Stratom, Inc. and Applied Research Associates Enter Mentor-Protégé Program
Relationship to Focus on Unmanned Systems Technologies
BOULDER, COLORADO, May 20, 2008 – Applied Research Associates, Inc. (ARA), an international engineering and science company, and Stratom, Inc., a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business specializing in mobile defense robotics and engineering, have announced that the companies have been accepted into the Department of Defense (DoD) Mentor-Protégé Program.
The Mentor-Protégé Program encourages large prime contractors, such as ARA to share their technical expertise and knowledge of government contracting with Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small businesses. The program’s major goal is to positively impact the growth of the defense robotics industry base through partnerships between small, innovative and agile robotics technology companies and major defense industry corporations. The ARA and Stratom Mentor-Protégé agreement was approved by the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense’s Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization Office and awarded by the Air Force Research Laboratory at Tyndall Air Force Base, FL.
“We are thrilled about being accepted into this prestigious program,” stated Mark Gordon, President and founder of Stratom. “We forged a Mentor-Protégé relationship with ARA due to our complimentary products and skills, as well as their reputation of exceeding expectations in solving complex problems for clients,” said Gordon. “We look forward to collaborating on DoD programs with ARA and gaining new knowledge regarding their proven procedures and processes.”
“This Mentor-Protégé relationship is considered an important long-term partnership for both ARA and Stratom. The program will allow us an opportunity to pursue exciting new projects and capabilities,” stated Glen McDonald, ARA vice president. “Stratom’s expertise in interchangeable manipulator library technologies can be developed and applied to the area of robotics, which brings enormous value across the DoD spectrum.”
The obvious benefit to the DoD from the Mentor-Protégé relationship will be the development of a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned small business in the field of robotics that is qualified and experienced in working on DoD programs and ready to pursue and execute contracts or subcontracts, while concurrently expanding the domestic U.S. industrial base.
About Applied Research Associates, Inc.
Applied Research Associates, Inc. is an international research, engineering and consulting company comprised of over 1,100 Employee Owners. With FY06 revenue of $169.6 million, ARA has offices in more than 50 locations in the U.S. and Canada. The company’s major business areas are national defense; robotics; security, risk and disaster management; transportation engineering; and geotechnical and environmental technologies. Military and civil government customers account for over 80% of ARA’s business. In support of the Air Force Research and Development Group and other clients, ARA has conducted robotics research and development for automated capabilities for the past 15 years in compliance with DoD and other U.S. federal agency requirements. A major effort that ARA is associated with is the Joint Architecture for Unmanned Systems, which provides a common methodology for subsystem and component development for robotic systems. ARA personnel have been fundamental in the development and growth of this architecture and are committed to implementation on all advanced research and development robotic systems.
For information:
Contact:
info@stratom.com
Website: www.stratom.com
Phone: 704.565.9609
Founded in 2001, Stratom has provided engineering, operations, and supply chain management services to an impressive list of global corporations, local businesses, and government institutions. Stratom’s team members have a passion for solving tough problems and working together as a team to convert our clients’ thoughts and ideas into defining products that provide innovation and inspiring solutions to the marketplace.
