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June 17, 2019 | International, Other Defence

Enabling Revolutionary Nondestructive Inspection Capability

X-rays and gamma rays have a wide range of applications including scanning suspicious maritime shipping containers for illicit materials, industrial inspection of materials and processes, and medical diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Current technologies, however, are not ideal. X-rays produce a continuum of energies that limit their inspection and diagnostic performance, and gamma rays can only be produced at specific energies unique to a given radioactive isotope.

DARPA today announced its Gamma Ray Inspection Technology (GRIT) program. GRIT seeks novel approaches to achieve high-intensity, tunable, and narrow-bandwidth sources of gamma ray radiation in a compact, transportable form factor that would enable a wide range of national security, industrial, and medical applications. A Proposers Day webinar describing the goals of the program is scheduled for July 8, 2019.

“What we're trying to do in GRIT is transform the use of x-rays and gamma rays,” said Mark Wrobel, program manager in DARPA's Defense Sciences Office. “Current sources of gamma rays, like Cobalt-60 or Cesium-137, are not very flexible. They require special licenses to possess and only emit gamma rays at very specific energies. What we desire is a source of very high-energy photons that we can tune to match the application we need. This ranges from more effective detection of illicit cargo, to a more informative medical x-ray.”

GRIT aims to provide a source of tunable, pure x-rays and gamma rays from tens of keV (kilo-electron volts) up through over ten MeV (mega-electron volts). Currently, tunable and narrow bandwidth gamma ray sources only exist at highly specialized user facilities best suited for basic research and are not able to support broad practical applications. Shrinking these photon sources to a transportable system is a major goal and challenge of the GRIT program.

GRIT technology could make possible a range of new inspection and diagnostic protocols. In medical and industrial radiography, for example, GRIT could enable revealing specific elemental and material content, such as calcium in bones or specific metals in cargo. A typical x-ray only shows differences in density in the object being inspected – whether a piece of luggage at an airport, or an individual at a doctor's office. If successful, a GRIT x-ray source could be tuned to detect and quantify the concentration of specific elements of interest, such as the amount of calcium in a given bone x-ray, enabling radiologists to actually see bone composition.

Tuning energy between 10s of keV to over 100 hundred keV would allow detection of specific elements that might be of interest in characterizing novel materials and processes at micron scales. These techniques would be relevant to defense applications including non-destruction inspection of novel additively manufactured materials and alloys for their elemental composition.

At energy levels in the MeV range, gamma ray photons have high enough energy to actually interact with the nuclei of atoms. Whereas x-rays work by interacting with the shells of atoms, GRIT would be able to stimulate the nucleus of an atom to bring about an effect called nuclear resonance fluorescence, a sort of “fingerprint” that is unique to each isotope on the periodic table.

“With GRIT, you could probe and detect specific isotopes of interest by fine-tuning the photon energy to minimize background noise and take advantage of the nuclear resonance fluorescence phenomenon,” Wrobel said. “Those isotopes could be rare-earth elements of interest or special nuclear materials. To be able to definitively say, ‘Yes, there's highly enriched uranium in this object' and be able to characterize how much is present would be a significant leap forward over our current capabilities.”

DARPA is seeking expertise in a range of technologies on the GRIT program including advanced accelerator technology, high-energy laser systems, novel control systems, and new x-ray and gamma ray detector technology. To register for the GRIT Proposers Day webinar, visit: https://go.usa.gov/xmh28.

GRIT's focus on new, compact photon sources for inspection complements DARPA's Intense and Compact Neutron Sources (ICONS) program, which is developing compact neutron sources. The two technologies would work in tandem, yielding a very robust inspection capability.

Caption: The Gamma Ray Inspection Technology (GRIT) program seeks tunable gamma ray sources for a host of national security, industrial, and medical applications.

https://www.darpa.mil/news-events/2019-06-14

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  • Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 6, 2018

