Army places new orders for standards-based RFID tags

Savi Technology Inc. will provide supply-tracking technology to the Defense Department under new contracts totaling $6.6 million.

Savi will deliver standards-based active radio frequency identification tracking technologies and accompanying services under DOD’s RFID III procurement contract, company officials said today.  

The RFID tags, which are affixed to cargo containers and other supply chain supplies, comply with international standards, such as DASH7. DASH7, also known as ISO 18000-7, is an open standard operating in the unlicensed 433 MHz spectrum. The technology enables near real-time supply visibility and interoperability with allied defense forces and government organizations, Savi officials said.

The Army Information Technology, E-Commerce and Commercial Contracting Center issued the procurement orders.

The RFID III contract was established for active RFID hardware, software and engineering services, and is open to all U.S. military services, federal agencies and non-U.S. defense forces, the officials said.

“This initial order of DASH7 RFID devices marks the DOD’s conversion of RFID products to an open global standard that will support multinational interoperability and innovative solutions that can leverage sensor-rich networks,” said David Stephens, chief executive officer of Savi Technology.

Savi received three orders with staggered delivery dates, the officials said. The final deliveries are due in three months.

Savi Technology, of Mountain View, Calif., is a unit of Lockheed Martin Corp., of Bethesda, Md.