Booz Allen Hamilton and the U.S. Air Force's "BARD" (Building AI for Reliable Defense) — a federal contract (USAspending)
This is a federal contract (number FA875020C0201, about $1.7 million) awarded by the U.S. Air Force (Department of Defense) to Booz Allen Hamilton. The project is named "BARD" (Building Artificial Intelligence for Reliable Defense).
Contract key facts
- RecipientBooz Allen Hamilton
- Contract value$1,707,862 (≈$1.7M)
- Awarding agencyDepartment of Defense
- Awarding sub-agencyDepartment of the Air Force
- Award typeDEFINITIVE CONTRACT
- Period of performance2020-04-09 〜 2022-12-31
- Contract ID (PIID)FA875020C0201
Contract scope (original)
BUILDING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) FOR RELIABLE DEFENSE (BARD)
Key points
- Awarded by the U.S. Air Force (Department of Defense) to Booz Allen Hamilton; contract number FA875020C0201.
- The amount is about $1,707,862.
- The project name "BARD" means "Building Artificial Intelligence for Reliable Defense."
- It centers on improving the reliability (behaving stably and correctly as expected) of AI used in defense.
- The specific scope of work and outcomes are not stated in the source.
- Reliable here bundles working stably, not malfunctioning on unforeseen input, and results a person can check.
1What the name BARD stands for
The project name "BARD" is an acronym for "Building Artificial Intelligence for Reliable Defense." Here, "reliability" means that an AI system behaves stably and correctly as expected. For AI to be useful in defense settings, it is not enough to be high-performing; it must also avoid malfunctioning in unexpected situations and produce results that people can verify.
The BARD name signals exactly this direction: working toward AI that can be used with confidence.
2Reliable and responsible AI as a challenge
Why does this matter? In recent years, defense use of AI has expanded worldwide, while the risks of opaque AI decisions or wrong outputs from unexpected inputs have become a widely discussed challenge. The ideas of "reliable" and "responsible AI" emphasize verifying how a system behaves before it is deployed and putting in place mechanisms that let humans manage it appropriately.
To the extent that can be read from the project name, BARD sits within this responsible-AI context. What technologies were actually developed under this contract, and what results were achieved, are not stated in the source.
3Federal spending traceable one award at a time
Viewed more broadly, this contract is one example of USAspending data, which lets the public trace U.S. federal spending one award at a time. Because basic facts such as the awarding agency (the U.S. Air Force), the recipient (Booz Allen Hamilton), the amount, and the contract number are made public, citizens can see who is paying which companies, and for what purpose, with public funds.
Examining individual contracts together offers a glimpse of a larger pattern: how much the government is directing toward AI and defense technology.
4What "reliable" asks for
BARD stands for Building Artificial Intelligence for Reliable Defense. What reliability asks for here is a bundle of conditions.
| Condition | What it means |
|---|---|
| Works correctly and stably as expected | Performance does not swing by situation |
| Does not malfunction in unforeseen situations | Does not break on inputs absent from training |
| Results can be checked by a person | The soundness of a judgement can be verified afterwards |
Defense use of AI has advanced worldwide while the risk of opaque judgements, or wrong results from unexpected inputs, is widely debated. Responsible AI as an idea places weight on verifying behaviour before adoption and building arrangements a person can properly manage. What was actually developed under this contract does not appear in the source.
Why it matters
This contract is one example of how defense use of AI is moving toward an emphasis on "reliability" and "responsible AI." For companies and organizations considering AI adoption, it suggests that not only performance but also stable, correct behavior and human-verifiable results can be valued considerations in government procurement. At the same time, because the specific outcomes of this contract are not stated in the source, detailed assessment remains limited to the published information.
FAQ
What is "BARD"?
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Sources (primary)
This article is an independent organization based on the U.S. official spending data below. Verify the exact, latest details with the official source.
- USAspending (award details)
- Contract ID (PIID)：FA875020C0201