Navy Signs Agreement to Increase Energy-Related Development

From NSWC Carderock Division - Ship Systems Engineering Station Public Affairs

PHILADELPHIA (NNS) -- The Navy signed a five-year agreement with three Philadelphia region organizations to establish programs supporting collaboration with small businesses, educational institutions, and nonprofit entities to increase energy-related development, May 23.

The ceremony was held at the Philadelphia Navy Yard's Innovation Center.

The Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division – Ship Systems Engineering Station (NSWCCD-SSES), a Naval Sea Systems Command field activity, entered into the partnership intermediary agreement with the Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Corporation (DVIRC), and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC).

"This agreement builds on our partnerships with Ben Franklin, DVIRC and PIDC to leverage our combined strengths and capabilities to develop and advance new technologies," said Capt. Alexander Desroches, NSWCCD-SSES commanding officer.

In fiscal year 2010, NSWCCD-SSES awarded $293 million in contracts to small businesses in the Philadelphia region. Of that, approximately $71 million was awarded to small disadvantaged businesses, $29.8 million to women-owned small businesses, and $4.1 million to service disabled veteran-owned small businesses. The newly signed intermediary agreement increases the level of commitment by NSWCCD-SSES and the partners to the small business community.

"We look forward to working with our partners to continue developing the Philadelphia Navy Yard as an engineering center of excellence, and a hub for clean energy related development," said Desroches.

The agreement creates an environment supporting the growth of manufacturing and technical companies by establishing a regional licensing process for new technologies emerging from the efforts of the partners. Additionally, it leverages regional educational resources and national education programs to support startup and existing businesses' future work force needs in the areas of manufacturing and technology.

The warfare centers are the Navy's principal research, development, test and evaluation assessment activity for surface ship and submarine systems and subsystems. In addition, warfare centers provide depot maintenance and in-service engineering support to ensure the systems fielded today, perform consistently and reliably in the future.

NSWCCD-SSES Philadelphia provides the Navy's primary technical expertise and facilities for naval machinery research, development and life cycle engineering.