10/8/97

Mitch Emmons, 844-5741 (emmonmb@mail.auburn.edu

ALLIANCE MAY MEAN NEW DEFENSE RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES FOR AU

AUBURN -- Membership in an industry-university alliance may lead to Auburn University's participation in new defense research programs potentially worth millions of dollars in contract task orders.

Earlier this year the Army Space and Strategic Defense Command in Huntsville solicited proposals for a System Engineering and Technical Assistance Contract.

"Auburn, as a member of the six Alabama research university's Science and Technology Alliance, teamed with Computer Science Corp. of Huntsville and associated firms to form a large science and technology group that could present a research proposal to the SSDC," said Bill Luther, director of research development at Auburn. "Each member would function as a teammate, working to address various tasks under an overall SETAC agreement."

Computer Science Corp. and three other Huntsville firms were awarded the contract.

Auburn's strengths in such areas as electrical, materials and aerospace engineering; chemistry and physics, and its Space Power Institute and the Center for the Commercial Development of Space Power were highlighted, Luther said.

Nearly 100 task orders have been issued so far under the contract. However, most have been service oriented, says Luther.

"There really haven't been but a few that a university could bid on among those issued," he said. But recent changes in the alliance agreements may increase Auburn's odds, Luther added.

"We now are not restricted from visiting SSDC and making independent proposals under the SETAC agreement," Luther said. "That means that Auburn can work with Computer Science Corp. teammates or make its own proposals more suited to its capabilities to meet SSDC needs. Most contracts awarded through this process will be sole source."

In addition to Computer Science Corp. other firms selected for the contract include Teledyne Brown Engineering, Nichols Research Corp. and Mevatec.

oct97:AU-alliance

CONTACT: Luther, 844-5974.