$750,000 contract to develop a modular software framework

SSCI, a developer of technology solutions for defense and industrial suppliers, has been awarded a $750,000 contract from the U.S. Air Force to develop a modular software framework for testing and evaluation of navigation sensors and algorithms. The Small Business Investment Research (SBIR) contract leverages SSCI’s leadership in technology enabling intelligent autonomous land-based and aerial unmanned systems to perform their missions in hostile or challenging environments. In order to encourage adoption by sensor manufacturers, the project is being developed in open source format, with code available for download at http://code.google.com/p/functionalnavigation.

Escalators at McCarran International Airport

KONE, one of the world’s leading elevator and escalator companies, and Power Efficiency Corporation, a clean tech company have installed the EcoStart on escalators at McCarran International Airport (LAS), the nation’s seventh-busiest airport. Operated by the Clark County Department of Aviation, in 2008 the airport served more than 44 million passengers. The KONE EcoStart is a motor efficiency controller that soft starts an electric motor, bringing it from rest to full speed. Once it is at full speed, the EcoStart monitors the motor and improves its efficiency when operating. By conserving energy, the EcoStart supports the building’s sustainability programs and contributes to environmental protection efforts. McCarran and the four general aviation facilities in the Clark County Airport System are owned by Clark County, Nevada and operated under the policy direction of the Board of County Commissioners, the authority of the County Manager and the management of the Director and Deputy Director of Aviation. McCarran International Airport is part of the Clark County Airport System, which owns and operates five airports, including four general aviation facilities: North Las Vegas Airport, Henderson Executive Airport, Jean Sport Aviation Center, and Overton/Perkins Field.

$875,000 for the design, manufacture and delivery of a new circuit card

Orbit Instrument Division has received an award from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) valued at $875,000 for the design, manufacture and delivery of a new circuit card assembly in support of the Automated Radar Terminal System (ARTS) 11E and 111E keyboard configurations. The ARTS keyboard configuration was designed to support 15 sensors, 10,000 simultaneous tracks, and over 200 displays within air traffic control towers. ARTS 111E is currently operational at a number of Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) facilities nationwide. The ARTS systems have been a reliable part of the Terminal domain for over 30 years.

Cessna certification

Cessna Aircraft Company, a Textron company, has been granted a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) supplemental type certification (STC) for the IS&S-developed AdViz flat panel display system now available for retrofit in some legacy Cessna Citations. The AdViz system will initially be available for purchase through the nine Cessna-owned Citation Service Centers, and will later be distributed through the Cessna authorized network. AdViz is based on the IS&S Vantage Cockpit/IP system, an open architecture flat panel display system that allows operators to upgrade their aircraft to a glass cockpit while leaving existing third party avionics installed in the aircraft. This allows the operator to select the best of breed new equipment and minimizes the cost and down time of the upgrade.

Predictive Bus Arrival / Departure System

Affiliated Computer Services, Inc. has been selected by San Mateo County Transit District (SamTrans) to install a Predictive Bus Arrival / Departure System (PADS) system to provide real-time bus arrival/departure information to their customers via the Web, telephone systems, and on dynamic message signs at major SamTrans terminals. (Robert Tam, manager of Technology and Research and Development at San Mateo County Transit District.) San Mateo County Transit District was formed in 1976 and provides public transportation services to the cities within San Mateo County, California, a 446-square-mile area with a population of approximately 737,100. Currently, the District operates approximately 339 fixed-route revenue buses, 76 paratransit vehicles, and 48 shuttle buses.

National Motor Carrier Pre-Employment Screening System

The U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), has awarded NIC Technologies, LLC, the contract for a National Motor Carrier Pre-Employment Screening System. The new service is designed to disseminate commercial drivers’ safety performance history as part of the pre-employment screening process.

