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DARPA’s “Tango Bravo” project, aims to break a number of fundamental submarine design constraints, and create much smaller submarines via breakthrough technologies. In contrast, the Concept Formulation (CONFORM) contract is aimed at a more evolutionary set of improvements in manufacturability, maintainability, producibility, reliability, manning, survivability, hull integrity, performance, structural, weight/margin, stability, arrangements, machinery systems, acoustics, hydrodynamics, ship control, logistics, human factors, materials, weapons handling and stowage, submarine safety, and affordability of current and future submarine platforms; which can be applied to current and future submarine designs.

If all options under CONFORM were exercised, the program’s potential value was $78.5 million. Contracts under this banner include…

Jan 30/08: General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, CT received a $6.3 modification to a previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-2107) for research and development of advanced submarine technologies for current and future submarine platforms. Work will be performed in Groton, CT and is expected to be complete by January 2010. The Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC issued the contract. A GD release notes that this is the final option. While GDEB notes that this drives the program’s value to $78 million, DID counts $75.55 million.

Nov 1/07: General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, CT received a $53.7 million modification to under previously awarded contract (N00024-07-C-2107), exercising an option for R&D into advanced submarine technologies for current and future submarine platforms. Work will be performed in Groton, CT and is expected to be complete by October 2009. The contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington Navy Yard, DC. According to GD’s release, the contract was initially awarded in November 2006 and has a total value to date of approximately $71.7 million, and a total potential value of $78.5 million.

Nov 14/06: General Dynamics Electric Boat Corp. in Groton, CT received a $15.6 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for research and development of advanced submarine technologies for current and future submarine platforms. Work will be performed in Groton, CT and is expected to be complete by October 2007. Contract funds in the amount of $2 million will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. The contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington, DC (N00024-07-C-2107).