Memphis to Lead Development of High-Tech Unmanned Systems Testing Facility with $21.2M Award
The University of Memphis, Memphis, Tennessee, is awarded a $21,184,191cost reimbursement contract for the development of an Unmanned Systems Degraded Environment Facility (UxSDEF). This contract provides for building a large wind wall that can create complex and controllable airflow patterns for testing controls and sensors. The facility will have high-precision tracking equipment and environmental sensors to provide detailed and accurate measurements of air vehicle dynamics and environmental conditions. In later stages of development, the contractor will introduce dust and other obscurants into the facility. Moreover, the UxSDEF will enable testing under near-operational conditions using simulators of naval platform motion. When completed, this facility will be a valuable resource for cutting-edge research in the areas of sensing, precision navigation, and control under degraded visual environments. Work will be performed in Memphis, Tennessee (82%); Tucson, Arizona (6%); Orlando, Florida (6%); and Columbia, Missouri (6%). Work is expected to be completed in August 2028. The total cumulative value of this contract, including a 48-month base period and one option period that may run concurrently with the base, is $21,184,191. The option period is not being exercised at this time. Fiscal 2023 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funds in the amount of $9,203,213 are obligated at time of award and will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured under long range broad agency announcement (BAA) (N0001423SB001) entitled “Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Navy and Marine Corps Science and Technology,” posted on Sept. 30, 2022. Since proposals were received throughout the year under the Long-Range BAA, the number of proposals received in response to the solicitation is unknown. The Office of Naval Research, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N0001424C1520).
