Experience Highlights - Engineering

SoBran has a wealth of experience in varied engineering disciplines, from chemical and biological systems engineering, to supply chain systems solution engineering, to embedded software/hardware engineering, and demilitarization planning. SoBran supports our government customers in a wide range of engineering projects.

Aerospace Engineering:

For over seven years, SoBran has provided engineering support for the AGM-65 Maverick Missile Program at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Our services include engineering analysis, software analysis, test and evaluation, technical order support, surveillance testing, technical problem resolution and other technical support to AGM-65 demilitarization planning efforts. SoBran provides recommendations for contract warranties; analyzes and documents external interfaces to support integration with support equipment, launchers and launch aircraft; and provides missile logistics support for development, production and sustainment.

Chemical and Biological Defense:

SoBran currently provides strategic planning services for the US Army Chemical command at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Edgewood Area. SoBran provides chemical and biological services from testing first article material for first responders, to providing testing, education and field service for some of the Army's most complex chemical and biological agent detection systems. The SoBran team supports our customers with the most up to date and comprehensive chemical and biological defense services available.

Systems Engineering - Reduced Total Ownership Cost:

SoBran supports the KC-135 Stratotanker System Program Office, using a systems engineering approach to develop an integrated view of cost drivers and identify a range of solutions to best realize cost savings for aircraft systems maintenance and upgrades. We analyze alternatives and evaluate impacts on reliability, maintainability, cost, availability, and performance. We address installation constraints (form factor, mechanical and electrical interfaces), assess impacts on weapon system mission performance, and identify processes/systems/subsystems/ equipment that could be used in multiple applications. By providing a trade study that estimated the cost, technical maintenance, reliability, availability and schedule risk of each alternative identified, SoBran helped dramatically decrease the overall cost of systems upgrade and repair. We also determined return on investment, payment period, methodology for tracking savings, and provided complete business case analysis, giving the program proof of the actual savings realized.

Munitions Support:

SoBran has provided technical support for the Munitions Items Disposition Action system (MIDAS) program at Hill Air Force Base, Utah through three multi-year contracts. Munitions Technicians performed technical data package research on approximately 300 munitions items, recording data in the MIDAS system. We gave priority to munitions and components that occur most frequently in the demilitarization inventory and insured the selections included munitions and components developed and/or used by all Services. We supplement this data with constituency packages that include a chemical characterization worksheet showing the hierarchical relations of components and parts, copies of all drawings, specifications and standards, and other relevant information and documentation, including a CD with electronic copies of drawings, specifications and standards. SoBran staff have worked closely with personnel at the JEDMICS support section (LGVED) to obtain drawings, and also have accessed the MEDALs system.

Test Support:

SoBran provides expert test engineering support for developmental programs at the Army's Chemical Biological Defense Command at Aberdeen, Maryland, supporting research and development of new chemical agent detectors and personal protective equipment . We collaborate with the Army in reviewing contractor test plans and testing procedures, engineering designs, manufacturing capabilities, stock levels and distribution plans. Our personnel also provide complex technical training on use state-of-the-art technologies and newly issued chemical defense equipment to Army personnel worldwide.

Software Engineering:

• SoBran provides imbedded software engineering services to the Marine Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV).
  
  
• SoBran is one of four contractors awarded a $40 million ($10 million per company) IDIQ contract to provide engineering, computer science, information technology and configuration management services to the Software Engineering Division (MAS) of the Ogden Air Logistics Center at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Our technical staff supports this client with expertise in designing, engineering and producing eclectronic, electro-mechanical Automatic Test Systems (ATS) and embedded systems. Support areas include prototyping, hardware, software, firmware, drivers, networking, databases, ATE design, research and development, interfacing with Microsoft and other applications, diagnostics, test and measurement, automation and control, PLC, VXI/VME, reverse engineering, RF, wireless, radar, avionics, instrumentation, analog and digital systems, sustainment of aging systems, and GUI. Our technical staff uses tools and languages such as labview, labwindows, basic, Tbaic, Oracle, Rational Rose R.T., C, C#, C++, JAVA, UML, Lasar, HTMl, XML, Assembly, Fortran, ATLAS, and Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) hardware when applicable.
  
  
• SoBran also provides training and consulting services for the design, development, and implementation of a Time and Attendance System (TAS) for MAS. This system is a large database that networks various types of information across many departments, including finance, ordering, shipping and receiving, parts, and business development, and provides MAS with new information capabilities.
  
  
• SoBran supported the Chemical and Biological Arms Control Compliance program with computer programming and data input support, developing computer programs to establish and track schedules of key chemical treaty compliance activities.

Radon Testing and Mitigation:

SoBran has conducted extensive radon testing and mitigation for the Department of Energy, Department of Defense, and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Since 1997, SoBran has been the lead contractor for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, supporting the Navy Radon Assessment and Mitigation Program (NAVRAMP). We have performed tens of thousands of radon measurements and installed over 1,000 mitigation systems. We also designed a database for the Navy Radon Assessment and Testing System, which provides radon data from Navy facilities worldwide.

Electrical, Mechanical, and Chemical Engineering Support for Advanced Concept Technology Demonstration Programs:

SoBran supported initiation of a Battlefield Automation Program for the US Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command (SBCCOM), providing technical assistance in development, testing, type classification and fielding of the Battlefield Automation systems. SoBran personnel conducted engineering analyses and developmental and operational testing for radar systems designed to detect chemical or biological agents being dispensed in the atmosphere.