration: 729 days
Daily Burn Rate: $1.2K/day
Competition Type: FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Number of Offers Received: 500
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE
Sector: R&D
Official Description: PHASE II SBIR - 80NSSC25C0036 NVASIVE: AN AI AND MACHINE LEARNING APPROACH FOR METASTASIS PREDICTION USING NVASIVE AND MICROGRAVITY
Place of Performance
Location: FARMINGTON, HARTFORD County, CONNECTICUT, 06032
Plain-Language Summary
National Aeronautics and Space Administration obligated $899,787 to ENCAPSULATE INC. for work described as: PHASE II SBIR - 80NSSC25C0036 NVASIVE: AN AI AND MACHINE LEARNING APPROACH FOR METASTASIS PREDICTION USING NVASIVE AND MICROGRAVITY Key points: 1. Contract focuses on advanced AI and machine learning for metastasis prediction, a critical area in medical research. 2. The award is a Phase II SBIR, indicating a focus on small business innovation and technology maturation. 3. Research aims to leverage invasive and microgravity data, suggesting novel approaches to understanding cancer spread. 4. The contract duration of 729 days allows for substantial development and testing of the proposed AI models. 5. This award aligns with NASA's broader interest in life sciences research and potential dual-use applications. 6. The firm fixed-price contract structure shifts performance risk to the contractor, Encapsulate Inc.
Value Assessment
Rating: good
The contract value of $899,787 for a Phase II SBIR is within a reasonable range for specialized R&D projects. Benchmarking against similar AI/ML research contracts within NASA or other agencies would provide further context on value for money. The firm fixed-price nature suggests a defined scope, but the novelty of the AI application means potential for cost overruns if unforeseen technical challenges arise.
Cost Per Unit: N/A
Competition Analysis
Competition Level: full-and-open
The contract was awarded under 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES,' which implies an initial exclusion of sources followed by a broader competition. While the specific details of the exclusion are not provided, the subsequent full and open competition suggests a competitive process was ultimately employed. The number of bidders is not specified, but the 'full and open' nature generally promotes a wider range of proposals.
Taxpayer Impact: A full and open competition, even with prior exclusions, is generally favorable for taxpayers as it increases the likelihood of receiving competitive pricing and innovative solutions.
Public Impact
The primary beneficiaries are researchers and medical professionals who will gain access to advanced AI tools for predicting cancer metastasis. The research delivered will be an AI and machine learning model capable of predicting metastasis. The geographic impact is national, with potential for global adoption of the technology in cancer research and treatment. Workforce implications include potential job creation in AI development, data science, and biomedical research sectors.
Waste & Efficiency Indicators
Waste Risk Score: 50 / 10
Warning Flags
- The novelty of applying AI to microgravity and invasive data for metastasis prediction introduces technical risks.
- The 'after exclusion of sources' clause warrants further investigation into the initial source selection process.
- Reliance on specific datasets may limit the generalizability of the AI model without further validation.
Positive Signals
- Phase II SBIR awards are highly competitive and indicate a strong potential for technological innovation.
- The focus on AI and machine learning aligns with current technological advancements and high-impact research areas.
- The firm fixed-price contract provides cost certainty for the government, assuming the contractor can manage technical risks.
Sector Analysis
This contract falls within the Research and Development sector, specifically focusing on physical, engineering, and life sciences. The market for AI in healthcare and biomedical research is rapidly expanding, with significant investment in developing predictive models for diseases like cancer. NASA's involvement highlights the potential for space-related research to yield terrestrial benefits, particularly in life sciences.
Small Business Impact
As a Phase II SBIR award, this contract is specifically designed to support small business innovation. Encapsulate Inc. is likely a small business that has successfully progressed from Phase I. The success of this project could lead to further commercialization and subcontracting opportunities, fostering the growth of the small business in the R&D ecosystem.
Oversight & Accountability
Oversight will likely be managed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) program managers responsible for this research area. Accountability measures are tied to the firm fixed-price contract terms and deliverables. Transparency is facilitated through the Federal Procurement Data System (FPDS) and potential public reporting of research findings, though specific oversight details are not provided.
Related Government Programs
- Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program
- NASA Research and Technology
- Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
- Cancer Research Funding
- Biomedical Engineering Research
Risk Flags
- Potential lack of clarity on initial source exclusion.
- Technical risks inherent in novel AI/ML applications.
- Dependence on specific, potentially limited, datasets.
Tags
research-and-development, artificial-intelligence, machine-learning, small-business-innovation-research, phase-ii-sbir, nasa, national-aeronautics-and-space-administration, firm-fixed-price, full-and-open-competition, life-sciences, cancer-research, connecticut
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this federal contract paying for?
