SBIR-STTR Award

SBIR Phase I DLA192-001 represents a requirement for Reverse Engineering (RE) of an obsolete Circuit Card Assembly (CCA). In this SBIR Phase I effort, Global Circuit Innovations (GCI) will collect and organize all available specifications and drawings for NSN: 5998-01-321-2673. GCI will visit the organization responsible for supporting this requirement to acquire as much information as possible. GCI will request to see the physical CCA and, if possible, take one sample CCA for further analysis and evaluation. GCI will locate a source (through procurement or identify a GCI redesign effort if required) for all of the components on the CCA and will create a schematic, if one is not already available, for this CCA. A schematic can be created even in the absence of a Technical Data Package (TDP) from an analysis of the CCA. GCI will also create a Source Approval Package (SAR). This information would later be used in a follow-on SBIR Phase II to layout, manufacture, populate and fully test a form, fit and function, backwards-compatible CCA that works perfectly in the customer’s system.

In support of the Columbia class, Mr. Howard inquired if GCI could reverse engineer a Circuit Card Assembly (CCA) National Stock Number (NSN): 5998-01-326-8755 A2A1 board, Central Atmosphere Monitor (CAMS) IIA National Item Identification Number (NIIN): 01-564-9510, that is used on the Columbia-class Submarine, but that the former Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM), Collins Aerospace, will no longer support. Currently this part is managed by Naval Supply Systems Command (NAVSUP). GCI was provided a working A2A1 CCA from the Navy for engineering evaluation purposes. GCI reviewed the schematics and the Bill of Materials (BOM) and has determined a path forward to provide a solution. Global Circuit Innovations (GCI) was introduced to Mr. Alan Howard, COLUMBIA Class Submarine Program, PMS397L Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) Team Washington Navy Yard DC. The United States is developing the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine (SSBN), formerly known as the Ohio Replacement SSBN program, to maintain a continuous at-sea strategic deterrence as the current force of 14 Ohio Class SSBNs reach the end of their unprecedented 42-year service life in the late 2020s. Columbia class is the United States Navy’s Number 1 acquisition priority (Submarinesuppliers.org). “The supply chain is the No. 1 risk to Columbia” said Rear Adm. Scott Pappano, program executive officer for Strategic Submarines, speaking Nov. 18, 2021, at the Naval Submarine League’s annual symposium in Arlington. For the new design of the Columbia class, technology and components from the Ohio and Virginia classes are to be included where possible, to save money. The average age of Department of Defense (DoD) systems and equipment continues to increase, which represents a significant manufacturing challenge as many of the electronic systems that were built with older technology are no longer supported, creating real and potential electronic obsolescence issues that cause reductions in Mission Readiness. GCI’s electronic obsolescence solutions can successfully resolve many of these issues. For the Sequential Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II effort, GCI will design, engineer, manufacture, test, and qualify a form, fit, and function drop-in replacement CCA that will work identically to the currently no longer supported A2A1 CCA. GCI’s solution will avoid a costly redesign and create a significant schedule savings as this will be completed within 12 - 18 months as opposed to an estimated 5+ year system redesign with the significant risk of design debug, additional obsolescence, and evaluation iterations. The GCI solution will provide a low-risk solution while also preventing a Mission Impaired Capability Awaiting Parts (MICAP) event for the new Columbia Class submarines.