UDRI wins prime spot on newest Air Force DESP program

The University of Dayton Research Institute has been awarded a prime spot on the Air Force Design and Engineering Support Program (DESP III), a five-year, $1.9 billion indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contract vehicle designed to facilitate the rapid acquisition of a broad range of engineering services in support of the Air Force and other Department of Defense agencies. Dave Calder, head of UDRI's Sustainment Technologies Integration Office, said that by preselecting DESP prime contractors, the Air Force and other DOD agencies can award task orders under the program as work is needed and in a fraction of the time it would take to set up a new contract for each task order, making DESP cost effective for sponsors.

DESP projects will focus on improving the maintainability and performance of all systems, and include life cycle cost, operational life, performance, sustainment, safety and environmental friendliness.

UDRI was the only organization in Dayton, one of only two in Ohio, and the only university research entity to win a prime spot on DESP. The Research Institute was also a prime on DESP I and DESP II.

Each year, sponsored research programs at the University of Dayton provide real-world research opportunities to nearly 300 undergraduate and graduate students working with more than 500 professional and faculty researchers from the Research Institute, the School of Engineering and the College of Arts and Sciences.

Jan. 11, 2012