US Navy to Conduct Maritime Laser Demonstration in Support of its Surface Fighting Ships

Released on Monday, July 06, 2009

Northrup Grumman Space and Missions Systems Corp., Redondo Beach, Calif., is being awarded a $98,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for the Maritime Laser Demonstration (MLD) Program. The MLD Program seeks to mature technologies through and beyond a technical readiness level of six, in a technology demonstration (TD) phase with an anticipated contract duration period of between 12 and 18 months. There will be a final demonstration phase of a demonstrator/prototype. The prototype system installation envisioned and desired not to be limited to installation on a specific or particular class of ship, but at the very minimum shall support the US Navy DDG, LCS, CG, LSD, LPD, LHA, LHD, and FFG ship classes. Incremental land based live-fire tests for safety and range readiness reviews and testing will be considered as part of the overall program, leading to a real-time, "at sea" dynamic demonstration showing a counter-material capability against small boats. On successful completion of the TD, additional task orders for a subsequent acquisition oriented system development and demonstration phase may extend the life of the contract. These capabilities define its relevance to the Office of Naval Research mission since they are key thrusts of the survivability & self defense and power projection S&T focus areas at ONR. The contract allows for the placement of firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee task orders. At the time of award, $499,999 will be obligated. Work will be performed in Redondo Beach, Calif., and the expected date of completion is June 2014. Contract funds in the amount of $499,999 will expire at end of current fiscal year. The contract was competitively procured via the internet under a Request For Proposals. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Va., is the contracting activity (N00014-09-D-0077).