News

From Innovation to Contracting: How Kitsap Businesses Can Tap Into Emerging Opportunities at NUWC KeyportA  recent story from  Pacific Northwest Tech Bridge  highlights new innovation opportunities at NUWC Keyport, with the Navy seeking technologies that can improve depot operations, maintenance efficiency, inspections, and automation.The article outlines needs in areas including:Robotics and automationPredictive maintenanceAdvanced manufacturingSensors and inspection technologiesReverse engineering and legacy system supportAdvanced coatings and repair solutionsFor Kitsap businesses, these needs represent more than innovation challenges. They are potential entry points into government contracting and Department of Defense supply chains.As the Navy continues working with non-traditional and small business partners, companies...

General Dynamics NASSCO-Bremerton, Bremerton, Washington, is awarded a $654,668,551 cost-plus-fixed-fee/cost-plus-award fee/cost-plus-incentive fee, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract for Aircraft Carrier shipyard availabilities. This contract includes a five-year base and a one year option, for a six year total ordering period which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $654,668,551. Work will be performed in Bremerton, Washington, and is expected to be completed by October 2030. No funds will be obligated at the time of award; funds will be obligated on individual orders as they are issued. This contract was competitively procured and solicited via the System for Award Management...

Administrative, Warehouse, Industrial, and Laydown Space Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility, WASHINGTON Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEASYSCOM) Question Due Date:  17 February 2025    Response Due Date: 21 February 2025    VIEW COMPLETE SOLICITATION ON SAM.GOVThe Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest, on behalf of the Department of the Navy (DON), is issuing this Solicitation for Offers (SFO) to address the growing operational requirements associated with the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Plan (SIOP) at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard (hereby known as “PSNS”) in Bremerton, Washington. As part of this critical initiative to modernize and expand the shipyard’s capabilities, the...

Defense, industry and educational professionals gather for summit exploring  opportunities and challenges shaping the future of autonomous systems. KEDA’s Washington Autonomous Vehicle Cluster (WAV-C) recently hosted WAV-C Connect: Exploring the Future of Marine Autonomy in Defense, in Bremerton, bringing together 80 industry, defense, and education professionals. This milestone event united top innovators and experts to address the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of autonomous systems, fostering meaningful engagement among speakers, panelists, and attendees.Key Insights & TakeawaysThroughout the conference, speakers and panelists explored critical challenges, emerging technologies, workforce development, and the integration of autonomous systems into national security strategies. The collaborative...

Opinion: How to keep and grow defense-related economic impact in WashingtonJames Collins and Dave Zeeck to The Kitsap SunThe military presence in Washington State is critical for national defense and an overwhelmingly positive force for the state’s economy.To keep it that way the state needs a new strategy and approach – working at the governor’s direction – that focuses exclusively on protecting and growing defense-related economic impact.That’s a pivotal conclusion of a recently released independent economic impact analysis commissioned by the Washington Legislature.As the home to six major military installations, over 100,000 personnel, 185,000 military family members, and more than...

The Impact of Employee Ownership on Manufacturing CultureRichard Schwarz, CEO of SAFE Boats InternationalAs Kitsap County celebrates National Manufacturing Month, it's essential to recognize local industry leaders, such as SAFE Boats International, a world-renowned manufacturer of swiftwater patrol boats. Based in Bremerton, SAFE Boats has developed a global reputation for quality and performance. Richard Schwarz, CEO of SAFE Boats, says, “We started inventing custom designs and supporting technology like our industry-leading and patented foam collar for impact and floatation. We created sound-dampening hull designs to reduce acoustics and noise pollution in the cabin. We optimized our V-shaped hull and deadrise...

Advancing Proven Solutions in Maritime TechnologyOctober 8, 2024 – Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) today announced an expansion of its footprint in the Pacific Northwest with the opening of its Bremerton Maritime Tech Facility in Bremerton, Washington. This state-of-the-art center of excellence and engineering hub will help to advance maritime technology and operational proficiency. Expanding upon Booz Allen’s specialized engineering resources to tackle growing client challenges across the Department of Defense (DOD), the Bremerton Maritime Tech Facility is a cutting-edge hub that supports defense clients with pioneering solutions in maritime uncrewed and autonomous vehicle technology, as well as immersive engineering and...