    December 7, 2018 | International, Aerospace, Naval, Land, C4ISR, Security

    Contract Awards by US Department of Defense - December 6, 2018

    AIR FORCE Northrop Grumman Amherst Systems, Buffalo, New York, has been awarded a $450,000,000 indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for U.S. agencies (Air Force, Navy, etc.); and Foreign Military Sales countries for Joint Threat Emitter production end-items, spares, support equipment, testing, training, etc. Work will be performed in Buffalo, New York, and various contiguous U.S. and outside the continental U.S. locations, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 5, 2025. This contract involves foreign military sales to U.S. partner countries. This award is the result of a competitive acquisition and one offer was received. Fiscal 2018 other procurement funds in the amount of $9,150,318 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hill Air Force Base, Utah, is the contracting activity (FA8210-19-D-0001). The Boeing Co., Seattle, Washington, has been awarded a $158,950,309 firm-fixed-price modification (P00003) to contract FA8609-18-F-0006 for one KC-46A Japan aircraft. This modification provides for the exercise of an option for an additional quantity of one aircraft being produced under the basic contract. Work will be performed in Seattle and is expected to be completed by June 30, 2021. This modification involves foreign military sales to Japan. Total cumulative face value of the contract is $449,375,855. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is the contracting activity. The Boeing Co., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, has been awarded a sustainment order (FA8134-19-F-0001) with an estimated amount of $75,000,000 to previously awarded indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract FA8106-16-D-0002 for E-4B sustainment support. The order will provide contractor logistic support services. Work will be performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, and San Antonio, Texas, with an expected completion date of Nov. 30, 2019. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $57,188,079 are obligated at time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Tinker AFB, Oklahoma, is the contracting activity. (Awarded Nov. 30, 2018) Dayton Power and Light Co., Dayton, Ohio, has been awarded a $28,179,453 modification (P00001) to contract FA8601-18-C-0010 to exercise Option One for electricity services. Work will be performed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2019. No funds are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio is the contracting activity. Raytheon Co., Marlborough, Massachusetts, has been awarded a $10,722,437, cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the Force Element Terminal Risk Reduction effort. The contract will deliver risk reduction studies, analyses, and demonstrations related to Raytheon's Advanced Extremely High Frequency Airborne Military Satellite Communication product line. Work will be performed in Marlborough, Massachusetts, and is expected to be completed by Aug. 30, 2019. This award is the result of a sole-source acquisition. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $3,959,991 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, Hansom Air Force Base, Massachusetts, is the contracting activity (FA8705-19-C-0005). The Boeing Co., El Segundo, California, has been awarded a $10,361,265 modification (P00034) to contract FA8823-15-C-0002 for services required to ensure continued Wideband Global Satellite Communication operations and logistics sustainment support. The contract modification is for the exercise of Option Period Four. Work will be performed at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado; El Segundo, California; and Colorado Springs, Colorado, and is expected to be completed Dec. 31, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance funds in the amount of $10,361,265 will be obligated at the time of award. Space and Missile Systems Center, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, is the contracting activity. Cloud Lake Technology, Herndon, Virginia, has been awarded an $8,875,620 modification (P00012) to contract FA8075-17-C-0002 for Information Analysis Center Program Management Office (IAC PMO) support. IAC PMO support services provides program management analysis, acquisition management, operations analysis, financial analysis, process improvement, strategic communications and performance measurement support. This modification provides for the exercise of an option for additional services under the basic contract, and brings the total cumulative face value of the contract to $21,870,362. Work will be performed at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and is expected to be completed by March 31, 2020. Fiscal 2019 and 2020 research, development, test and evaluation funds in the amount of $2,904,150 are being obligated at the time of award. Air Force Installation Contracting Agency, Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, is the contracting activity. CORRECTION: The Nov. 14, 2018, announcement that Kaman Precision Products Inc., Orlando, Florida; and Middletown, Connecticut, was awarded a $52,026,000 firm-fixed-price modification (P00009) to contract FA8681-18-C-0009 for Joint Programmable Fuzes was incorrect. The contract was actually awarded Dec. 3, 2018. ARMY General Dynamics - Ordnance and Tactical Systems, Garland, Texas, was awarded a $264,767,596 firm-fixed-price contract for MK80 and BLU-109 Tritonal bomb components. Bids were solicited with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Oct. 31, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, is the contracting activity (W52P1J-19-D-0015). RIPTIDE Software Inc.,* Oviedo, Florida, was awarded a $103,221,000 hybrid (cost, cost-plus-fixed-fee, cost-plus-incentive-fee, firm-fixed-price) contract for the OneSAF system. Bids were solicited with three received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 5, 2024. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity (W900KK-19-D-0003). L3 Communications Security and Detection Systems, Woburn, Massachusetts, was awarded an $83,942,786 firm-fixed-price contract for manufacturing, delivering and supporting the AN/PSS-14. Bids were solicited via the internet with one received. Work locations and funding will be determined with each order, with an estimated completion date of Nov. 20, 2023. