...In recognition of the fact that it’s not just the big companies that have smart people, the Office
of Naval Research is reaching out to non-traditional companies.
...It hopes South Mississippi companies step forward.
...The Technology Insertion Program for Savings (TIPS) is designed to help the Navy find
solutions to a wide variety of problems in the field of maintenance, ship systems and equipment,
billets/manning, training and logistics.
...It will listen as well to ideas from other fields.
...ONR is well aware that the major names in the defense industry – the Boeings, Lockheed
Martins, Northrop Grummans and BAE Systems – are use to helping develop solutions to
military issues.
...But often, it’s the non-traditional players that have unconventional solutions that get lost in the
system. The aim is to rapidly transition technology from any source into the fleet.
...The program concentrates on existing or late-stage development technologies that ONR can
help fund to completion. It may also take advantage of existing government technology whose
development may have been stopped or the project shelved.
...In an effort to familiarize South Mississippi businesses with the problems for which ONR is
seeking solutions, the Web site Mississippi Gulf Coast Shipbuilding Corridor (www.
mscoastshipbuilding.com) publishes the top 10 problems the Navy hopes to address. The site,
which provides a link to be put in contact with the right people at ONR, is updated every six
months. – Tcp
April 2007
Advanced materials/shipbuilding
Navy seeks help from small businesses