Technology for Shipbuilding Affordability Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Sol No.: Navy SBIR FY2005.1 Topic No.: N05-039 Topic Title: Technology for Shipbuilding Affordability Proposal No.: N051-039-0604 Firm: Frontier Technology, Inc. 26 Castilian Drive, Suite B Goleta, California 93117-3207 Contact: Sam Boykin Phone: (937) 429-3302 Web Site: www.fti-net.com Abstract: This research project combines Frontier Technology, Inc. and Northrop Grumman Ship Systems together to develop an affordability analysis tool suite tailored for use on important design trades associated with Systems Support Technology Capabilities. The tool suite will be applicable to modifications, enhancements or new systems associated with any Navy ship systems. It will enable the program manager, technologist, analyst or system planner to conduct quick life-cycle cost evaluations while assessing the importance of mission capabilities to the surface warriors. This tool suite will ensure affordability considerations become a key element of the decision process for ship modifications. The tool suite integrates detailed cost models that are accepted standards within the USN and DoD. A GUI guides the user through detailed cost model interactions to provide quick and easy life-cycle cost estimates. A primary focus of this research is to identify, collect and organize data applicable to Navy ship systems and tailor the database structure for integration with accepted cost models used in the tool. The Phase I research will result in a prototype for use by the Navy and Northrop Grumman. The analyst feedback will be used to guide the potential Phase II development effort. Benefits: The USN shipbuilding community has a problem that is also common to many businesses. The challenge is to determine the best investment to make in technologies to optimize their return on investment (ROI). Decisions to invest in modifications, enhancements or new systems/technologies that appear to have large performance potentials but do not deliver the desirable ROI, cost millions in lost opportunities. The most effective investment that would generate the greatest ROI is an investment in the infrastructure to optimize the decision-making processes. The objective of this research project is to provide a computer tool suite that will enable the Navy shipbuilding community to conduct community-accepted, life-cycle cost, ROI and Business Case Analyses in a community accepted approach, thereby enabling effective investments and design trades to ensure affordable systems. The proposed affordability tool suite provides a comprehensive capability developed for use by Government organizations and industries where affordability and ROI considerations are important. The tool suite; therefore, has a great potential for effective use in many Navy industries, such as prime contractors, subcontractors, and commercial operators. Northrop Grumman's Ship Systems has already expressed a strong desire in having this tailored capability within their organization. Return