The partnership creates an accessible pathway between Naval technologists and Kitsap’s growing startup ecosystemView original postKEYPORT, Washington (April 17, 2024) —Today, NavalX Pacific NW Tech Bridge and Vibe Coworks announced a formal partnership to enhance collaboration between Naval technologists and the region’s leading private sector innovators, through an agreement with Impact Washington.The unique partnership effectively integrates NavalX Pacific Northwest Tech Bridge resources into the local startup ecosystem present at Vibe Coworks, expanding opportunities for startups, scaleups, small businesses, academic institutions, local governments, and other nontraditional innovators to work with the Department of the Navy more easily.The Pacific Northwest program specializes...

Peiyu Lin - Kitsap Sun The Navy received more than 80 responses in a month after asking the public for information about properties near Naval Base Kitsap that could be leased to support military operations as the shipyard in Bremerton is scheduled for upgrades in the next decade.Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command (NAVFAC) Northwest, the Navy's arm to provide engineering and acquisition services, issued a Request for Information (RFI) on Oct. 26 to seek information regarding properties within a distance of approximately 40 travel miles from the base. The initial request asked for properties that could be available for 14 different...

Bremerton, WA and Spokane, WA — Skookum and Skils'kin are excited to announce their intention to merge, effective July 1, 2024. This strategic move aims to unite the strengths and resources of both organizations, significantly enhancing their ability to create job opportunities for people with disabilities. Jeff Dolven, Skookum CEO, stated, "This merger represents our shared commitment to maximizing our impact in the community. By combining our resources, we will address the evolving challenges in disability employment more effectively and ensure a more comprehensive delivery of our services while adhering to our core values and missions." Skookum is a leader in...

  Defense News by Megan Eckstein NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. — The U.S. Navy plans to operate a fleet of crewed and unmanned platforms within the next 10 years — an ambitious timeline that will require the service to quickly develop and mature autonomous systems, while ensuring confidence in the technology. In the air, for example, the Next Generation Air Dominance family of systems set to replace the Super Hornet fighter fleet will include a combination of the piloted F/A-XX fighter with drones dubbed loyal wingmen. This is something the Navy already budgeted for, even as it’s only...

By Diana Stancy Correll for Navy Times A woman is serving as the executive officer of a submarine for the first time — just over 10 years after the Silent Service opened to women. Lt. Cmdr. Amber Cowan, who joined the Navy in 2010, reported for duty to the ballistic missile submarine Kentucky, based out of Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Washington, as its executive officer Nov. 12. Lt. Cmdr. Amber Cowan, the executive officer of the gold crew of the Ohio-class ballistic-missile submarine Kentucky, from Colorado Springs, Colorado, poses for a portrait at Deterrent Park onboard Naval Base Kitsap –...

Bremerton, WA – SAFE Boats International is proud to announce that they have earned ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System certification. DNV, an independent certification and risk management provider, performed a comprehensive audit of SAFE Boats’ systems and processes at their Bremerton locations to bestow this designation. ISO 9001:2015 is a globally recognized quality management standard developed and maintained by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). The certification provides a foundation for sustained quality and performance across all aspects of the company’s operations. The standard is based on seven quality management principles, including customer focus, leadership, engagement, and continuous improvement...

The project seeks software and applications to enhance the intelligence community’s surveillance images. View original post Intelligence community researchers want to make it easier for operators, law enforcement, and rescue personnel to scope out difficult terrain before setting out on a mission, according to a new solicitation.  An Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity broad agency announcement, which was issued in partnership with the Department of Interior, calls for the development of software systems “that can create photorealistic, navigable site models using a highly limited corpus of imagery” taken from the ground, traffic cameras, unmanned aerial...

Naval News June 2022 Navy Forces Maritime Defense Industry US DoD to deliver 18 coastal and riverine patrol boats to Ukraine According to information published by the U.S. government on June 24, 2022, the U.S. DoD announces the authorization of a Presidential Drawdown of security assistance valued at up to $450 million to meet critical needs for Ukraine’s fight. Capabilities in this package include 18 coastal and riverine patrol boats, which could be Mark VI. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link The Mark VI is a class of patrol boat in...

Defense Community Compatibility Account The purpose of the DCCA program is to provide a statewide framework for evaluating and prioritizing projects that enhance the economy, environment and quality of life opportunities for local communities affected by the presence of military installations. Funding for projects is contingent on legislative appropriation, which is based on a project list submitted to the Legislature by Commerce.  2022 project solicitation  A new round of project applications will be open Aug. 1 – Sept. 15. Applications will be reviewed and scored to develop a ranked list to include in the 2022...

