UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Penn State Applied Research Laboratory (ARL) was recently awarded a modification worth as much as $1.39 billion to a cost-plus-fixed-fee contract, meaning work conducted under the contract is set at a fixed fee plus the cost of materials, by the Naval Sea Systems Command. The modification builds on a contract initially awarded by the U.S. Navy in 2018, totaling more than $3.47 billion in research awards allowed under the contract. It is the largest research award-related contract the University has received to date. The work allowed under this contract is expected to be completed by February 2028.
“This award modification is a clear indicator that Penn State is a leader in applied research,” said Andrew Read, senior vice president for research at Penn State. “Institutions, agencies and companies seek out Penn State to answer the world’s biggest questions and bring solid innovations in national security.”
ARL is one of 15 DOD-designated University-Affiliated Research Centers in the United States. The increase will be used to continue ARL’s research, development, engineering and testing and evaluation in support of programs throughout the Department of Defense (DOD).
“ARL’s decades of institutional knowledge positions us to be uniquely successful as we research cutting edge technology,” said Allan Sonsteby, executive director of ARL. “We’re proud to continue our mission of improving national security through research, discovery and innovation.”
ARL research areas include guidance and control technologies for undersea systems and vehicles, prototyping of novel power and energy systems, and performing state-of-the-art research in computational fluid dynamics. In addition, ARL leads research programs in the areas of communications, information processing, cybersecurity, electro-optics and directed energy. ARL operates the Navigation Research and Development Center for the test and evaluation of the nation’s most precise positioning, navigation and timing systems and ARL is a center of excellence in materials and manufacturing, supporting both industry and the U.S. Navy with advanced materials and development of additive manufacturing technologies.
About Penn State Applied Research Laboratory
Penn State Applied Research Laboratory, University Affiliated Research Center, was established in 1945 at the request of the U.S. Navy. ARL supports national security, economic competitiveness, and quality of life through education, scientific discovery, technological demonstration and successful transition to application. https://www.arl.psu.edu.