National Aeronautics and Space Administration awarded $899,787 to ENCAPSULATE INC.. PHASE II SBIR - 80NSSC25C0036 NVASIVE: AN AI AND MACHINE LEARNING APPROACH FOR METASTASIS PREDICTION USING NVASIVE AND MICROGRAVITY
Who is the contractor on this award?
The obligated recipient is ENCAPSULATE INC..
Which agency awarded this contract?
Awarding agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (National Aeronautics and Space Administration).
What is the total obligated amount?
The obligated amount is $899,787.
What is the period of performance?
Start: 2025-07-16. End: 2027-07-15.
What is the specific technical approach Encapsulate Inc. will use to develop the AI and machine learning model for metastasis prediction?
The provided data does not detail the specific technical approach. However, as a Phase II SBIR, the project likely builds upon preliminary research from Phase I. The mention of 'invasive and microgravity' data suggests the model may analyze cellular or tissue responses under specific conditions, potentially simulating aspects of cancer cell behavior in different environments. The AI/ML component would involve training algorithms on these datasets to identify patterns indicative of metastatic potential. Further details would typically be found in the proposal or subsequent technical reports.
How does the $899,787 contract value compare to typical Phase II SBIR awards in the R&D sector?
The contract value of $899,787 is within the upper range for a Phase II SBIR award, which can vary significantly. Phase II awards typically range from $500,000 to $1.5 million, focusing on the R&D needed to explore the feasibility and potential commercial applications of an innovation. This award suggests a project of substantial scope and complexity, requiring significant investment to mature the technology. Benchmarking against specific R&D sub-sectors like AI or biomedical research would provide more precise comparisons.
What are the key performance indicators (KPIs) or milestones expected for this contract?
Specific KPIs and milestones are not detailed in the provided data. However, for a Phase II SBIR focused on AI/ML development, typical milestones would include data acquisition and preprocessing, model development and training, validation of model performance against benchmark datasets, prototype demonstration, and potentially a final report detailing findings and commercialization pathways. Performance would likely be assessed based on the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the metastasis prediction model.
What is Encapsulate Inc.'s track record with government contracts, particularly SBIR awards?
The provided data indicates this is a Phase II SBIR award (80NSSC25C0036), suggesting Encapsulate Inc. has likely completed or is completing a Phase I SBIR. Without access to a comprehensive contract database, their broader track record with government contracts, including other SBIR phases or different agencies, cannot be determined from this snippet alone. Further research would be needed to assess their history of performance and successful delivery on prior awards.
What are the potential risks associated with the 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' award type?
The 'FULL AND OPEN COMPETITION AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES' (FOUCAES) award type can introduce complexities. It implies that initially, certain sources were excluded, possibly due to specific requirements or prior relationships, before the opportunity was opened to full and open competition. While the latter part ensures broader participation, the initial exclusion might raise questions about fairness or whether the most innovative solutions were considered from the outset. The specific reasons for the initial exclusion would be crucial for a complete risk assessment.
How does this contract align with NASA's broader strategic goals in life sciences and technology development?
This contract aligns with NASA's strategic goals by advancing research in life sciences, particularly in areas with potential terrestrial applications. NASA's mission includes understanding biological systems and leveraging space environments for research. Developing advanced AI for medical prediction contributes to this by pushing the boundaries of data analysis and potentially improving health outcomes. Furthermore, SBIR programs are a key mechanism for NASA to foster innovation and support the commercialization of technologies developed through its research initiatives.
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 AFTER EXCLUSION OF SOURCES
Solicitation Procedures: NEGOTIATED PROPOSAL/QUOTE
Offers Received: 500
Pricing Type: FIRM FIXED PRICE (J)
Evaluated Preference: NONE
Contractor Details
Address: 400 FARMINGTON AVENUE, FARMINGTON, CT, 06032
Business Categories: Category Business, Limited Liability Corporation, Manufacturer of Goods, Partnership or Limited Liability Partnership, Self-Certified Small Disadvantaged Business, Small Business, Special Designations, U.S.-Owned Business
Financial Breakdown
Contract Ceiling: $899,787
Exercised Options: $899,787
Current Obligation: $899,787
Actual Outlays: $156,250
Contract Characteristics
Multi-Year Contract: Yes
Commercial Item: COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS/SERVICES PROCEDURES NOT USED
Cost or Pricing Data: NO
Timeline
Start Date: 2025-07-16
Current End Date: 2027-07-15
Potential End Date: 2027-07-15 00:00:00
Last Modified: 2026-04-09
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