In-flight entertainment

Lumexis Corporation has selected EMS’ Formation business unit to design and manufacture the optical video/application server for the Lumexis FTTS (Fiber-To-The-Screen) in-flight entertainment (IFE) system. FTTS is planned to be the lightest weight, most reliable, lowest cost VOD In-Flight Entertainment system on the market. (Rich Salter, Lumexis’ chief technical officer.)

United Space Alliance - $1.8 million

LaBarge, Inc has received a $1.8 million contract from United Space Alliance (USA) to produce complex cables and wiring harnesses for the space shuttle's solid rocket boosters, which provide the main propulsion system that launches the shuttle. LaBarge has supplied cables for the shuttle for more than two decades.

Utah’s Department of Transportation

Utah’s Department of Transportation (UDOT) has renewed its contract for Convergys’ On-Demand Speech Self Service solution for 10 additional years.

In July 2000, the Federal Communications Commission assigned the telephone number 511 for nationwide access to traveler information services. Utah was one of the early adopter states in implementing a 511 service for traveler information, and was the first state to deploy a voice-activated 511 system. With increased travel demand, population growth, and wear on the transportation system, UDOT’s 511 system enhances the efficiency of the state’s existing roadways by improving traffic management and safety by providing accurate, real-time traveler information.

Since the initial deployment of the 511 system in Utah, the public has made nearly 2.5 million 511 calls. (Dave Kinnecom, Director of UDOT's Traffic Operations Center.)

$25 million for checkpoint security screening

Rapiscan Systems has received an order from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration valued at approximately $25 million for multiple units of its Secure 1000 Single Pose advanced checkpoint security screening solution. The order is the first to be placed under the terms of OSI’s recently awarded, $173M Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract from the U.S. Transportation Security Administration for Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) solutions.

Egg delivery routes: NFC shells out

Major egg producer and processor, National Food Corporation, has revolutionized the way it plans and coordinates its delivery routes to customers throughout North and Midwest America and the Pacific Rim. Using routing and scheduling software from Paragon Software Systems, Inc, (http://us.paragonrouting.com) one person is able to plan up to 50 complex routes per day to complete over 11,000 deliveries per week. This high efficiency also enables the company to provide third party logistics services for several clients, including some very recognisable names in retail.

National Food Corporation uses a combination of Paragon Multi Depot and Integrated Fleets software. This has proven to be the ideal solution to automate planning and optimize transportation from its distribution centers and DCs. The system replaces a time consuming, manual process that was completely dependent on local DC managers. (Kevin Bookey, Transportation Manager, National Food Corporation.)

Monitoring for 4600 stores' cold chain visibility

C&S Wholesale Grocers, the second largest food wholesaler in the U.S., has selected Par’s RT-200 monitoring solution for cold chain visibility and control of their products. Par’s RT-200 system will allow C&S constant real-time visibility and remote control of their refrigerated trailers while also affording for better yields in asset utilization and fuel savings. C&S Wholesale Grocers’ integration will optimize the protection of perishable products while in transit.

C&S Wholesale Grocers is the 12th largest privately held company in the United States. The company distributes food to supermarkets, retail stores and military bases across the country. Currently, C&S serves about 4600 stores from more than 50 locations in 11 states. C&S provides more than 95,000 food and nonfood items including produce, meat, dairy products, delicatessen products, fresh/frozen bakery items, health and beauty aids, candy and tobacco.

In Utah in-vehicle credit card payments

The Utah Transit Authority (UTA) has announced the fleet-wide deployment of the onBoard Mobile Gateway from In Motion Technology. The solution provides wireless communications capabilities to enable in-vehicle credit card payments, Internet access and other services for passengers utilizing UTA’s 530-vehicle bus service. In Motion’s onBoard Mobility Manager will give UTA’s headquarters staff a virtual dashboard of information about networks, devices and vehicles from the field, and a high level of information and control over its wireless communications.(Clair Fiet, Chief Technology Officer for the Utah Transit Authority.)

One-to-Watch: Onboard Retail Solutions.

