Navmar Applied Sciences Corp. in Warminster, PA is not the only firm to win “Laser Radar” related contracts, nor are they the only firm to invest in LADAR for various uses. But they have received a series of contracts dating back from 2000, and collectively worth over $240 million, in order to develop the technology into deployed systems.
Navmar’s contracts have been issued under the auspices of the US Navy’s Small Business Innovation Research program, under SBIR Solicitation Topics N92-170 (Laser Detection and Ranging Identification Demonstration) and N94-178 (Air Deployable Expendable Multi-parameter Environmental Probe).
SBIR Awards, and the Lure of LADAR
“Target acquired.”
A SBIR-III award generally means that a new technology has gone beyond proof of concept, and is a step away from commercialization. Navmar has been operating under Phase III contracts in these areas for a number of years, and their length and amounts are both unusual.
Topic N94-178’s (Air Deployable Expendable Multi-parameter Environmental Probe) technology objective appears to be sonobuoy-related, and has been described as “sensors capable of providing oceanographic/ environmental monitoring in time critical situations.” Properly adapted, some of these technologies might also be adapted for land-based use, but specifics are few at this point.
Topic N92-170 (Laser Detection and Ranging Identification Demonstration) has much clearer uses. Laser/Light Detection And Ranging (LADAR or LIDAR) is similar to millimeter wave radar, but uses lasers to scan and processes the signal echoed from targets, in order to create a 3-D virtual picture of the area.
Most people encounter LIDAR as a method of traffic enforcement, but it has broader potential. Due to its ability to scan large areas with very high precision, and its ability to gradually build a detailed picture of the area under surveillance, LADAR sensors are usually employed on loitering systems that can look at the target from different angles, then match them to templates stored in onboard processors.
As the technology progressed, people also realized that they could use the LADAR to look through cover such as trees, towers and camouflage. With conventional, 2-dimensional imaging, it’s possible to see only through the holes in a tree covering. But because it produces images from multiple angles and collates them into a single 3-D picture, a LADAR can essentially see around the trees.
This unique property, and the ability to rapidly scan a substantial area, makes LADAR a very attractive technology for surveillance. Modern counterinsurgency situations add to that attraction, which may explain why the Navy has devoted so many resources to this effort.
Contracts & Key Events
Unless otherwise noted, US NAVAIR’s Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, in Lakehurst, NJ issues and manages these contracts. Small business qualifier Navmar Applied Sciences Corp. in Warminster, PA is the contractor.
To date, the firm has received $241.2 million in contracts, over 10 years, for these SBIR projects.
May 14/10: A $49.7 million cost-plus-fixed-fee Phase III (SBIR) project under 2 different topics, with $1.4 million expiring at the end of the current fiscal year.
This Phase III SBIR contract was competitively procured using SBIR Program Solicitation Topics N92-170, entitled “Laser Detection and Ranging Identification Demonstration,” (LADAR) and N94-178, entitled “Air Deployable Expendable Multi-parameter Environmental Probe.”
Work will be performed in Patuxent River, MD (30%), Yuma, AZ (30%), Afghanistan (30%), and Warminster, PA (10%), and is expected to be complete in May 2015. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ issued the contracts (N68335-10-C-0045).
Jan 8/10: A sole-source $73.1 million cost-plus-incentive-fee contract for a Phase III Small Business Innovation Research project under Topics N92-170 and N94-178.
Work will be performed at various forward-deployed operating bases located in Afghanistan (86%); Patuxent River, MD (11%); and Yuma, AZ (3%), and is expected to be complete in January 2012. This Phase III contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ (N68335-10-C-0101).
This release shifts the focus slightly, describing it as “services and materials for the design and development of a persistent ground surveillance system for the Army and the Marine Corps.” The natural place to mount such sensors in Afghanistan is on UAVs, King Air 350-ISR turboprop planes, and aerostats, but for true persistence, LADAR sensors may also substantially improve the effectiveness of systems like RAID surveillance towers.
Sept 29/09: A $9.3 million modification to a previously awarded cost-plus-fixed-fee contract (N68335-08-C-0470) to provide additional funding for continued work on Phase III SBIR projects N92-170 and N94-178. “This effort will transition the technologies developed into near-term and long-term advanced surveillance, reconnaissance, and force protection.”