NOAA’s real-time observations to aid Naval Base Kitsap and mariners View original post  Mariners can breathe a little easier when sailing in and around Naval Base Kitsap in Washington state. The base is now fitted with a NOAA system that helps ensure safe and efficient marine navigation. The technology is part of a nationwide network called Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System, or PORTS?.  Kitsap PORTS is the 37th system in this network of precision marine navigation sensors, and is the result of a partnership between NOAA and the U.S. Navy. The sensors track oceanographic and...

The Department of Defense announces the opening of the following SBIR and STTR funding opportunities: •    Air Force CSO SBIR X22.4 •    Air Force CSO STTR X22.D   IMPORTANT DATES: •    May 18, 2022: CSOs open, begin submitting proposals in DSIP •    July 25, 2022: Topic Q&A closes to new questions at 12:00 p.m. ET •    August 9, 2022: CSOs close, full proposals must be submitted in DSIP no later than 12:00 p.m. ET Full topic descriptions and instructions are available on DSIP at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login and at https://rt.cto.mil/rtl-small-business-resources/sbir-sttr/.  Proposers are encouraged to...

The Department of Defense announces the opening of the following Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) topic: USSOCOM SOCOM22D-ST01: “Phase I Open Call for Science and Technology (S&T) Innovation”  Full topic descriptions and instructions are available on DSIP at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login and at https://rt.cto.mil/rtl-small-business-resources/sbir-sttr/.  IMPORTANT DATES: •    May 17, 2022: Topic opens, begin submitting proposals in DSIP •    June 8, 2022: Topic Q&A closes to new questions at 12:00 p.m. ET •    June 16, 2022: Topic closes, full proposals must be submitted in DSIP no later than 12:00 p.m. ET Topic Q&A   Topic Q&A is...

Two RFS (Request for Solutions) Releases With a focus on 5G technology, the Government has released an RFS for both the Gray Summer and the Misty Night opportunities. Gray Summer Solutions Deadline: 13 June 2022 12:00 PM ET 5G Core Based Threat Identification and Warning  S²MARTS Project No. 22-07 Misty Night Solutions Deadline: 13 June 2022 12:00 PM ET  5G Threat Assessment and Warning S²MARTS Project No. 22-08  

The Department of Defense announces the opening of the following Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) topics:    DARPA •    HR0011SB20224-04: “Innovative Fabrication Techniques for Millimeter-wave Linear Beam Vacuum Electron Devices” •    HR0011SB20224-05: “Readout Integrated Circuit Development for 2-micron Cutoff Linear Mode Staircase Avalanche Photodiodes” •    HR0011SB20224-06: “Hardening Aircraft Systems through Hardware (HASH)” Full topic descriptions and instructions are available on DSIP at https://www.dodsbirsttr.mil/submissions/login and at https://rt.cto.mil/rtl-small-business-resources/sbir-sttr/   IMPORTANT DATES: May 11, 2022: Topics open, begin submitting proposals in DSIP June 7, 2022: Topic Q&A closes to new questions at 12:00 p.m. ET June 14, 2022: Topics...

Coming Soon Multi-Service Advanced Capability Hypersonics Test Bed (MACH-TB)   Flight tests for hypersonic weapon systems are expensive, complex and require long-term planning.   The traditional approach creates a growing backlog of technologies to form a hypersonic “valley of death”. A new approach is needed. ACCESS MACH-TB Questions? Email us at s2marts@nstxl.org For more information, visit s2marts.org  

See original post ARLINGTON, Va. – Acting Under Secretary of the Navy Tom Mancinelli visited Puget Sound Naval Shipyard & Intermediate Maintenance Facility (PSNS & IMF) in Bremerton, Washington, Nov. 18, where he engaged with shipyard leadership, employees, and Sailors, emphasizing the critical role the Navy’s public shipyards have in maintaining maritime readiness.Mancinelli’s visit focused on the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program (SIOP), a long-term effort to modernize the Navy’s four public shipyards, and also included a tour of the USS Jimmy Carter (SSN 23), a Seawolf-class submarine currently undergoing maintenance.During his visit, Mancinelli met with Capt. JD Crinklaw, PSNS & IMF...