$17 million BPA for TSA

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has awarded NetStar-1, Inc. a Blanket Purchase Agreement (BPA) for acquisition program management support. The five-year, multiple-award BPA has a potential value of up to $17 million. Under the terms of the BPA, NetStar-1 will provide a variety of management consulting services to TSA, including acquisition planning, documentation, program oversight support, and financial management. The overall purpose of the BPA is to support best practices in TSA’s acquisition process, permitting the agency to fulfill its mission more effectively. This effort will assist TSA to consolidate and standardize the acquisition management support process, streamlining reviews and program approvals.

Management and treatment of delinquent accounts

BMW Financial Services, a wholly owned subsidiary of BMW AG, is to partner with Chordiant’s Cx Decision Management solution and predictive modeling capability to improve its management and treatment of delinquent accounts. BMW Financial Services will leverage the Chordiant solution to drive better risk and behavioral based actions to resolve account defaults and improve customer interactions.

BMW Group Financial Services was established in the U.S. in 1992 to support the sales and marketing efforts of BMW of North America. Since then, the group has expanded to provide service to markets in multiple countries and continues to evolve beyond its role as a captive finance unit. With more than $30 billion in serviced assets and 800,000 automotive lending customers, BMW Group Financial Services finances about half of the BMWs sold or leased in the United States. BMW Group Financial Services employs nearly 1,000 people, including consultants and temporary workers. www.bmwgroupna.com

$11.5 million service and maintenance for X-ray detection

American Science and Engineering, Inc., a worldwide supplier of X-ray detection solutions, has won a $11.5 million service and maintenance renewal order from the U.S. government for Z Backscatter Vans (ZBV) and the ZBV Military Trailers (ZBV Mil Trailer) - a rugged version of the Company’s patented ZBV cargo and vehicle screening system. The ZBVs and ZBV Mil Trailers are deployed to support counterterrorist missions.

Explosive Trace Detection

GE Security has an order for 15 Itemiser DX units from US Testing Equipment, one of GE Security’s authorized distributors for sales of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) approved Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) systems for air cargo screening. The Itemiser DX can simultaneously analyze from a single sample both positive and negative ions, providing the ultimate explosive contraband detection of complex explosive substances. A lightweight unit with a one-hour battery, the Itemiser DX is engineered with a built in handle for hassle-free transportation. US Testing Equipment will offer Itemiser DX as part of its work with air cargo facilities to help them meet government mandates for trace detection units. The Itemiser DX meets the requirements of the TSA’s Certified Cargo Screening Program.

First Response software in emergency vehicles

Santa Clara County Fire Department in California has awarded ADASHI a contract to put its First Response software in every emergency response vehicle. ADASHI directly integrates with Santa Clara County’s dispatch system automatically initiating and routing emergency units to an incident site using sophisticated maps and audible turn-by-turn directions. (Fire Captain Jim Swanson.)

Emergency buttons for school buses

Charlotte County Public Schools (CCPS) based in Port Charlotte, Florida has standardized on GPS-driven applications from Everyday Solutions. EveryPoint and an emergency button will be installed on 132 buses at CCPS. In the event of an emergency, the driver can press the emergency button and an alert, including the precise bus location, will be sent via email and text message to school officials. EveryPoint will also supply CCPS with real-time and historical data that can be presented in reports and on maps of the district to monitor activities such as excessive speeding, engine idling and fleet performance. (Richard Duckworth, Transportation Director at CCPS.)

$62.8 million contract by the California Department of Motor Vehicles

L-1 Identity Solutions has been awarded a five-year $62.8 million contract by the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to continue providing secure driver’s license solutions. Two two-year extensions are options for the State and if exercised would add an additional $45.8 million to the contract’s value. The contract includes new workflow processes and technologies to further improve the integrity of the issuance process and security of the card. (George Valverde, Director of California Department of Motor Vehicles.)