Work will be performed in Patuxent River, MD (30%); Yuma, AZ (25%); Warminster, PA (20%) and various OCONUS (Outside the CONtinental US) locations (25%), and is expected to be completed in September 2011. Contract funds in the amount of $100,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.
Sept 17/08: A $10 million cost plus fixed fee contract for a Phase III SBIR contract under topics N92-170 and N94-178 for “near term and far term advanced surveillance, reconnaissance, and force protection systems.”
Work will be performed in Patuxent River, MD (39%); Warminster, PA (24%); Yuma, AZ (16%); Afghanistan (14%); and Iraq (7%), and is expected to be completed in September 2010. Contract funds in the amount of $1.5 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/08. This SBIR Phase III contract was not competitively procured, under FAR 6.302-5 (N68335-08-D-0470).
Aug 7/07: A $24.7 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for a Phase III SBIR Program contract covering Topics N92-170 and N94-178. The goal, stated in the US DoD release, is to:
”....transition technologies into near and far term advanced surveillance, reconnaissance and force protection systems. These systems will address Navy operational requirements of surveillance, reconnaissance, detection, classification and targeting, and the coordinated Fleet Consolidated Command Technology issues of combat identification and battle damage assessment.”
Work will be performed in Warminster, PA, and is expected to be complete in July 2012. Contract funds in the amount of $5.5 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept 30/07. This contract was competitively procured using the SBIR Program Solicitation process under Topics N92-170 and N94-178; respectively, 3 and 6 offers were received (N68335-07-C-0324).
Sept 25/06: A $9.8 million cost-plus-fixed-fee delivery order against a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract (N68335-05-D-0020) for a Phase III SBIR Program under Topics N92-170 & N94-178.
“The contract is to develop and produce new and improved sensors and communication systems to improve surveillance, detection, classification, and targeting capabilities for manned and unmanned air and sea vehicles.”
Work will be performed in Chester, PA and is expected to be complete in September 2008. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ.
June 23/05: A not-to-exceed $14.6 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract, under a Phase III SBIR program for Topic N92-170 entitled “LADAR (Laser Radar) Identification Demonstration” and Topic N94-178 entitled “Air Deployable Expendable Multi-Parameter Environmental Probe.” The DoD release states that:
“The objective for Phase III is to address a totally integrated system approach, including the modification of Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance aircraft with Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance and enhanced communications packages employing technologies developed under Phase I and Phase II. Additionally the Navy mission requirement for low cost/expendable standoff surveillance, reconnaissance, and targeting will be addressed through the development of medium and long endurance Unmanned Air Vehicle systems with re-configurable payloads.”
Work will be performed in Chester, PA, and is expected to be complete in June 2007. This contract was competitively procured using SBIR program solicitation under Topic N92-170 and Topic N94-178, and 4 offers were received. The Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ manages this contract (N68335-05-D-0020).
Sept 26/02: A not-to-exceed $25 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract, under a Phase III SBIR program for Topic N92-170 entitled “LADAR (Laser Radar) Identification Demonstration” and Topic N94-178 entitled “Air Deployable Expendable Multi-Parameter Environmental Probe.” A SBIR-III award is given for technology that’s close to commercialization. The DoD release states that:
“Topic N92-170 technology has matured into technology highly desirable and directly applicable to the Navy warfighter for portable surveillance and remote target identification systems. Topic N94-178 technology objective is to provide sensors capable of providing oceanographic/ environmental monitoring in time critical situations.”
Work will be performed in Warminster, PA (40%); Lexington Park, MD (30%); and Annapolis, MD (30%), and is to be complete by September 2007. Contract funds in the amount of $960,000 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured using the SBIR program solicitation process, with 6 offers received for each by US Naval Air Systems Command’s Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ (N68335-02-D-0030).
Aug 23/2000: A not-to-exceed $25 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity contract for the Tactical Acoustic Measurement Decision Aid (TAMDA) prototype buoy development effort. The TAMDA program is intended to meet the requirement for improved anti-submarine warfare through on-the-scene collection and analysis of environmental data.
Work will be performed in Warminster, PA, and is expected to be complete by August 2005. This contract was competitively procured using the Small Business Innovative Research solicitation provisions under Topic #N94-178, with 6 offers received by the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division in Lakehurst, NJ (N68335-00-D-0396)
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