U.S. Navy ships and submarines are often subject to extreme environmental conditions and stresses, so effective testing of equipment is essential to the operation of those vessels. To support this need, Alion Science and Technology, an employee-owned technology solutions company, was awarded a three-year, $6.3m contract from the Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) to identify potential improvements to shock and environmental test procedures for all Navy surface ship and submarine field organizations.
Under the contract, Alion will play a key role in evaluating prototype designs and reviewing plans and procedures submitted by equipment manufacturers. Alion engineers will also provide technical assistance to the submarine force in the area of submarine weapon launchers and payloads.
Alion’s technical team will study both the designs and mission requirements, then will provide expert opinions on which tests should be required and how they should be tailored to meet Navy requirements. They will also recommend design changes to improve the likelihood of successful test results.
“Alion’s work will help the Navy ensure the proper tests are performed the first time around and that the results of those tests satisfy the Navy’s needs,” said JJ Waickwicz, Alion Design, Engineering and Technology Group Manager.
The work was awarded as a task order under the Weapon Systems Technology Information Analysis Center (WSTIAC) contract vehicle. The period of performance runs from September 29, 2010 through September 28, 2013.
WSTIAC, operated by Alion, is one of the nine Defense Technical Information Center (DTIC) Information Analysis Centers (IACs). The IACs house libraries of information that are focused on specific technology areas, in addition to providing technical expertise in these areas. DTIC is headquartered at Fort Belvoir, VA, and serves the Department of Defense (DoD) by providing access to scientific and technical information for DoD personnel and contractors, including researchers, designers and engineers.