US Marines Awards ARL $1.39 Billion Contract Modification for development of new technologies.

The Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) at Pennsylvania State University (PSU) has received a contract modification from the U.S. Navy, dated June 21, 2024. This modification, valued at $1.39 billion, is an extension of a previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) contract (N00024-18-D-6401). The contract is structured as a cost-plus-fixed-fee agreement and aims to enhance research, development, engineering, and evaluation activities for Department of Defense (DoD) programs.
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US Marines utilize a laser rangefinder during a transit through the Strait of Gibraltar. (Picture source: US DoD)

The contract focuses on ARL/PSU’s key competencies, including guidance, navigation and control systems, advanced thermal propulsion technologies, development of advanced propulsors, innovations in materials and manufacturing technology, atmospheric and defense communications, and mission-related public services. The work associated with this contract will be carried out in State College, Pennsylvania, with a completion date set for February 2028. Funds will come from various appropriations and fiscal years from different DoD program offices and agencies. The Naval Sea Systems Command, located at the Washington Navy Yard, is the contracting activity.

This contract highlights the ongoing partnership between PSU and the U.S. Navy, emphasizing ARL’s crucial role in advancing national security technologies. Since its establishment in 1945 at the Navy’s request, ARL has played a key role in developing critical technologies for national defense, ranging from undersea systems to cybersecurity and materials science.

First awarded in 2018, this contract had already undergone a $734 million modification in 2023. Since its inception, ARL has been a pivotal player in the advancement of defense technologies, known for its contributions in undersea systems, cybersecurity, and material sciences.

The Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) is a University Affiliated Research Center (UARC) designated by the U.S. Department of Defense. Initially established as the Ordnance Research Laboratory to continue research and development efforts related to torpedoes during World War II, ARL has evolved into a leading multidisciplinary research center. It contributes to national security, economic competitiveness, and quality of life through education, scientific discovery, and technological application.

ARL plays a crucial role in developing critical technologies for national defense, covering a wide range of research areas, including fluid dynamics, advanced materials, undersea systems, cybersecurity, and communications. The laboratory operates several state-of-the-art facilities, including the Garfield Thomas Water Tunnel, one of the world’s largest circulating water tunnels used for torpedo research and other physics problems.

Since its creation, ARL has grown, currently employing over 1,300 researchers, engineers, and industry professionals across several sites in the United States. The laboratory manages more than 400 active research programs and continues to expand its capabilities to meet evolving defense and national security needs.

ARL at Penn State is one of the 14 DoD-designated University Affiliated Research Centers, providing essential research capabilities, technological advancements, and unbiased technical advice to the DoD and other federal agencies. This significant contract modification underscores the laboratory’s contributions to the field.