Johns Hopkins APL: Staff Hours on the Cutting Edge

JHU/APL photo

The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory is a not-for-profit division that works closely with the US military on a range of research topics. As a Navy University Affiliated Research Center, these capabilities have been established and maintained at the JHU/APL since the 1940s, when the proximity-fused shell was developed for fleet defense. More recent examples of their involvement include the AEGIS system’s successful intercepts of ballistic missile targets using SM-3 missiles, successful OPEVAL and transition to industry of the APL-conceived Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), the Littoral Warfare Advanced Development project, artificial arm research, engineering issues around underwater launches from SSGN stealth strike submarines, the Precision Engagement Transformation Center, space-based laser communications, the Global Information Grid (GIG), and more.

JHU/APL has received several billion dollars in contracts since 2002, and a 2013 contract looks set to cement that relationship over the next 5-10 years.

Contracts and Key Events

All contracts and modifications are issued to The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, MD. US Naval Sea Systems Command in Washington Navy Yard, Washington, D.C. manages the contract.

AEGIS-BMD: CG-70
launches SM-3
(click to view full)

March 23/16: Researchers from Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory have developed a 3D printed unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Tests carried out on the Corrosion Resistant Aerial Covert Unmanned Nautical System (CRACUNS) have proven that it can remained submerged in saltwater for two months, and then be launched into the air to carry out its mission. CRACUNS enables new capabilities not possible with existing UAV or UUV platforms. Its ability to operate in the harsh littoral (shore) environment, as well as its payload flexibility, enables a wide array of potential missions.

Feb 15/13: DoD-wide. JHU/APL in Laurel, MD gets a new 5-year, sole source, cost-plus-fixed-fee, indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, task order contract. The Navy’s NAVSEA manages it on behalf of the entire US military, and the maximum is $2.297 billion for up to 11,964,743 staff hours of research and development over 4.5 years, until September 2017.

The contract includes an option for 5 more years, which requires separate review and approval by the Assistant Secretary of the Navy (research development and acquisition) and the Assistant Secretary of Defense (research and evaluation). If exercised, it would raise the maximum to $4.905 billion for up to 23,929,486 staff hours.

JHU/APL will conduct research, development, engineering, and test and evaluation for programs, and can be contracted for a range of core competency services. These include strategic systems test and evaluation; submarine security and survivability; space science and engineering; combat systems and guided missiles; theater air defense and power projection; and information technology (C4ISR/IO); simulation, modeling, and operations analysis.

Work will be performed in Laurel, MD, with funds committed over time by individual task orders as they occur. Funds from program offices throughout the DoD may be used for those task orders in the core competency areas. The contract was a sole source pursuant to 10 U.S.C. 2304 (c) (3), as implemented in FAR 6.302-3 (N00024-13-D-6400).

5-10 years of DoD-wide support

Feb 13/13: FTM-20 example. As an illustration of the sort of work performed under these contracts, JHU/APL discusses the FTM-20 missile defense test off of Hawaii. The APL team led system-level analysis and evaluation for the test, which incorporated space-based STSS satellites, C2BMC command system elements, and CG 70 USS Lake Erie’s Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense Weapon System. It ended by firing an SM-3 Block IA guided missile, to hit a ballistic missile target.

APL engineers and analysts worked closely with the U.S. Missile Defense Agency to plan the test’s live-fire scenario and evaluate system performance before the flight. JHU/APL.

July 13/12: MDA A maximum $922.9 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity cost-plus fixed-fee contract, to continue providing engineering, research, and development services for the USA’s Ballistic Missile Defense System.

Work will be performed in Laurel, MD, and Huntsville, AL from July 15/12 through July 14/17. FY 2012 research, development, test and evaluation funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year, and this is not a foreign military sales acquisition. The US Missile Defense Agency in Huntsville, AL manages the contract (HQ0147-12-D-0004).

Feb 13/12: Army. An $85.5 million cost-plus-fixed-fee contract modification to supply engineering, research, development and test and evaluation services to the US Army.

Work will be performed in Laurel, MD, with an estimated completion date of Feb 14/14. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received by US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W9113M-09-D-0001).

Feb 6/12: DARPA. A maximum $85 million indefinite-delivery/ indefinite-quantity, task order contract to assist DARPA with advanced research, development, and engineering support.

Work will be performed in Laurel, MD, and is expected to be completed by Feb 1/17. The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency manages the contract (HR0011-12-D-0001).

July 30/10: MDA. A $147.4 million ceiling increase to their cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for technical support to systems engineering and integration for missile defense assessments, studies and analyses of command and control, battles management and communications, fire control, missile engineering, combat systems, space component and space systems.

This appears to bring the contract’s maximum total value to $321.4 million. The work will be performed in Laurel, MD from August 2010 through December 2011. Research, Development, Test and Evaluation funding Fiscal Years 2010 and 2011 will be used to incrementally fund these efforts. The Missile Defense Agency manages this contract (HQ0006-07-D-0001).

May 28/10: MDA. A $10 million cost-plus-fixed-fee modification to a previously awarded contract to task order to continue providing technical support to systems engineering and integration for US Missile Defense Agency assessments; studies and analyses of command and control; battles management and communications; fire control; missile engineering; combat systems; and space component and space systems.

Work will be performed in Laurel, MD from June 2010 through August 2010. FY 2010 research, development, test and evaluation funding will be used to incrementally fund these efforts (HQ0006-07-D-0001, #0016).

Dec 14/06: MDA. A maximum $164 million sole source, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for scientific and engineering research and development support in the areas of ballistic missile defense and related technology, intelligence, and battle management command, control, and communication.

Work will be performed in Laurel, MD, and is expected to be complete by December 2011. The US Missile Defense Agency in Washington, DC manages the contract (HQ0006-07-D-0001).