Tech, Navy Sign $7.5 Million Contract

Navy Capt. Sheila Patterson and Tech President Charles W. Steger signing the agreement^

A five-year, $7.5 million indefinite delivery/infinitive quantity contract was also signed, which is a cost contract for services requested for product areas and capabilities consistent with the needs of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD).

Almost a year of discussions has resulted in a five-year, $7.5 million indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract and a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) between Virginia Tech and the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division (NSWCDD).

Virginia Tech has carried out many research projects for the Navy warfare center during the past 25 years, primarily on shipboard systems and materials. As the projects neared completion, university officials approached the Navy warfare center with information about new capabilities.

The Dahlgren workforce includes many Tech graduates, so the center's incentive to continue the partnership was high.In fact, collaborative research is already underway again as a result of a memorandum of understanding signed in November 2008. New research areas to date include pulsed and high power electromagnetic technology, ground unmanned support systems, railgun technology, and creation of a radio frequency (RF) propagation model.

"In all, eight task orders and seven white papers are underway funded at $1.8 million, and educational partnerships will begin this fall," says Christopher Cornelius, director of the Center for Naval Systems at Virginia Tech. Michael Wood, director of the NSWCDD Technical Partnering Office, said that NSWC Dahlgren has worked with Virginia Tech students and researchers for over 25 years.

Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger told the visitors from NSWCDD that the university has a diversity of programs that generate new knowledge and capacity and a prescriptive side to respond to problems.

NSWC Dahlgren is a $1.2 billion business, which partners with industry and academia, including international.