Small Businesses to Compete for Over $20 Million in Army Contracts, Reports National Automotive Center

WARREN, Mich., May 29, 2003 -- The Army's National Automotive Center (NAC) today announced it plans to award over $20 million this year in contracts to small businesses interested in working on a series of collaborative technology development projects for the benefit of the military and commercial industry. The program will be outlined to Greater Detroit area business leaders in four special meetings being scheduled in June.

The half-day programs, from 8 a.m. to noon, will be held as follows: June 16th at the Michigan State University Management Center in Troy; June 18th at McMorran Arena in Port Huron (Civic Center); June 20th at the University of Detroit Mercy McNichols Campus; and June 23rd at Macomb County Community College, South Campus, on 12 Mile Road.

Registration is required. To register, please contact Greg Bock, (phone) 586-446-9340, (fax) 586-446-9343, (e-mail) gbock@lesco-logistics.com . A modest registration fee of $25 will be charged.

"Here is a great opportunity for technology representatives from small companies and those in academia to bring forward technologies and solutions for more than 36 projects we have highlighted that are applicable in this area," said Dennis J. Wend, executive director of the NAC. "This program, which currently has more than $40 million in TARDEC projects underway, brings out some of the best innovative and creative thinking here in the heart of the automotive industry."

The program has three phases beginning with the selection of companies from proposals submitted against topics generated by scientists and engineers from the Warren-based Tank-Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). Phase I is a feasibility study in which companies will receive up to $70,000 for a six-month project to demonstrate the scientific, technical and commercial feasibility of a concept. The Phase I solicitations officially open on July 1, but during June, TARDEC technology experts are available to meet with participants to discuss any proposal in areas of interest.

Phase II represents a two-year major research and development effort with a budget of up to $730,000 that culminates in a well-defined deliverable prototype. During Phase II, companies develop the technology, product, or software that not only addresses the military needs, but also has potential for commercialization in the private sector. Commercialization is the ultimate goal of every Small Business Innovative Research (SBIR) effort.

In Phase III, there is no SBIR funding but private sector funding is pursued to commercialize Phase II projects, or a Federal Agency may fund Phase III activities to enable its own application of the innovation.

Congress established the SBIR program in l992. It was enhanced in 2000 with ACT HR 5667 authorizing funding through 2008. The NAC is the Army's official link to commercial industry, academia and government in developing dual-use technologies that meet the needs of both the defense and commercial industries.

The National Automotive Center is the Army's official link to working with commercial and academic partners to generate vehicles that will provide the Army the mobility, survivability and agility it needs to operate efficiently and effectively in today's new threat environment. For the military, the NAC's partnership approach makes it possible to improve vehicle performance, safety and endurance while reducing design, manufacturing, operations and maintenance costs. For commercial partners, the application of jointly developed technologies has similar impacts -- safer cars and trucks, more advanced technology available to the consumer and lower cost because of the broader market base.

Headquartered in Warren, MI, the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) is the nation's laboratory for advanced military automotive technology. TARDEC's mission is to research, engineer, develop, leverage and provide advanced systems integration of technology into both ground systems and their support equipment throughout the life cycle.

Also headquartered in Warren, MI, the U.S. Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command, in partnership with the Army's Program Executive Offices, is one of the Army's largest weapon systems sustainment organizations. Their mission, serving the world over, provides and sustains mobility, lethality, and survivability for soldiers, other services, and our allies through ground combat, automotive, marine and armaments technologies.