Treadwell Corp. in Thomaston, CT received a $12.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for auxiliary cubicles and microprocessor controllers for model 6L16 electrolytic oxygen generators (EOG) which are the primary oxygen producer aboard SSN-688 Los Angeles Class and SSBN-726 Ohio Class submarines. Work will be performed in Thomaston, CT and is expected to be completed by September 2008. The contract was not competitively procured by the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock Division, Ship System Engineering Station in Philadelphia, PA (N65540-06-C-0014).
As DID has noted, the Model 6L16 EOG was first introduced in 1965, and variants remain the primary oxygen producers aboard older US nuclear submarines. A program was launched in 1997 to upgrade existing 6L16 EOGs to a digital control system as part of a program to continue upgrading EOG, resulting in extended life, increased reliability and reduced life cycle costs. Treadwell also produces the advanced Oxygen Generation Plants for the new SSN 21 Seawolf submarines.