HR001115C0125

Jul 2015: DEKA Innovative Solutions Corp. (DISC)*, Manchester, New Hampshire was awarded a $6,977,028 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the design, development, manufacture and delivery of sensorized prosthetic arms for use under the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Hand Proprioception & Touch Interfaces (HAPTIX) program; and manufacture and delivery of prosthetic arms for use under the DARPA Revolutionizing Prosthetics Follow-on Studies (RPFS). DISC will train DARPA HAPTIX and RPFS performers on the setup and operation of the arm systems, provide technical support, and maintenance and repair of the arm systems during the HAPTIX Program and RPFS studies. The HAPTIX program will develop new science and technology to achieve closed-loop control of this dexterous mechatronic prosthesis in order to provide amputees with the feel and function of natural limbs. System performance and the ultimate benefit to prosthetic users will be determined in a year-long, take-home trial. These efforts will position the government with the required data to seek market approval and deliver the system into the wider patient population. The RPFS effort will provide the Food and Drug Administration an approved variant of the DISC arm system to researchers for continued studies. The aim of these studies is to inform product and reimbursement code submissions to the Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services. These studies will also validate prescription criteria and explore other control techniques with the aim of ensuring the DISC arm system can accommodate the broadest user community possible. Work will be performed in Manchester, New Hampshire during the 57-month period of performance. Fiscal 2014 research and development funds in the amount of $4,433,717 are being obligated at the time of award. This contract was a competitive acquisition and sixty offers were received. The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, Arlington, Virginia, is the contracting activity (HR0011-15-C-0125).