Facilities Improvement

The Facilities Improvement program element (PE 0603725N) within the Navy's Research, Development, Test & Evaluation (RDT&E) budget is designed to enhance the performance, resilience, and security of Navy shore facilities. The overarching goals are to overcome performance limitations, reduce life cycle costs, and provide advanced protection against evolving threats, including terrorism and cyber attacks. This program focuses on technical and operational issues unique to Navy installations, particularly where commercial solutions are unavailable or require further demonstration and validation to meet Navy requirements. It also serves as a transition point for technologies developed in partnership with other federal agencies, such as the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Department of Energy (DOE).

Naval Facilities System (Project 0995) addresses the sustainment, restoration, and modernization (SRM) of critical Navy facilities, including waterfront structures like dry docks and piers, as well as runways and magazines. The primary objectives are to validate and implement new materials, surfacing concepts, and corrosion technologies to extend facility service life and reduce total ownership costs. Many Navy waterfront facilities are over 45 years old well beyond their original design life making this project vital for maintaining operational readiness and supporting new, larger platforms. Research also focuses on adapting designs to withstand extreme weather events and leveraging unmanned systems and artificial intelligence to improve inspection and efficiency.

Facilities Related Controls Systems (FRCS) Cybersecurity RDTE (Project 3018) is aimed at strengthening the cybersecurity posture of Navy shore infrastructure. The project funds cyber vulnerability assessments and evaluations of prioritized critical infrastructure, building on mission assurance and red/blue team capabilities. Partnerships with DOE and DoD national laboratories are leveraged to conduct these assessments, culminating in reports to Congress with actionable mitigation strategies. Key efforts include the development of next-generation cyber risk management tools, the More Situational Awareness (MOSAICS) initiative for real-time threat detection and response, and the integration of digital twin technologies to model and test vulnerabilities in a controlled environment.

Force Protection Ashore (Project 3155) supports the development, demonstration, and validation of advanced technologies to protect Navy installations from physical and asymmetric threats. The program's objectives include enhancing access control, perimeter security, and waterside protection through integrated sensors, intelligent surveillance, and automated counter-intrusion systems. The project also advances robotics and autonomous systems for firefighting and threat response, as well as counter-unmanned systems capabilities across air, land, and sea domains. The Installation Defense Operations Center and Sensor Management System are being developed to aggregate and analyze sensor data, providing a common operating picture for improved decision-making and response.

Congressional Adds (Project 9999) in FY 2024 included a specific allocation for a Groundwater Storage Analysis, reflecting congressional interest in the sustainability and resilience of Navy installations. This effort is intended to assess and enhance groundwater storage capabilities, which are critical for long-term operational continuity, especially in regions facing water scarcity or environmental risk.

Across all projects, the Facilities Improvement program employs a variety of acquisition strategies, including traditional Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) contracts, Other Transactions (OTs), Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs), and in-house efforts at Navy warfare centers. The program is structured to ensure maximum technology transfer, industry engagement, and alignment with evolving Navy operational requirements. The integration of validated technologies into the Navy's Military Construction (MILCON), Facilities Sustainment, Restoration and Modernization (FSRM), and Antiterrorism and Force Protection (ATFP) procurement programs ensures that research and development efforts directly support the Navy's mission readiness and resilience objectives.