KBR (NYSE: KBR) won a $194.3 million task order to research, develop, test, and analyze the design and fabrication of microelectronics components, verifying and validating their trustworthiness for the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL) Trusted Electronics Branch (RYDT).
“We’re excited and proud to expand our research collaboration with AFRL,” said Stuart Bradie, KBR President and Chief Executive Officer. “KBR’s expertise in cutting-edge research will assist AFRL in assuring the integrity of microelectronics, which is vital to America’s security.”
Under the Security and Trustworthy Foundations for Electronics Resurgence (STryFER) task order, KBR’s efforts will include multidisciplined research and development of design best practices and methodologies for trusted systems in the digital and analog realm. The company will also develop unique and science-driven counterfeit detection schemes through microelectronic device characterization methodology, and advanced fabrication and packaging schemes for trusted microelectronics.
“The current semiconductor foundry market is undergoing significant change and we’re seeing a reduction in access to the technologies available to the DoD Trusted Foundry Program, which assures the integrity of integrated circuits during design and manufacturing,” said Byron Bright, KBR Government Solutions President.
“These reductions will continue to push the DoD towards increased reliance on commercial electronics providers, which drives the need for effective trust and assurance techniques. To address this issue, KBR’s multidisciplinary team of industry experts and academic teammates will provide AFRL with research support to advance the trustworthiness of these critical national security components,” said Bright.
The Air Force Installation Contracting Center, 774 Enterprise Sourcing Squadron awarded the cost-plus-fixed-fee task order through the DoD Information Analysis Center’s (IAC) Multiple Award Contract, an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity vehicle for complex, integrated professional projects. KBR will carry out these duties at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, as well as other locations over the next five years. The company has supported AFRL/RYDT and predecessor organizations since 2012.
KBR delivers enhanced technologies, leading edge research, and analysis that furthers AFRL’s trusted microelectronics research. The company’s innovative approaches, executed by a highly qualified and proven team, ensures its customers remain at the forefront of microelectronics research and development.