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, is the contracting activity (W909MY-19-D-0001). General Dynamics Land Systems Inc., Sterling Heights, Michigan, was awarded a $58,088,134 firm-fixed-price contract for procurement of expedited active protection systems mounting kits and ballast kits to support the Abrams M1A2 battle tank. One bid was solicited with one bid received. Work will be performed in Sterling Heights, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of June 30, 2020. Fiscal 2018 and 2019 other procurement, Army funds in the amount of $12,739,706 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Warren, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W56HZV-19-C-0038). Weeks Marine Inc., Covington, Louisiana, was awarded a $12,787,500 firm-fixed-price contract for dredging. Bids were solicited with one received. Work will be performed in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, with an estimated completion date of May 26, 2019. Fiscal 2019 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $12,787,500 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, New Orleans, Louisiana, is the contracting activity (W912P8-19-C-0010). Tetra Tech-Maytag Aircraft Corp. J, Pasadena, California, was awarded a $9,043,009 modification (P00002) to contract W912DY-18-F-0056 for maintenance and repair of equipment. Work will be performed in Twenty Nine Palms, California; Bremerton, Washington; Barstow, California; Ridgecrest, California; El Centro, California; Fallon, Nevada; Lemoore, California; Port Orchard, Washington; Coronado, California; San Diego, California; Arlington, Washington; Everett, Washington; Bridgeport, California; Oceanside, California; Naval Air Station Point Mugu, California; Oak Harbor, Washington; San Clemente Island, California; San Nicholas Island, California; and Yuma, Arizona, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30, 2019. Fiscal 2019 Defense Working Capital funds in the amount of $9,043,009 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntsville, Alabama, is the contracting activity. Broadway Electric Inc.,* Elk Grove Village, Illinois, was awarded a $7,173,000 firm-fixed-price contract for removing generators, paralleling switchgear, and replacing feeders. Bids were solicited with three received. Work will be performed in Battle Creek, Michigan, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 18, 2019. Fiscal 2015, 2018 and 2019 Economy Act Reimbursable funds in the amount of $7,173,000 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit, Michigan, is the contracting activity (W911XK-19-C-0002). Eastman Aggregate Enterprises LLC,* Lake Worth, Florida, was awarded a $7,864,771 firm-fixed-price contract for flood control and coastal emergency beach erosion control. Bids were solicited with two received. Work will be performed in Broward County, Florida, with an estimated completion date of April 29, 2019. Fiscal 2018 operations and maintenance Army funds in the amount of $7,864,771 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville, Florida, is the contracting activity (W912EP-19-C-0006). NAVY BAE Systems Land & Armaments LP, Sterling Heights, Michigan, is awarded a $140,354,780 modification to exercise options for the fixed-price-incentive (firm target) Contract Line Item Numbers (CLIN) 3001, 3002, and 3003 portions of a previously awarded contract (M67854-16-C-0006). This modification is for the purchase of 30 Amphibious Combat Vehicles and associated production, fielding and support costs. Work will be performed in York, Pennsylvania (85 percent); and Aiken, South Carolina (15 percent), and is expected to be completed in August 2020. Fiscal 2019 procurement (Marine Corps) funds in the amount of $140,354,780 will be obligated at the time of award and will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website. The option CLINs were included within that contract and are being exercised in accordance with FAR 52.217-7 option for increased quantity-separately priced line item. The U.S. Marine Corps' Marine Corps Systems Command, Quantico, Virginia, is the contracting activity (M67854-16-C-0006). Emprise Corp. LLC, Ledyard, Connecticut, was awarded a $96,470,026 firm-fixed-price level of effort with a five-year ordering period for Shipboard Automated Maintenance Management Systems (SAMM). Engineering services in this contract will assist Military Sealift Command (MSC) afloat and ashore operations. The engineering maintenance management systems consist of both afloat and ashore systems with various modules and functions that work together to optimize MSC maintenance programs. SAMM is required for shipboard personnel to document maintenance performed on MSC vessels and record daily machinery operational data. The system also provides a consistent maintenance plan for the MSC fleet. This engineering system is a recurring requirement, which will allow MSC to continuously achieve interoperability and maintain and sustain fleet operations. Work will be performed in Norfolk, Virginia, and work is expected to be completed Dec. 9, 2023. This contract will be funded with Fiscal 2018 working capital funds (Navy and U.S. Transportation Command) funds in the amount of $10,000,000 will be obligated at the time of award. Contract funds will not expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured with proposals solicited via the Federal Business Opportunities website, having one offer received. The U.S. Navy's Military Sealift Command, Norfolk, Virginia, is the contracting activity (N3220519D1001). (Awarded Dec. 5, 2018) BAE Systems San Diego Ship Repair (BAE), San Diego, California, was awarded a $78,847,897 firm-fixed-price contract for the execution of the USS Shoup (DDG 86) fiscal 2019 Depot Modernization Period Availability (DMP). This availability will include a combination of maintenance, modernization and repair of USS Shoup. This is a Chief of Naval Operations-scheduled DMP. The purpose is to maintain, modernize and repair USS Shoup. This is a “long-term” availability and was competed on a coastwide (west coast) basis without limiting the place of performance to the vessel's homeport. BAE will provide the facilities and human resources capable of completing, coordinating and integrating multiple areas of ship maintenance, repair and modernization for USS Shoup. This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $87,672,675. Work will be performed in San Diego, California, and is expected to be completed by February 2020. 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This modification increases the ceiling and extends the period of performance to provide contractor logistics services and materials for organizational and depot-level services required to support and maintain the TH-57 fleet. Work will be performed in Milton, Florida, and is expected to be completed in January 2019. No funds will be obligated at time of award. Funds will be obligated on individual task orders as they are issued. The Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division, Orlando, Florida, is the contracting activity. Teledyne Wireless LLC, a Teledyne Microwave Solutions Company, Rancho Cordova, California, is awarded an $8,243,062 firm-fixed-price, cost-plus-fixed-fee indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract in support of evaluation, minor repair and manufacture of 10kW traveling wave tubes; manufacture of 13kW traveling wave tubes; government-furnished equipment maintenance for traveling wave tubes; and incidental engineering services. 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