Coast Guard to Purchase Underwater Port Security Robots

VideoRay has been awarded a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) by the United States Coast Guard (USCG) in conjunction with its recent General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule award. The agreement expires in September, 2010, and involved a VideoRay Port Security configuration that has been deployed in nine Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) locations over the last two years. The BPA allows for advantageous pricing based on the quantity of units purchased. With the BPA the USCG placed its first task order, which involves the remaining MSST units and the first Port Security Unit (PSU) deployment. The task order includes training and maintenance services with each system, and at the completion of this task order all MSST units will be equipped with VideoRay systems. "We're proud of the confidence that the US Coast Guard is showing in VideoRay though this agreement and order" said Scott Bentley, President of VideoRay. "Even though our company is relatively young and small compared to other defense contractors, our technology and market position is completely dominant in our niche of small, portable remotely-operated inspection ROVs. This recognition – and purchase of commercially-proven technology – is a win for us, the government, and for taxpayers." VideoRay plans to continue to focus on Port Security improvements to VideoRay, and plans several exciting announcements at its upcoming VIPS event in Key Largo, Florida on November 7-9, 2005. A major presence of USCG and other first-responder public safety agencies is expected. VideoRay now has far more Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) in service around the world than any manufacturer, and is delivering additional ROVs at an increasing rate. A significant percentage are used worldwide by military and public safety agencies. In August the General Services Administration (GSA) awarded VideoRay a contract to supply vehicles to the US government, making it easier and faster for many agencies to acquire one. See http://www.videoray.com/GSA for more information. VideoRay submersible Remotely Operated Vehicles (ROVs) are the most widely used small, portable, and configurable ROVs available. Weighing just 8 pounds and starting at $5995 USD, VideoRays can be equipped with sonar, positioning systems or other accessories, and are used for underwater surveys, offshore inspections, search and recovery, homeland defense, science, fish farming, and a range of applications in underwater environments.